Color-Coded Care?

I think there are so many other critical issues to worry about than the color of scrubs.

I currently work in a Level 1 trauma center that is color coded. When I first started working at the facility, I was against it but now I am a fan. Not only does it help the patients identify who is in their room caring for them it helps me identify who I need when I need help. The funny thing about this is the town I reside has two major hospital and they are both color coded in which the nursing staff wear different colors. The town is so familiar with the colors that the one of the colors is known as …blue, and you know where that nurse works based on that color. The hospital is associated with that color it is the facilities mascot color …blue. It is used everywhere in their advertising. i know prefer color-coded care.

I am a fan because I know our patients love it. I work at 1000 bed level 1 trauma center that also has a rehab hospital, children’s hospital, and various outpatient facilities all on one campus with multiple attached buildings. As much as I dislike wearing navy blue, I understand why color coding each department (RNs, RTs, PT/OT, NAs, ets) is beneficial for our patients. Also the other large health system in my city has adopted this and their RNs also wear navy blue. This has helped our community and created some consistency across health systems.

WOW! Great responses…yes, I am now in that group that went to nursing school 40 years
ago and wore a school uniform and cap, stud earrings only (one pair!) and hair back or at collar length.

My Mom just had orthopedic surgery at a different facility than mine and she is in her 80’s and I did like the color-coded uniforms, BUT
a lot is true about what people have said about cost, loss of individuality, multi-departments to color-code, etc…

I think in the end “professional-looking” uniforms such as no low-riders or plunging neck-lines is very important.

In addition, being a RN and a patient at various times in my life from age 7 to 50’s I think so departments are just different such as pediatrics and fun tops should be allowed (honestly at special holidays I have worn them on adult units-if you have to work or be sick at the holidays then keep it “light”).

In the end, double-sided badges as inherently they flip and there are emergency codes on the back! Also, the biggest font and colors possible to identify you. In addition, some type of white board or electronic boards to identify the main players in patient care (our hospital has MD, Nurse, CNA and family close to patient names), and everyone providing a patient service whether nurse, respiratory therapy, PT, housekeeping) should introduce themselves on ENTRY in the room, and everyone should be attentive to patient requests-needs and getting the appropriate help for patient in a timely-safe fashion, and be responsible for patient safety including a reachable call light! Thank you for asking…

Speaking as an RN for 44 years, and a patient, I’d vote for the color coded uniforms–not white. I’ve had surgery twice since 2014, and I can honestly say I didn’t know the status of anyone entering my room until they got close enough so I could read their name tag. Fortunately, the facility’s name tags had RN, PT, LVN etc in big bold letters after their name.

I loved the all white uniform. And yes I dealt with code browns and spurting blood. Plus we didn’t have gloves as those were sterile and were only for surgeons or the occasional doctor request. We learned a folding washcloth technique to clean people up. When I graduated we wore white dresses with white hose and white shoes. And you could always tell who the nurse was. I get the one color thing too, as its hard to tell what department the person works for. I’m just too “old school” I guess.

In my small rural hospital the patients were surveyed and wanted the nurses to stay in white because that is one way they recognized them as nurses. Our nurse techs wear navy blue, radiology can wear anything as well as lab personnel. Survey says. . . . . . .

I thank God they got rid of the caps dresses and belts in my country because they were so hot, impractical and bad for your back. We specially when working in the ED. Trying to perform CPR or restrain someone in a dress was not a good look. Now our thin blue scrubs allow us freedom to move, keeps us cool and healthy. I have not met a man that would like to wear a dress, belt and cap either. Let’s not segregate male And female nurses either. We all have the right to be comfortable and safe in our work attire.

I like when nurses wear white pants n any color tops they want. Gives us some freedom of choice n patients know exactly which caregiver is a nurse!

I have been a nurse for 7 years. The first 3, I worked in a hospital that was color coded. You could buy your own in whatever brand and style you wanted, but RN’s were Navy blue, lab techs wore black, RT’s wore maroon, and CNA’s wore green. I personally loved it and so did the patients. You could walk into a room or a code and immediately know who was who, or look down the hall and be able to identify the CNA or RT quickly. With turnover in nursing as bad as it is, sometimes you don’t always know who everyone is. I now works in a hospital that does not use the color coding, and patients easily get confused and still refer to anyone in scrubs as a nurse.

