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 LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I hated whites in nursing school and burned mine when I graduated. They made me look like an appropriate mate for the Michelin tire man. But I wouldn't quit a job over being mandated to wear whites, although I do mind what it stands for (management showing us who's in charge, as if we could forget).

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I would love to quit over much more arbitrary things than white uniforms. The need for money keeps me grounded, however.

Yes, of course it does. This is exactly why the current glut of nurses was created by nurse employers and educators. The whole false "NURSING SHORTAGE!" propaganda was the tool used to create the glut.

Prior to the intentionaly created glut of nurses employers knew better than to try to force things like white uniforms on their nurses for fear nurses would vote with their feet. before the glut became very apperent in 2008 employers had to at least act respectful to nurses or risk being unable to keep any working for them.

Now that they have suceeded in creating a glut of nurses they are in the power position. Things like mandated uniforms, lower pay, worse benfits, poorer woking conditions, increase nurse to patient ratios, and degree inflation are being brought to bear.

I guess I'm in the minority, but I would quit. I have a killer cycle, and it'd be a hard sell to tell people I sat on a patient's blood somehow. Again.

I'm only 24 and I wouldn't mind if nursing went back to white. I'm about to be graduating with my RN license in two months and our school doesn't even give a pinning ceremony anymore! I feel that this is an important tradition that I'm being completely left out from. While I wouldn't be happy with a nurses cap, I would wear it with pride!

Specializes in hospice.

I wouldn't quit over it but I'd hate it. My clinicals right now are at a place where all the nurses have to wear white. You can bet I will NOT be applying for a job there anytime soon.

Specializes in ICU.
I mean, to each their own but I don't understand how it's disrespectful, it's a dress code. Is it just that specific color? If we were talking dresses and caps etc. I would be the first to jump up and say no way, but to quit a job over a uniform? I just don't get it.

For me it's the color, because of the connotation. I just don't feel like I'm in a respected profession wearing white. It makes me think of all the stereotyped sexy nurses in the TV shows in their white scrubs. I know the whites brought respect back in the day, but I really feel like they are demeaning now. They are a stereotype of the way things used to be, in a "look at that woman working a woman's job with her virginal white woman's uniform" sort of way. I feel objectified and put into the "woman" box instead of the "educated professional" box in white scrubs, and I resent being made to look like a traditional woman in a traditional woman's role. I am anything but a traditional housewife, caretaker, let's-marry-a-doctor type. I realize most nurses are not like that, but I feel like that's what the general public thinks we are, and I prefer to be distanced from that image.

Don't we have more important things to be united about? Sigh..... Sorry guys and gals but this is just petty IMHO. In which universe a color is purposely chosen to oppress us? Maybe I'm naive.....

Thinking about this, I would rather wear white if I could pick the clothes ie white cargo or Jean type pants and stretch cotton (I love my 3/4 sleeve henleys) that fit the way I like my clothes than those gawd awful blue or green scrubs.

I don't find it all that controlling or disrespectful to require a unified color that, say what you want, is universally recognizable as nursing. White doesn't make me feel like a virgin nor is it my best color (prefer dark gray and when I'm in charge..) but I don't find it demeaning to look traditional. Back in the day when I had to wear white, I had an easy patient load and was easily hired, with fantastic benefits. And my first job out of school equalled my dad's straight pay after 39 yrs on the job. It just doesn't give me a bad vibe.

AND I think it would only take a few bloody shows to increase encouragement of BR breaks lol.

Specializes in Psych.

I wouldn't be thrilled about it. But I wouldn't quit. I had to wear white scrubs before. Just had to wear white shorts underneath. I found out the hard way that dark briefs underneath white scrubs aren't a good combo as my female colleagues were quick to asses.

Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.

I would be totally fine wearing a set scrub color, but white? I tried finding white scrub pants that didn't show my panties and could not, that would make for a very long and uncomfortable day. There are so many other colors that are available that look just as professional! Poor choice especially as others have said for us women, more to worry about when it is that time of the month!

Annie

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

To answer the question; I probably would...I have another job anyway. ;)

At my acute facility all nurses are required to wear white pants, may wear any color tops. This was done by upper managemnt to help patients recognize the licensed personnel. My co workers and I had a discussion on the "white pants" one night and most of us would like for the policy to be changed, but know that this will not happen. The opinion of the public outweighs the desires of the staff. When I first started nursing all white was required, and I truly hated it as it seems I am one who gets involved with her work and always came home with some stain of some kind on me. Learning how to pre-treat and use good detergent helped me to overcome my "hating of the whites". Hey, there are a lot worse things going on out there, and if I have to wear white to earn a decent salary for my job, so be it!!

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