Would you quit over white uniforms?

If your facility went back to white uniforms for licensed nursing personnel, would you quit? Just wondering as I've heard discussions about some facilities going back to all white for nursing staff.

Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.

I agree about those awful, disgusting spongey white polyester uniforms that nursel56 mentioned. It was like being wrapped in....I don't know what....but they were as hot as the blazes! I would shop 'til I found cotton; would rather get stuck ironing than put on something so un-natural feeling. ICK!

Not to pique anyone's prurient interests, but when we were not allowed yet to wear 'pant suits', and still had to wear dresses, I got a garter belt for hosiery so I wouldn't suffocate my private areas and thighs in panty hose. But I did wear support hose with the garter belt, and knee-hi's once pant suits got the okay. I just hate​ pantyhose !

PS) Don't make me wear pink, either

Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Had to wear white tops and bottoms in nursing school and it sucked. NOW they've gone to navy bottoms and white tops. While I HATE white/white, it's not a hill I'm willing to die on! :dead:

Specializes in Critical Care.

It's different for men. I typically don't care how I look but if I had two choices where everything was equal except one required all whites I'd avoid the all white uniforms. For big guys like me, all-white scrubs say "mental institution orderly".

Why would I if that's what supports me and my family. Unless I see something inappropriate.

I think how we look is tied to how we perform. If we feel great about how we look, energy and a certain psychological advantage is gained...just ask anyone involved in competitive sports.

All-whites carry an historical connotation that is deeply embedded in the nurse psyche, and some of it good, some of it bad.

From a patient perspective, I would have no problem seeing every RN in whites, although I'd feel bad for them. From my own perspective as an RN, I would be aghast at such a policy.

I would, however, be fine with facility-wide, accepted colors (one or two) for each discipline/department.

As a personal preference, I'd love to see 70% (or more) of the prints go the way of the Dodo bird. "Professionals" showing up to work looking like they're in their pajamas gets old. When firemen and police officers start wearing prints I know we will have finally failed as a society.

Specializes in Family Practice.

No, I would not quit! Wearing a cap and cape that would be it for me though, lol!!!!!

Specializes in Hospice.

Nope, whites wouldn't be a deal breaker for me.

I worked for a LTC that required all licensed nurses to wear white scrub pants. Nope, not my favorite color and a little challenging to keep clean and not dingy looking.

But - it so has it's positive points. Many geriatrics associate white with nurses, it was very helpful at times:) Also, I kinda liked the traditional aspect.

I learned the hard way - cheap white scrub pants are not a good idea. Eventually I found a brand that was a little heavier weight and learned how to take care of them. And lo and behold - they lasted longer than the cheap scrubs (so I saved money in the long run).

My current job doesn't wear scrubs. But I do have a white lab jacket.

Lol I wish I could wear the traditional nurse uniform in nursing school. It will look more feminine and be a better way to find a husband.

I'm about to go into the TMI zone.

Before I got into nursing school or worked as a CNA for the hospital, I was a cashier at wal-mart. Management dictated our uniforms: light khaki pants, dark blue shirts. I've always had extremely heavy periods that are very difficult to control. You people are smart, so put 2 and 2 together; accidents happened. It was mortifying. It got so bad that if I was scheduled for a busy weekend night where I knew I would have to be on the register for 3-4 hours at a time without a bathroom break (I'd ask, manager would promise to send relief, relief wouldn't come :/), I'd call in sick.

Being forced to wear white scrub bottoms would be much like that. They make much better feminine hygiene products now than they did then, but that anxiety would always be there. I'd always be wondering if I'd leaked, if somebody would see it before I did when it happened, etc.

Guys are so lucky to not have to deal with this :(.

Specializes in SICU.

sigh... Ive been wearing white my entire nursing career (envious of those that can wear navy). its a pain in the behind especially when you bleach the cdiff off a couple of times and they become off yellow...

Specializes in CT ,ICU,CCU,Tele,ED,Hospice.

no not over a uniform color

Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.

My criteria for work clothes is two-fold.

One, is it clean?

Two, is it comfortable enough that I can put it on and forget about it? (No tugging or tucking or adjusting.)

If those two are met, then I'm a happy camper.

Don't much care about colors, though I would prefer not to be in all red. (Visually, it broadens an already broad beam)

+ Join the Discussion