I guess I don’t understand what the big deal is because since I graduated in 2012, I’ve always had to color-code. In Atlanta, nearly every hospital in the metro area is scrub color-coded for all employees, right down to EVS and transport staff. In addition, I believe all our Magnet designated hospitals color-code. I think the only hospital system that doesn’t color-code is the peds hospital, where they encourage bright colors and patterns. In fact, Atlanta-area wide nearly every hospital that has color-code system and designated RNs as navy blue!

I will add that a color-coded system is only useful for patient satisfaction if the color codes are communicated to the patient. I’ve never worked anywhere that had a specific plan in place to educate the patients on the scrub color-code system.

I suppose the assumption is “someone” will tell the patient, but no one actually does. When patients say “I don’t know who that was” we, the hospital employees, assume that the patient just doesn’t care enough to pay attention.

What would ACTUALLY be useful is to have a sign on the wall in patient rooms that says “Who is my caregiver?” with the color-coded system posted and easy to see. In my experience, patients believe that there are basically two kinds of people working in hospitals: white jackets are doctors and anyone without a white jacket and wearing scrubs is a nurse.

I’ve been an RN for over 35 years. I worked in the CCU all that time. I have seen uniform policies come and go. The idea of color coding the different services so the patients know who is taking care of them I don’t have a problem with as long as the facility pays for the uniforms.Also, the color coded uniforms only work if the patients know what service is what color. If you go to a color coded uniform then you should also post a sign in each patient room indicating which color is associated with each service.

When I worked in a level one trauma center all nurses wore dark blue, techs wore red. The doctors said they liked it because when they looked down a hall they could find a nurse. It did help immensely during a trauma because you knew who was who without having to look at faces or badges. It was much easier to get dressed for the day ☺️

Our organization went to this and I hated it!!! Thankfully it was short lived and we went back to wearing whatever color/pattern we want as long as we look professional. I strongly believe that if nurses are forced to wear the same color than all other professions should also be forced to wear the same color AND the hospital should provide the uniforms if that is the way that want us to dress. My husband is a Trooper with the state police and all of his uniform exept for his tee shirt, socks and underwear are provided by his company at no charge to him.

At our hospital. We went to color scrubs based on you job title. RN wore dark blue. It did make it easier to tell you were RNs vs lab. It was nice to see how many nurses that we worked with

I currently wear the brightest most colorful scrub tops I can find. I work in long term care and my patients love the colorful scrubs, but on the flip side I have worked hospitals that each department was color coded and each nursing unit had a different color I found it helpful and it would be fine with me now, I would not have to decide what to wear every day. I personally don’t want to go back to white and caps unless the male nurses have to wear caps too that’s when I stopped wearing a cap.

This has been debated my whole professional life, in the beginning, females couldn’t wear pants, our hats identified us as RN or LPN and what school we attended. Moving on, hats, pins and absolute colors gave way to scrubs in any color. BTW our MD colleagues had their own secret ID code; short white coats for students and long coats for those who knew “what they’re doing”. It was always an issue when admin presses for conformity using Press Ganey surveys: of course adequate staffing never entered patient satisfaction discussions. I propose we focus on staffing issues, education, available equipment, and scope of practice. The outcomes are much more relevant. Thanks for bringing it up- I can get down from my soapbox now👏

I worked for a very large healthcare system that had allowed anyone to wear whatever color scrubs they wanted to. Then about 10 years ago they mandated a color system for the entire staff. Not just nursing. Through shared governance we got to pick our color of scrubs and every department had to abide by the rules. Nurses got to wear navy, white or any combination of those solid colors. Respiratory chose black, CNA chose ceiling blur, pharmacy chose brown, and etc. The hospital “bought ” our 1st 2 sets of scrubs and we could go from there. There was a lot of staff dissatisfaction in the beginning, but as the culture changed it was really very nice to look at someone and know what department they belonged in. This was a huge patient satisfier as well. I have since moved to another hospital that does not have a strict scrub policy and I find myself truly missing it. As CNAs will wear the same colors as nurses and MD will wear the same scrubs as CNAs. So I see the benefit. I have been a nurse for almost 30 years. So I have seen a ton.

I have only ever worn white since graduating in 1989.

