Who's wearing white?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi everyone,

This is a bit of a frivolous question, but I'm curious to know what people think (especially RNs) about wearing white, especially white dresses? I bought a number of old US Army Nurse Corps dresses on Ebay -- I like the way they look, and they're very comfortable. I also received a few compliments from people, especially elderly patients, who said that I "look like a nurse." However, some of my classmates (I'm in a BN accelerated program) think I'm nuts -- I'm the only one who dresses like this ("old fashioned," I suppose, with my white hose and white NurseMates shoes) as everyone else appears to copy the "ER" look with scrubs. 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, and I like the fact that I'll probably be identified as a nurse (as opposed to RRT, porter, or whomever else) because I'll be wearing a white dress. Besides, vomit, blood, fecal matter can always be bleached out, true?

Anyone else wearing white these days?:rolleyes:

This is for Barb Pick ... what's your problem? Sounds like you had a rotten day and were just looking to dump on someone. For the record, my white uniforms have no trace of military insignia on them, and it was not my intention to try to impersonate anyone. Also, I'm former Army Reserve, so why would I try to impersonate someone military? The dresses were purchased on EBay, they were cheap, and all I'm trying to do as a student nurse is look professional in addition to acting professional. You say that you wouldn't want me as your student, well dear, I wouldn't want to have you as my instructor.

Thanks to everyone else for their replies -- I was simply curious to know what is popular re: clothing in the profession these days, given that I'm new to nursing.

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Specializes in Emergency.

I am a student nurse and am required to wear white uniforms during my clinicals. Of course, you'd never catch me in a dress (I'm a dude). but you know...I really don't think the white is bad. I've gotten several compliments on how professional it looks and they have grown on me.

I am transitioning from a field where professional appearance was important. In nursing, I believe appearance is as much a part of patient care as touch ESPECIALLY with our elderly clients.

I don't get the whole case about bodily fluids anyway. What nurse would walk around with blood or fecal matter on their uniform just because no one could tell it was there?!?

Terence

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Specializes in ICU, ED, Transport, Home Care, Mgmnt.

A white uniform on a nurse is the same as a power suit for a business man or woman. For my job I have to wear white or I have to wear street clothes with a lab coat. I prefer the whites. When I walk into a room or a unit there is little doubt that I am an RN and people will address me first, as the "nurse", in a room full of nurses wearing scrubs. I have a coworker who also wears her cap, I don't go that far but she is known through out the hospital as the nursing supervisor who wears the cap. Wether we earn it or not, the whites do provide a measure of respect, it is up to the individual to maintain that level of respect. Any clothing you wear can be contaminated by patient fluids, it's all in the cleaning! Biz is a great product for those of us who wear the white. Good luck with school and always march to your own drummer.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Originally posted by kat911

A white uniform on a nurse is the same as a power suit for a business man or woman. For my job I have to wear white or I have to wear street clothes with a lab coat. I prefer the whites. When I walk into a room or a unit there is little doubt that I am an RN and people will address me first, as the "nurse", in a room full of nurses wearing scrubs. I have a coworker who also wears her cap, I don't go that far but she is known through out the hospital as the nursing supervisor who wears the cap. Wether we earn it or not, the whites do provide a measure of respect, it is up to the individual to maintain that level of respect. Any clothing you wear can be contaminated by patient fluids, it's all in the cleaning! Biz is a great product for those of us who wear the white. Good luck with school and always march to your own drummer.

I so disagree with this statement. It's not a power suit to my thinking; it harkens back to the "Servant Of the Lord" days of nursing. I dont' think this is seen IN nursing as a POWER SUIT at all. anyhow as to the "olden days", I have no desire to go back there.

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Originally posted by RNBN2B

This is for Barb Pick ... what's your problem? Sounds like you had a rotten day and were just looking to dump on someone. For the record, my white uniforms have no trace of military insignia on them, and it was not my intention to try to impersonate anyone. Also, I'm former Army Reserve, so why would I try to impersonate someone military? The dresses were purchased on EBay, they were cheap, and all I'm trying to do as a student nurse is look professional in addition to acting professional. You say that you wouldn't want me as your student, well dear, I wouldn't want to have you as my instructor.

Thanks to everyone else for their replies -- I was simply curious to know what is popular re: clothing in the profession these days, given that I'm new to nursing.

Yes you are new to nursing. You were the one who brought up that they were military " old US Army Nurse Corps dresses" not me and yes, If you were my student and wore them I would send you home. Ebay makes it ok?

