Mandatory White Uniforms for RN's- your experience

Our facility is looking to go to white uniforms for RN's because of uniform recognition. Research shows that when test members are shown pictures of people in scrubs, they almost always pick the person in white as the nurse. Currently, we have no restrictions as such; except our ICU's wear blue and OB/OR wears hospital issued. There is a group of us that do NOT WISH to wear all white.

What color do you wear at your facility? I am looking for where you are from, what type of nursing you do, and what the rationale is for what color you wear.

Location: Pittsburgh PA
type of nursing: Progressive Cardiac Care Unit - post ops, step down, telemetry
color of scrubs: maroon
rationale: I wear maroon because that is our floor color :redpinkhe

Thanks in advance for your help. I am attending a focus group committee and would like some data to take that helps our cause.
Doctors won't wear white (except for a loose-fitting lab coat) because white makes everyone look fat. Think about it.The Navy is the longest-running institution that has a white clothing fetish, and look where they ended up--giving the boot to everyone who looks fat. Think about it.Maybe white on women gets them recognized as nurses, but white on men gets them recognized as food service or barbers. Or Navy. Think about it.Oh, and what will LPNs wear? Think about it.

I don't currently work on a floor with a uniform, but many of the units I have interviewed with do have a uniform policy..Location: New Orleans, LAtype of nursing: Med/Surgcolor of scrubs: White and/or greenrationale: Affiliated University school colorsLocation: New Orleans, LAtype of nursing: Oncologycolor of scrubs: Navy and/or greyrationale: I think it was just their floor colorsI also was a nursing assistant on an L&D Unit and they were considering uniforms beyond just the hospital issued ceil blue. Purple for L&D/ante/post partum, pink for NICU I think. But EVERYONE (including MDs, MWs, NAs, RNs, UCs) would be required to wear them, so it was more of a way for a way to distinguish Maternity Units and the rest of the hospital.

I worked on a unit that had white for a nurse floor color. We all hated it. It stains so easily, you can't wear any different colored clothing underneath cause it shows right through. I understand the reasoning of people picking our nurses in white, but it's time to move on and wear colors that may cheer people up. I don't think white uniforms cheer anyone up.

I work in a 248 bed community hospital in Central PA and come Jan 2010...all RN must wear solid navy or solid white. Footwear must be white, black or same color as your uniform and socks much be solid colored...white black or same as your footwear...additionally, footwear must not be mesh, it has to be a wipe-able material...leather or leather-like. LPN's Caribbean blue and CNA's misty green. I am so not happy...I love my Tafford print tops and solid pants with matching Dansko's but, it's hospital wide and the union has done anything that I am aware of to prevent the policy from going into effect come Jan

Our facility has different colors for different units and departments. For example, all of the radiology techs wear one color, CCU nurses where a specific color, as well as ICU. Peds can wear scrubs with bears and pictures. The tele and med/surg nurses wear white. I wore white as a student and didn't like it. We wear blue in the ED, which I think is better. I think darker scrubs should be worn in areas where nurses are going to be exposed to more more blood.

Where I work, all nurses, regardless of department or whether they are an LPN or RN wear white. This includes all the hospitals that are affiliated with the one I work for. They went to this policy about 5 years ago. Most MD's that are not in dress clothes also wear white, especially the surgeon's. I think they also did some research study with patients, and they said that they know who their nurses are when they are in white. Our PCNA's wear hunter green, respiratory is in navy, phlebotomists in red/grey, etc...I don't find it that awful... you always know what you are wearing to work, don't have to worry about matching anything. As long as you have a change of clothes in your locker, it's not too bad...

I work on a med surg onc floor in wash state. All RN's, LPNs, and CNA's must wear white pants and white shoes. We can wear any top we like, including non scrub type tops but we can't have childish prints.We were told the same thing you were, they quoted the studies you talked about.I don't mind it too much but you can always see peoples underwear, some people have had to be counseled for wearing THONGS! Also when you are having your period it is a bit scary. You always know when some are on their period because they refuse to wear the white pants during that time. (sorry, maybe too much info but true ha ha)So maybe you could suggest just white pants and shoes. I cant imagine wearing a white top too...Oh all the bras we would see! :chuckle

Whites. LPNs and RNs. I like it. I wore them anyway, before starting here. No matter how confused or disoriented my patient he instantly knows what my purpose is and trusts me.

This is not an official "research" study, but I find that if I walk into a patients room in navy or green or black etc, (with a big badge that says "RN") the pt and family ask questions and treat me with respect. BUT the times I've worn white all I get asked for is bedpans, water and "tuck me in", "turn off my light." Now don't get me wrong, I still do all this stuff when not in white but I find ppl don't take me as seriously in white. They say, "oh, you must be the nursing assistant" or "You must be a student?" Plus, I will manage to get blood/mucus/feces/urine etc on it so i'd rather not have stains all over me. I do agree that people shouldn't be wearing silly prints either.

Hello AllWhen I first wored in USA I was really confused with colored scrubs All RN's in Australia wear a uniform that is decided on . Can be a combination of pants, skirts, 3/4 length pants in summer with a shirt/vest/cardigan with hospital logoThe only people who wear scrubs are OR staff and surgeons outside OR

If your facility is mandating what you wear in terms of specific uniforms that should at least pay for them, supply them or give you something towards laundering them.It is time to move from old sterotypes.

Location: Memphis, TNFacility: For profit hospital, approx 600 bedsMy floor: Medical-Surgical ICU / Cardio-Neuro ICUThe Uniform: ALL nurses (RN, LPN, APN) that are hospital employees wear a combination of ciel blue (light blue) and white. Most people just wear all blue.The Verdict: At this hospital different professions have different color uniforms (RN blue, UAP green, Food service black bottom/white top, etc). I don't mind because it is easy to dress for work (all scrubs match), and we look more professional since we wear the same colors. In general, though, white stains easily, is hard to clean, and you BETTER be wearing neutral underwear. I'll stick to powder blue, thank ya very much!