There has always been confusion with patients calling someone in a uniform “nurse”

Uniforms help patients identify personnel. Dr.- White -Nurse white or blue tech—green. People in and out all day. What about name and position tags. Some even recognize institutions by uniform style and color. Be proud of you work and manner not color of uniform. Love you all 😘

In our hospital, color of uniforms worn were designated by department. For example, navy blue is worn by RNs, burgundy color is worn by aides, khaki color is worn by lap personnel, etc. Patients did not know the color code…I had suggested many times that a color code chart be posted so the patients would know what the colors meant…..have the. OLOL. Hart posted in room and/or halls. general on ensus was that white was not favored by any department…Everyone has to buy their own uniforms…Colorful or print tops could be worn for major…holidays only ….

I have to tell you that after 35 years as a Nurse I’ve retired. I have always worn a white uniform and according to my patients it gave an air of professional pride and expertise. Yes, it’s hard to keep a white uniform looking good ( I spent my last 10 years as an IV Therapist) but I have found that the patient’s stress level decreased while I provided service. And by the way I am also a male. Robert RN-ret

I agree on keeping the color specific to specialty. Honestly I don’t like all white either, but maybe if it was surgical green. Just for RN’s. I am a retired RN and I know when the RNs did this when I was hospitalized it was way less confusing

I am a retired RN and have worked in many areas of nursing, the last 20 yrs was in a corp.owned family practice/pediatrics. When I first started it was owned by a community hosp. We were allowed to wear any color/print scrubs ,it was nice for the pt to see all the differnt colors,patterens, especially when in peds and the kids loved the characters. When the corporation took over we went to all one color,drab tops black pants. I know the pts were a little disappointed. I think it certainly made a difference in peds!!

I can see wearing white but if you’re like most nurses is your uniform still white at the end of the day?

I like the all white uniform, but then, I continue to wear my hat! I work for a Veterans hospital and the Veterans know that when I enter the room that I am a Registered Nurse. Many comment on the uniform and thank me for continuing to wear the “traditional” uniform. My response is that it is important to me that when a patient asks a question of someone related to medical issues, that they know they are asking a Nurse. I also state that my Veterans wore a uniform for me, and it is the least that I can do for them so they know what my “branch of service is”. I am a nurse, not a tech, not an LPN, not a social worker, but their Nurse. Even the housekeepers, in another hospital that I have worked in, wore scrubs, so it was even more important to me to represent Nursing both in dress and knowledge. Our hospital is voting on the colors for Nursing and other disciplines and I am Ok with that as long as I can still be allowed to wear my all white.

I worked in a hospital in NM that had scrubs color coded by job. All nurses wore white tops with navy pants/skirt. As patients walked into the hospital there was a big poster with a silhouette wearing a white top and navy pants and it was labeled NURSE. It stated: “If you need help please stop any individual that looks like this.” After 2 months, patients commented that they liked knowing who was coming into their room. There were stories of individuals walking in the front door and being able to get assistance because they knew who could help them. To me this is more important than what I want to wear. Knowing that patients can be comfortable with asking questions because they know who I am is infinitely more comforting to them and isn’t that why we are there?

When I had my first jobs at restaurants, we were wearing black pants and white tops. Whwen I worked for fast food restaurants, we wore the company uniform,nwhatever color (variations of orange and red as that stimulated appetite). When I worked in a nursing hime, housekeepers wore light blue /patterned tops and dark blue pants, nursing wore white lowers , colored tops, and nurses wore white WITH HATS stapled to their heads 9Bobby pins). When I was a housekeeper in a large hospital , females were housekeepers wearing rose print tops and white bottoms. Men wore brown. Nurses still wore variations of white and printed tops. But it wasn’t just the patients that appreciated knowing who was who, Doctors did too. And various other professionals that were in and out. Later as a patient in the same hospital, all staff wore whatever they wanted and yes it was confusing. More recently as a patient in the same hospital, it was still wearers choice and there were so many obligatory cards on the nurses’ name tag holding device, not only was it always flipped over, but it was a mass of other cards, so who knew names unless someone said their name. I prefer dresses and I’m telling you, it is a wild goose chase trying to find modest dresses in colors. Everything is too tight, too short, too low cut. Unprofessional. I don’t see ANY traditional nursing shoes anymore. Coming from a time, the administrator would send you home if you wore white running shoes as your nursing shoes. Not only can I not find any in white anymore, they are those horrible duck shoes.

