Who's wearing white?

Rapheal · Jan 30, 2004

One of my co-workers wears a white dress and hose quite often. For some reason it looks so much worse to see blood, and fecal smear on a white dress IMHO. I don't know why but it just seems to draw attention to the stains. Wear whatever you like though.

mattsmom81 · Jan 30, 2004

Originally posted by 3rdShiftGuy
Also, I wonder in the "old" days when nurses wore white I guess they never got splashed. Guess nursing was different back then.

We got splashed then too but without the dangers of BBP. I always kept an extra uni in my locker, and some peroxide to make small stains disappear.

Our new CNO is mandating whites for all nurses so we'll see how this goes. I'm thinking in ICU I will need to wear a fluid resistant gown over my whites for most personal care. And keep 2 extra unis in my locker for those unexpected splashes I can't prepare for!! :rolleyes:

OCCHCanada · Jan 30, 2004

You will certainly stand out in white, but this is not a bad thing.

I've been nursing for many years and have seen the whole gammet of uniforms. But I do have to say that sometimes the scrubs look a little too sloppy - more like comfortable pajamas.

I worked on a Burn Unit for 13 years and we started with pink wrap-around scrub dresses that were completely useless as we literally crawled on all fours during dressing changes. We then got scrubs that looked good. I do understand the need for comfortable clothes!

I would also make my own scrub jackets and wear over a white t-shirt. But I always ensure that my hair, makeup etc is professional. I've seen alot of nurses lately with long artifical nails (gross), too much makeup, jewellery. I once saw a nurse with white fishnet stockings!

live4today, RN · Jan 30, 2004

Originally posted by RNBN2B
Hi everyone,
..........................but I'm curious to know what people think (especially RNs) about wearing white, especially white dresses?....................................Just curious to know if I'll be laughed off the unit when I begin working as an RN (hopefully in the US of A in the summer of 2005!) by my colleagues.
No offense to the people who wear scrubs, but they're just not for me,..................................................................Anyone else wearing white these days?

Before I proceed to read any other responses to your questions, I'd prefer to post my own.......then I'll read the others. :)

My question to you...................Why should you care what the students you attend school with, or your future RN colleagues think regarding your choice to wear white vs. color scrubs? They wear what they want to wear, so why shouldn't you?

Did peer pressure bother you as a teenager? If so, this is why it probably bothers you now. Coming from a 52 year young woman (me), I don't give a hoot what people think about what I wear as long as what I wear is not banned from the place where I would be hired. Actually, as a teenaged girl, I never gave a dang either. :chuckle

I believe "to each his own" as long as ones choice brings no undue harm to another. Isn't that what we as Americans pride ourselves on having by living in America? Freedom of choice?

Wear whatever you want to wear, and stop caring what others think about it. When they snicker at you, it will only show their own immaturity...not yours. :nurse:

I love wearing white myself, but I also wear color scrubs when I feel like it. It's my choice, and I like both. Some days it's white...some days it's matching scrubs. Either way...whatever I wear is always neat, clean, not wrinkled, and appropriate to wear as a nurse.

cannoli · Jan 30, 2004

The requirement is for me to wear white and I have no problem with it, though I dislike and don't wear dresses.

I do know and work with nurses who wear white dresses.

Wear what you like and feel comfortable in.

Alnamvet · Jan 30, 2004

The only thing white you'll see on me is a lab coat...if there is a requirement to wear white at a facility, they can do without my expertise; and I can picture a "male" RN in white dress, hose, cap, and those silliy/stupid pins puncturing their ID's...what a nightmare. :rolleyes:

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Jan 30, 2004

I had to wear whites in nursing school, and wouldn't be caught dead in a white dress.......but that's just me. If you feel it enhances your pride in being a nurse, then go for it! Don't worry about what anyone else may think, if people have nothing better to do than worry about what another nurse is wearing, they need to get a life.

fergus51 · Jan 31, 2004

I wear prints and colours. If you like white, by all means wear it. The same rules apply no matter what the colour: identify yourself as the registered nurse (I know several nursing assistants who wear white and they are not the registered nurse), and be clean and professional.

OT, but does anyone know a uniform company that sells non-see-through whites? I have a pair of white pants, but only wear them with long johns or you can see my undies.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jan 31, 2004

Originally posted by fergus51
I wear prints and colours. If you like white, by all means wear it. The same rules apply no matter what the colour: identify yourself as the registered nurse (I know several nursing assistants who wear white and they are not the registered nurse), and be clean and professional.

OT, but does anyone know a uniform company that sells non-see-through whites? I have a pair of white pants, but only wear them with long johns or you can see my undies.

I recently got 5 uniform/scrub catalogs at home. I remember one advertized whites "guarenteed no-show" but i forgot which company that was. I'll look it up an let you know.

live4today, RN · Jan 31, 2004

The white pants that I have are made by 'Life'. The material is 65% polyester and 35% cotton. They wash and wear very well!

I wear the no-panty-liner panties under my uniforms. I don't see my panties through my pants, either. Those panties can be found at Walmarts (at least that is where I buy mine).

Anyway, if someone is staring at my butt at my age, I wish they would let me in on it so I can "flirt back" with them, and give them a wink or two in the process. :chuckle :roll :chuckle

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 31, 2004

Originally posted by cheerfuldoer
The white pants that I have are made by 'Life'. The material is 65% polyester and 35% cotton. They wash and wear very well!

I wear the no-panty-liner panties under my uniforms. I don't see my panties through my pants, either. Those panties can be found at Walmarts (at least that is where I buy mine).

Anyway, if someone is staring at my butt at my age, I wish they would let me in on it so I can "flirt back" with them, and give them a wink or two in the process. :chuckle :roll :chuckle

You are too cute. But the whole reason to wear whites is to be "professional", according to so many here, and to me, that does NOT include peek-a-boo undies, be a person male or female. And I have seen too many. And about CNA's wearing white.....well there ya go. See the real way to differentiate ourselves as RN's is to BEHAVE AS SUCH and INTRODUCE OURSELVES AS SUCH....cause as that good point shows, you never know who is who anymore. Sad but true. At least they finally put our housekeeping staff in other clothes than scrubs where I work. For that, I am grateful.

Reborn · Jan 31, 2004

I thought I would wear the one dress I had in my closet, the one we had to buy for our pinning, and at least try to "wear it out" a little and get a liitle of my money out of it.

I wore it a few times until one day hanging an IV, one of the rubber "hubs" on the line caught the edge of my hem and as I raise the IV, I "raised the flag" :eek: and gave a little show.........whoops, no more dresses for me:imbar