I was in the Army Reserves as a Nurse, as have other Nurses in major hospitals. It is impersonation.

The Nursing Students at the 3 Universities in this area all wear a standardized uniform. All look alike, chosen by the university. One wears yellow, same style, one wears pin stripe dark green, the other wears a colored apron over the same uniform.

And by the way, I had one of the best days of my life yesterday. I participated in a Police Pinning Ceremony, Putting on Gold Bars on my Nephew's Police uniform, as his mother passed away and he is not married.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
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.

The Jasco catalog is advertizing white pants that you can see through.

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It is interesting what happens when people disagree with a poster. I gave my straight answer, and I was accused of dumping because I had a bad day. I answered that in the post a few minutes ago. Another thing, I never said who I wanted as my student, I said I would send a student home, just like the time my students were told to wear street clothes for a Psych rotation, and a student wore hip hugger jeans and a tube top. I sent her home.

You better be careful of what you ask for (in this case opinions) You might get it.

Now line by line.

I told you what I thought, you did not like what you heard.

I can understand why

Yes you will.

Door is closed on this topic as far as I am concerned.

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Specializes in HIV/AIDS, Dementia, Psych.

I am made to wear all white as I work for a state facility. I don't mind it at all except for the stains you get and the yellowing of whites with time. I'm sure I have to buy new uniforms more than people who wear prints or colors due to the above and that's no fun.

I think, if allowed, you should always be yourself and express yourself through the way you dress. I like a little personality every once in a while!

Tweety, I like the idea of colored polo shirts and white pants...that's a great idea for male nurses, if you're allowed colors that is!

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And they say that chemistry and physiology is a waste of time.

I have to wear white scrubs often. I have had the best success removing stains with Oxy clean. Human Stains (body fluids) are mostly protein based. Just as H2O2 ruptures the heme molecule, foams and gets warm as a chemical reaction, Oxyclean works the same way, by macerating the stain.

I do it as a pre soak in the washing machine, then fill the tub with the rest of the water, add the detergent (remember that emulsifies fats) and clean white clothes.

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Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes

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.

We are now officially 'color coded'. Administration has put up signs around the place with pictures of nurses and docs (whites) housekeeping (maroon) aides(navy) lab (royal blue):chuckle

On Halloween one of my coworkers wore her old uni...white dress, hose, hat...the whole shebang. I blame her jokingly for our new 'whites only' policy. She said so many people were impressed by her and administration received so many customer comments supporting her....she did it as a joke and was amazed by the response. :rolleyes:

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

The answer to the visible-underwear problem when wearing whites is very simple: Choose beige! Bras and panties do not show no matter how thin the material is, and beige is much closer to most peoples' skin color than white (let alone polka-dots, neon colors, black etc.).

I'm sooooooo glad my hospital still allows us to choose our own clothing.........of course, everything must be neat and clean, and we can't wear jeans or sleeveless tops. I myself prefer prints because I'm rather well-endowed and everything I eat seems to gravitate towards my bosom, thus the prints tend to conceal any indiscretions with a fork or spoon:imbar. But if I had to, I'd wear solid colored tops with white pants..........ANYTHING but the stark white uniforms I had to wear in school that made me look like a baker who'd eaten up all of her profits, or an appropriate mate for the Abominable Snow Monster. They even had puffed sleeves---PUFFED SLEEVES!---and here I was, a grown woman long past the age where such a fashion detail is appropriate (personally, I don't think puffed sleeves belong on anyone over the age of 11 who isn't a bridesmaid). EWWWWWWWW. Sure glad those days are over!

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Originally posted by mjlrn97

.........ANYTHING but the stark white uniforms I had to wear in school that made me look like a baker who'd eaten up all of her profits, or an appropriate mate for the Abominable Snow Monster. They even had puffed sleeves---PUFFED SLEEVES!---and here I was, a grown woman long past the age where such a fashion detail is appropriate (personally, I don't think puffed sleeves belong on anyone over the age of 11 who isn't a bridesmaid). EWWWWWWWW. Sure glad those days are over!

LOL! Now that's something I hadn't thought of...the white image= purity= bride. Add the puffy sleeves and a few ruffles and ta-daaaa! we're 'little girl pure". :chuckle

I showed up in a white lab coat the other day and surprisingly, some of my coworkers chided me for 'trying to look like a doctor'. :rolleyes:

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