Some of the comments I have read in this thread justify the saying, “ Nurses eat their young”. I’m currently a student graduating with a BSN in December, and CNA’s can run circles around me. In this field experience is what matters, not a degree. My mom has been a Nurse for 35 years with an ASN, and it’s ridiculous to me that the profession has become so concentrated on academics. I am personally so grateful for CNA’s , LPN’s, and NICE RN’s that recall what it was like to be a newbie.. the ones that are willing to help me. It is a shame that in a field which requires individuals to have a passion to help others, there is some who act entitled. Perhaps the bullies should rethink their career choice… I think you know who you are:)

Where I work, nurses (RN and LPN) wear navy blue or white, or a combination of the two. I like this because it gives us an option of what to wear. I would not like having to wear all white (or a skirt! But it is allowed for females if that’s what we want to wear)- this way I can wear a white top and navy pants or vice vera. It still does look professional, and we still have a little bit of freedom in choosing our work attire.

At first I really disliked color coding. Then one day a pt stated she found it comforting she knew who the nurse was. She went on to say she could not read name tags anymore but could see colors. That was an eye opener. We want our pt.’s to comfortable so that they can heal.

May I suggest progressive education? CNA to LPN to RN to RNP to !MD. It would certainly make some people more empathetic, and level the playing field. Would also add time, experience and income.

What happened to school pins?

Badges should be double-sided to eliminate the ol’ “flip my badge over so I get more (name your reason). Progressive education/ certification could be laddered to the original badge – CCRN, BSN-C, Preceptor, etc.

It’s not the clothes that make the nurse it is the skill and knowledge. Scrubs are much more colorful and enjoyed my most patients. Wearing a hospital name tag and introducing yourself and your designation is more important than what color you are wearing. I have been a nurse for 36 years and although I like white it is not practical and not necessary. I prefer patterned tops and solid pants. I think as long as the clothing is neat and clean it is irrelevant to the care you give. there are so many more important things to think about than what your nurse, pca, doctor, lab tech, xray tech, dietary or housekeeping workers are wearing. I have been a patient many times and absolutely don’t care what color anyone is wearing as long as they know what they are doing.

We have 2 hospitals about 30 miles apart. One of the RNs from hospital A wearing her required color-coded scrubs went on an errand to hospital B. The scrubs she was wearing happened to be the scrubs that housekeeping wore at hospital B. As she was walking down the hall, a patient’s family member called her to the patient’s room and demanded she mop up the mess in the bathroom right now. The nurse tried to explain her situation but her explanation met with an announcement that she was going to be reported to administration for her poor work habits. Thankfully another nurse from that hospital came to her rescue. Imagine the poor nurse’s frustration over a “simple requirement for color coded scrubs.” And yes, she was wearing her name tag but not the same ones from that hospital.

This is America,(USA)known for segregation,racism,anything to identify you with why not UNITY,at least in a most Simple,and Affordable way.

I don’t really know what everyone is in such an uproar about. Most hospitals where I worked early in my career had different color scrubs, if you wanted to wear scrubs, that were determined by the area where you worked. Rose is right in that most patients would probably prefer that nurses wear white.

Back in the 90’s each floor could decide which color to wear. All staff permanently assigned to that floor wore the same color uniforms(scrubs). The patients could easily became confused between the nurses and the support staff. A staff member that was floated to another floor was an oddity. Nurses should stand out, patients should not ever be confused between the nurse and support staff. Wearing certain color uniforms, based upon duties and roles, makes it easier for patients (and family members) to identify the nurse. Wear the white proudly, you earned it!

You can’t beat this idea. The nursing administration where I worked wanted the nurses to wear scrubs with the big letters RN all over them ( like the Riddler on the old Batman show). ( they never asked the doctors to wear scrubs with MD all over them)

I work in MCH. There are studies that show children are more fearful of the white coat than colored, cheerful, age appropriate scrubs. In fact many pediatricians wear colorful ties or chold friendly clothing to herlp put a child at ease.
I dont think mandating color coded uniforms improves care. Keep in mind the Press Ganey scores are being completed by a population that will change with time. Hopefully we wont make a broad change without using EBP to support the change.

