When I started out in nursing, the hospital I worked at required CNA's to wear cranberry, RT's to wear teal, and RN's to wear royal blue. We could wear certain scrub tops that were approved and that matched the royal blue pants. The hospital did not pay for them.

When I moved and got a new job, there were no standard uniforms. We could wear whatever we wanted. Some people took this too far and started looking a bit unprofessional - scrub pants with little t-shirts that actually showed off belly buttons when the nurse moved around.

A committee was formed to discuss the possibility of requiring standard uniforms. Most of us in ICU (and the hospital) were completely and totally against it. We liked our individuality and we didn't want to look the same.

Most of us felt it was up to the manager to take care of those who were dressed inappropriately.

The idea was eventually shot down, but I found it most interesting that the hospital was prepared to buy everyone's uniforms for them, the number of which was to be based on how often one worked.

I'm curious about how many out there are required to wear a certain type/color of uniform?

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code blog

I wear what I want, but then I am not looking after patients. In the UK it is usual for the employer to provide the uniform and you to have to conform to the policy of wearing it correctly. In most instances these days it will consist of trousers (pants to you) and a tunic.

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Julie
http://www.lifeinthenhs.wordpress.com

At the hospital, We wore what we wanted. It was within reason. If you wanted to wear a T-shirt with scrub pants it had to be covering and plain. I wore solid colored scrubs because I thought (just my opinion of course) that taking care of the crack addicts and homeless in SpongeBob scrubs would cause disruption and earn me less respect.

Now, in an office, I still wear my own scrubs. And on Fridays, we get to wear Jeans with which I always wear a Dressy casual top with.

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~Jo RN
Endocrinology/Infertility
formally Internal Med Hospital nurse.
http://jodaya.blogspot.com/

Since I'm a nursing student, I chose that I am able to wear whatever I want. We can, but this year for the first year students, apparently they all have to wear the same uniform.

That's interesting. Around here it is the students who have to wear a uniform -- generally a specific color of scrubs, often to match their school's colors. I feel sorry for those from the Catholic Uni's whose colors are purple and something -- they can wear all purple and either a purple or white top -- when they wear the latter they have been referred to as "easter eggs."

I know that as soon as I graduated I swore I would never again wear forest green tops and bottoms together.

I think student nurses wearing the same uniform is a very good idea but my university decided to start it this year only for the first year students. The uniforms do say the school name which isn't all that great once they graduate. I was super confused last year because it was like "Where do I buy scrubs? What color should I get?" I finally decided to buy a solid navy blue uniform and a purple uniform.

I am able to wear anything I wish to work as long as they are scrubs. There is no color code that I must follow. The scrub tops can be printed or solid.

Now, if you ask my husband what nurses should wear, he thinks we should all wear white and caps. He says when he's in the hospital he wants to KNOW if he's talking to a nurse or not.

I suppose he has a valid point; but I'm sticking to my guns and I will NOT wear a cap again. They are just way to cumbersome.

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www.MyOwnWoman.blogspot.com

Haha, that's funny. There really is no color code to follow here, but some days when I'm at clinical there are nurses that are wearing hoodies! It's quite weird, but the hoodies do look very comfy.

My nursing school required us to wear solid Teal Green scrubs. With the school program patch on the left sleeve.

I'll never wear Teal again.

I was jealous of the Univ. of TX students in their burnt orange. (Big deal in Austin,TX)

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~Jo RN
Endocrinology/Infertility
formally Internal Med Hospital nurse.
http://jodaya.blogspot.com/

Once a year during Nurses' Week, I wear all white and my cap to work. My patients treat me with total respect, my co-workers have their opinion that I am nuts confirmed.

On a day-to-day basis white really is impractical. So I wear Navy Blue solid with my name embroidered on the left pocket (I buy them) and I'd still wear my cap if I could. It's totally cool.

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The ER is the only place where you are rewarded for efficiency by getting more patients!

Kim
http://www.emergiblog.com