Professionalism and Nursing uniforms

[PWhite]

White works well with bleach, which is also a disinfectant!!

[poliopilot]

And white is what most of the elderly patients remember nurses wearing.

[crazyscrubs]

Has anyone worked somewhere that required a wild print or themed scrub set? Would you rather have the choice to wear any print or do you just want the administration to choose a uniform for all to wear?

[PWhite]

Oh yes! .... Madeleine, "over here" we have to buy EVERYTHING.

The only time work clothes were provided for me was when I was an OR nurse and they were green scrubs. I did have to buy special "non static" shoes however.

Since then, I also have to buy my own BP cuffs, stethoscope, drug book etc.

As a Visiting Nurse, taking care of the elderly, I wear a white culotte, decorated tee shirt, lab coat, hose. and white shoes. There is NEVER any discussion as to who I am unless I have to tell them that I am NOT the Doctor and that, to me, is a sad commentary on Nursing dress.

[Memie again]

I personally don't like uniforms! Think about it, how many professional people with our years of training, inservices, technilogical expertise have to wear a uniform. Years back I heard a comic say if your over 30 and wearing a name tag, you haven't made it.

Also some years back as DON of a Nursing Service, as I went in a white uniform was required. DONs in the hospitals, patients in the home situations, and yes even the nurses and aides took one look and saw a person in service.

As I argued the Director of the Agency to disregard the uniform requirement, and was allowed to wear street clothing the change was significant. Often in a suit coat and even in a lab coat over my clothing, I was viewed as an authority and not on a subservient level.

I am aware it is different in the hospital setting, cleanliness (from things in the environ there) are important. But still, I prefer and have choice, scrub design or color. Why is it so important that patients or family know who are the nurses? She is the one who comes in, introduces herself and does professional things to them. She doesn't have a mop, she hangs IVs and passes the meds, inserts tubes of all kinds. IF some one is looking for the RN assigned to a particular patient, they still have to ask "Who is so and so's nurse" among the RNs on the floor.

We are professionals with a high level of education, enhanced by our experience and know-how. How many professionals outside of the field wear uniforms?

[Memie again]

In answer to Madeleine, here in the States, most hospitals I am aware of do in fact come from home in the clothing, including shoes, that they wear on duty. The only departure I am aware of is OB, Surgery, and Recovery.

The biggest threat I think of is what one brings back home, there have been shifts where I go home and go immediately to the laundry room, strip down and throw my clothing in the washer.

This has been my experience, and I have worked many hospitals in the area when I worked agency.

[beachman]

nurses must wear blue or white in a combination. or all white. not all blue because physical therapy wears all blue. i like the deifferentiation because now you know who nurses are. before eveyone was in a scrub suit and who was who. On my bald head I also have R.N. tattoed there for further clarification... lol, beachman

[NurseEducator]

Interesting perspectve Madeleine. GMdm,I work part time an outpatient infusion setting and we wear a lab jacket with embroidery on jacket and we can wear scrubs of any color, style, or pattern with it. How about 2 choices such as white and one color or a 2 mix of colors to give it some style or options. Also, reminder don't forget to include a color that is gender neutral. We want our males to feel comfortable as well.

[copperrose]

Love your baby NurseEducator! If my Nurding Hx is correct nurses wore white originally so the uniforms could be bleached and washed easier. I used to wear white slacks and a solid top and print lab coat. This idea could work well for the RN's. White is certainlt genderneutral and you could wear any scrub top pr lab coat you wanted. There needs to be some way of diferentiating the RN's and the rest of the staff. As much as some people hate uniforms a patient needs to know who they are talking to. There was a nurses aide where I used to work who would give pt's all kinds of WRONG education and the pt's believed her. She later got fired for that and other reasons but we all wondered how many patients received what kind of wrong information. If you can pick out the nurses from the other staff that goes in and out of the pt's rooms, tthe patients would know who could answer their questions correctly.

[TexasMed]

My Hospital is now requiring nurses to wear a larger title badge under their identification badge in the ER as well as having color coded scrubs that correlate with your job.

[sccrna22]

Our hospital has been doing this for the past two years. It works great and gives everyone in the hospital a since of security. Great concept and more hospitals should considered doing this.

[PWhite]

As I have posted before, I, in Home Health, always wear white. Today, I saw a pt for the first time. Evidently she was less than pleased with the previous Nurse. She later told me that she knew as soon as I walked in that I was the real experienced Nurse. Thus proving that attire does matter.

[maire]

nurses must wear blue or white in a combination. or all white. not all blue because physical therapy wears all blue. i like the deifferentiation because now you know who nurses are. before eveyone was in a scrub suit and who was who. On my bald head I also have R.N. tattoed there for further clarification... lol, beachman

When you get to the pearly gates, St. Peter will have no problem figuring out where to send you when he sees your tattoo!

[beachman]

I hope so............. is there a beach in heaven also.

[RyanRN]

Ha! beachman and heaven may just be on Long Island - I think I know where you are - lucky man - short walking distance to water during lunch! That IS heaven!!!- 5 years ago I worked where the 'horror house' is located!!

(I'm sure you'd look just fantastic in pink or purple scrubs too!)