Whoa, I didn t know this was a RN/LPN discussion , but since we are here goes-I was told by a LPN that she hated me because I was a RN. Guess what? She learned to love me because I treated her with respect! My unit is a rehab unit and we can wear whatever we want as long as we look professional, we do have fun during the hoildays wearing fun scrubs. We wear name tags so no one confuses us with others.

1961 grad from a hospital based school for LPNs and have been licensed ever since in 4 states. Worked every department except PICU and the OR and took the same certification courses as the “real” nurses. Wore white and caps, even when family needs changed and I took up working in nursing homes. Eventually ditched the uniform for street clothes in alcohol and drug treatment centers which I did for 15 years. My LPN also helped when beginning working on an Associate Degree in addiction treatment. I held dual roles as health educator in several facilities. Finally, before retiring I ended up doing 8 years as assistant school nurse. I will NOT wear scrubs. They’re sloppy looking and most shoes I’ve seen are scuffed, run over and coming apart. Who’s the nurse?? Not sure. If I’m the patient, I always ask since many do not even introduce themselves and their name tags are illegible. Yes I consider myself a nurse since too many times I was in charge of up to 50 patients, or served medications for weeks on active surgical units. Remedy for the uniform question?? Bring back order. White is nice, but each institution and staff should decide how they will face the public they serve.

I have been a nurse for 34 years. I entered the work force wearing white dresses, white hose, and white shoes. Yes stuff does get on the uniform but nothing bleach and a good washing didnt take care of. I was proud of my profession and proud to be a nurse. Everyone knew who the nurse was because we wore all white. We only wore our caps on special days and it was fun to see the different caps. When I was a pediatric nurse I made these apron sort of things with pockets out of material with the cartoon characters at the time so I could easily make instant contections with the children, but people could still see I was a nurse because the uniform was all white. I know I won’t be popular for saying this, but I dont like scrubs. I feel like it looks like everyone is going to work in their pajamas. Its hard to tell you is the nurse vs the housekeeper vs the doctor. I am currently an RN consultant for a memory care unit and to keep up the “home like” environment I wear dress casual but I miss the days of all white!

Ok, if we are color-coding the nurses, then shouldn’t the doctors also be color- coded? They can all wear the same color shirt and different ties to point out their specialties? They are also a professional group just like the nurses. I am also a nurse of over 40 years and remember when we were asked to give up our chairs when the doctor needed it or even bring him coffee.. I remember the long road to be called a professional in our own right. So I say, if color-coding is mandated, then ALL professionals must be required to partake.

I’m an older nurse of 35 years in practice. I’m from the white cap and dress times and as others have mentioned, I’ve seen all the different changes. My employer had use change from colorful whatever we choose patterns and colors to EVERYONE wearing a faded looked like it had already been washed 100 times teal! My employer proved them so they put their name in it. They looked sloppy, faded, drab, and did not fit anyone well. Since the entire range of staff all wore the same thing it was NOT done to help pt know who is who, it was marketing. And Magnet status. Let me just say my pt and families that where inpatient at the change time did not like it. They enjoyed the colors and cheerfulness of the patterns. One family member made the comment that we looked like teal colored robots walking in and out of rooms. Ok so I have liked some color coding in past when done right. I liked it when each unit had a nurses color and you could wear whatever you wanted solid or patterns in that color. WE as staff knew who is who dept wise. All the STNA’s wore one color, housekeeping wore there color. That was helpful. But let’s just say. Patients and families adjust to what ever! They don’t care or understand what Magnet status is or any other agency. If you go in with a smile, identify yourself, give them good care and respect, they will remember YOU!! The nurse that took good care of them!

I think this is horrible in Pediatric hospitals. In the 26 years that I worked in a Pediatric hospital, almost every day a child commented on the cartoon characters on my scrub tops. It helped their comfort level in an often scarey environment. Large RN, etc. badges in Red made it clear for the families what our roles were.

White is OLD SCHOOL and doesn’t stay white for long! Caps collect germs and bump into things! I’m PROUD of both that I had to wear EARLY in my career, but having been a patient (peds and adult) I LOOKED FORWARD to seeing what “my nurse” would be wearing each day! Most hospital systems in my area do the color-coded thing. I LIKE it as it DOES help me to know “who is who (RT, PT, RN, CNA, etc.).” Don’t know if most patients who are not nurses catch onto this and “get the code.” STILL….printed scrubs add interest to the patient’s experience if color-coding is not required and it’s more fun for The Nurse if he/she can express her/his individuality – AS LONG as it is CLEAN and looks PROFESSIONAL.

Patients still ask the housekeeper for a pain pill . . . And as a traveling nurse I’ve worked in many hospitals and trust me, patients don’t know or care who is in which color. On the other hand, I have gotten plenty of compliments on my print scrubs from patients when I’m allowed to wear them.

My facility changed to color coded uniform about 3 years ago. On the unit where I work (PACU) all the employees wear hospital provided scrubs for infection control. I personally like the color coded uniforms, as I immediately know who I am talking to as they enter our unit or if I talk to someone on the floor. I have been an RN for 26 years, recall wearing all white in the beginning of my career and think that color coding is a positive thing for patients, families and co workers.

If the company buys them, who cares. As a patient many of times, I do not pay attention to the scrubs but to the care I am receiving and the manner of delivery.

I just recently joined a healthcare organization that uses color-coded scrubs for their hospitals and clinics. I wasn’t a fan of the idea at first, (probably because I had to wear black scrubs), but after hearing from patients, I am now convinced that this a great concept.

Now, as a patient that receives his care within the company, I am even more convinced. I know what department is interacting with me BEFORE I read the name badge.

While it does take away from the independence factor, (we are individual professionals), it does add to the professional appearance of the organization as a whole.

–David Moberg, MLT (ASCP)

I don’t know if I am one to comment on this subject because I work in the Operating Room and we have always have had to wear color coded scrubs. But, the hospital pays for them and launders them. I have had patients comment that they couldn’t tell a nurse from a housekeeper. The main objection I do have is that company reps wear scrubs. I feel that is completely inappropriate in a patient care setting.

I was a PCA for 12 years and enjoyed every minute of it. I have worked with Cancer patients for 17. I do not like the color coded uniforms.
I’ve had several patients tell me and other staff that they love the colorful (solid and prints) uniforms. It brightens the room and day for them..If you introduce yourself when you go in the room, have your name tag where it can be seen and explain why you are there, patients wouldn’t be confused.

I have just recently semi- retired and only now do private consulting. I too am from the era of all white uniforms, hose, polished shoes and white, clean, starched cap. I always felt proud to wear white and look clean and crisp and I personally liked it. I felt that patients/families and visitors knew who the nurses were vs the other staff.
I do remember the change into scrubs and gradually the loosening of the uniform expectations even further. I do know that through all the changes with uniforms nurses have incurred, many departments have maintained particular colors for identity. Our profession is one to be respected and awarded great responsibility.
I would definately support a standardized color ad I absolutely believe the public respects and appreciates the ability to recognize “the nurse”, and not by the “bumper stickers” that many of us as well as physicians have to wear beneath our name tags.

Why do branches of the military wear uniforms? Why do sports teams? Why pilots? It creates unity and makes it less about the individual, more about the unit as a whole. Uniforms give a sense of pride in being part of the team. It makes them instantly recognizable and ilicits respect from the public. If all medical professions wore a standard color (like in England, there’s a national standard blue uniform) our individual professions would be instantly recognizable.
What I wear is totally unimportant to me. I’m fine with the navy scrubs my hospital uses because i don’t have to worry about what I’m wearing. Ultimately, it’s about patient care. Peds should be an exception, though (hospitals are scary enough.)
Shout out to the LPNs! In Florida, lpns pretty much man the SNFs and ALFs, as most hospitals won’t hire. It’s hard work (I’ve done it) and is the backbone of healthcare in a senior citizen dominated state. We’re all nurses, with different levels of education, yet all professionals. Mutual respect. I’m going back to school for BSN and plan on masters, too, because I want more opportunities. However, I don’t care what letters follow your name as long as you’re a good nurse.

I am now nearing retirement and when I started in nursing I wore white dresses and proudly wore a nursing cap….until said cap fell into a bedside commode. I was doing cartwheels when nursing was told we could wear pants. I was speechless and nearly tearful when when the hospital decided colored scrubs were OK. Currently our non for profit hospital system went to color coded scrubs. In acute care hospital setting we no longer employee LPN’s but they have transitioned to clinic settings. The LPN’s will be happy to know our LPN’s wear the same colored scrub as the RN’s and yes LPN’s are nurses too. All staff were provided with three uniforms – any uniforms purchased after that were the individuals responsibility. At patient admission we provide a informative booklet explaining the colored scrubs – this booklet also has the TV channel guide. RN’s red scrub top, RT,PT, and Xray dark gray, CNA, desk staff wear light gray, house keeping are in burgundy and Bio, IT, and Facilities wear green. I have to admit I wasn’t over joyed at first but I’ve seen a positive response from family and patients. Personally, when approaching a nurses station staff look professional and families when approaching the desk know they need to talk to a person in a red scrub top to fine out their loved ones medical status. As a Charge RN through the years I’ve had several CNA’s venture out of their scope of practice when answering family or patient’s medical questions only the licensed RN or Physician should be answering. Being older I do miss the team nursing model (RN, LPN, CNA team) I’ve work with many remarkable CNA’s and LPN’s. Now days our patient’s are better informed and most of them have researched their condition on the internet. I feel this is a good change – it forces the professional RN to keep her knowledge base updated and current. When a patient or family member approaches an RN wearing the designated color scrub top – the RN will be prepared to take on their educator role.

All the negative back and forth about LPN’s and RN’s get over it, they are nurses! Reality check!
The color coding issue is not new people! All nurses wore white at one time, talk about colorless coding! Oh I forgot most nurses today never wore white, what a pity!
Nursing needs to find better topics to grapple with like overcrowding, demands by pencil pushers who don’t live our reality!

Now offense to the high and mighty RN’s, but all that the LPN’s are saying is that they are nurses too. Their scope of practice may be a little more limited (not by much), but they are still nurses! Being an RN does not give you the right to belittle “just an LPN”. I know some LPN’s who will run circles around some of the RN’s, many LPN’s train new RN’s (yes you read that right) and some of them have been bullied by “I’m an RN” so much that they have thicker skin and can handle a lot more than the mighty RN.

There appears to be valid research on what makes patients feel more comfortable and confident when they are hospitalized. We should be paying more attention to patients’ preferences. In a nutshell, it should be about them not us! As nurses we should be talking and caring more about what is best for patients than our preferences about the color and style of our “working wardrobe”.

I M glad to be out of the all white… however, I am all for color coding. As a nurse and as a patient it is so helpful to know who the nursing staff are and others also. And as nurses, think of the patient and families. How stressful to be in our hospitals with little to no control over anything- they have no understanding of the processes- we rush in their rooms and virtually demand they do our bidding- nighttime isn’t for sleeping as at least a member of nursing is going into the rooms every one to two hours- they have an illness that they now have to deal with and all of it added together is very stressful. As a nurse we are aware of or should be of our bodies reaction to stress. So if nurses are all in one color and the other disciplines are in their specific colors it can only be helpful to staff, nurses, physicians and our patients and families.

I’ve been a nurse for 43 years. When I started, we wore starched whites, cap, white stockings and polished nursing shoes. When we stopped having to dress professionally and started wearing scrubs and tennis shoes, the quality of nurses decreased. I no longer see many nurses that actually care for their residents/patients or sometimes are even aware of what the medications are for that they are giving. When I see nursing instructors eating lunch with their students after clinicals, again I wonder where the professionalism went. I feel the quality of our nurses would return if we went back to whites. They made me proud to be a nurse.

I think it is an absolutely ridiculous practice. I work at a hospital that has mandated colors, and now is changing all of our colors again. Not only do we have to buy said special “antimicrobial” new scrubs from the hospital owned company, they also have to have the hospital logo embroidered on them. The hospital only provides one pair, period. Not one a year, but ONE. And they are over $50 per pair. I can tell you that patients do not pay attention to scrub colors or bold colored name tag with capital letters saying who we are. I am not sure tattooing our position on our forehead would even matter. I work in Peds and we are no longer allowed to wear Peds appropriate tops, because “there is no scientific evidence that patterned scrub tops make a difference in the pediatric population.” Which I can also tell you, after 13 years as a Peds nurse, is completely false. I can’t tell you how many times I have distracted a patient or instantly become their favorite just because I was wearing a ‘Frozen’ top or one with bugs or kittens on it. When you start providing all my scrubs *and* laundering them, you can then dictate to me what I am allowed to wear. As long as I am appropriate and professional, it should not be up to the employer what I wear.

There’s nothing wrong with any color scrub.
My issue is some individuals don’t understand they shouldn’t wear patterned panties with the white scrubs.
Thank you for informing me of you’re “Juicy” rear end, love of “Pink”, or your favorite cartoon character every time you bend over to pick up God only knows what.
We’re professionals. If you’re required to wear white please choose appropriate undergarments with tanktops because no one wants to see your thin lace bra either.
Yes, white is harder to keep clean and pit stains are always fun. If the facility is willing to pay for my white scrubs and clean them. Color doesn’t matter to me. As long as I’m clean, professional, respectful, and kind.

I truly understand nurses (LPNs & RNs) who would prefer to choose their clothing having started out myself as a BSN RN in whites with a cap.

Patients do have difficulty now identifying a nurse from all the different facility staff but a large print identification tag AND establishing a therapeutic relationship work. (Nursing 101) All the letters of appreciation prove that!

When I first became a nurse (42 years ago) , white uniforms were the norm; this included all direct patient care persons – RN, LPN/LVN, Nurse Aids (didn’t have to be certified back then), Orderlies, etc. Dresses for women and white pants and shirts for men; unless you worked OR, L & D/Nursery- then you wore green or blue scrubs.
It didn’t matter if you worked in a hospital or nursing home – You Wore White.
I understand the different colors reasononing; and, it makes easier to get ready for work (which scrubs will I wear today?).
Navy blue is the licensed uniform color when are I work. Thank heavens there are different styles out there. 😉
In a nut shell I’m glad we are out of white uniforms.

I had to do a paper on this subject in nursing school. I hated the white uniforms. I mostly hated the cap. I am tall and with the cap on , I was over 6′. It got stuck on everything.
About color coded uniforms I think what would really help is big ID badges. When I was a patient I would always look for the Badges. It would be better if people just introduce themselves.

I’ve been a nurse for over 40 years. So I do go back to when we wore all white, and we wore our caps. (And every nurse knew how to remove ink and blood from a white uniform! And probably can tell you a story about washing white uniforms with a pen!) And every patient, no matter what their age, could readily identify a “nurse”. I have worked in other countries, presently in a private surgical hospital, where our uniforms are black pants with a black zip-front, short sleeved tunic with an antique gold colored trim (no, not sparkly, just dark gold color). They look nice, and patients can identify us nurses. (PACU nurses wear scrubs, though). I’ve worked other places that have had us wearing navy blue pants with with tunic tops trimmed in navy – with the added bonus of button-on epilettes, again, signifying enrolled nurses (like US LPNs), senior and junior registered nurses. Again, making it easy enough to be identified as a nurse. I like looking a bit more professional! Personally, while scrubs are comfortable, I feel – and look – like I’m wearing pajamas to work.
And I still have my cap – something I’m still proud of, and it represents a lot of hard work, plus a bond with my fellow nurses.
No matter what I wear, though, it’s still the same profession.

I am in an ambulatory setting but housed in a hospital. We are mandated color coding(nursing the color black). Interestingly most clients have said they do not like us in black.
Everyone also wear badge backers with your job classifications.
I am ok with the color coding just not black.

I just wanted to comment about the colors. I work with pediatrics up to geriatrics. I don’t think that the color matters. But as someone replied about everyone being called a nurse even LPN, I am a LPN and I am a nurse. I am still licensed with the state. I don’t appreciate not being called a nurse.

The hospital I work for went to a color coded system a few years ago, and as expected, was met with a lot of resistance, but we adapted, and it became a non-issue. Last month we were informed that there was going to be a change to the color for RN’s to navy blue from Caribbean blue. No big deal, right? However, we are also being mandated to buy a certain type of scrub, that can only be purchased through the hospital, and must have the hospital logo embroidered on it. Why? Because the hospital bought the company. And to top it off, they are expensive, at over $50/set. The hospital will purchase one set, but we have to buy all additional sets of scrubs. We wear name tags with a large RN hang tag. Shouldn’t that be enough identification?

I am a nurse and I think we should wear a different color from CNA’s and ward clerks

Very interesting comments. My overarching opinion is that patients, families, physicians, as well as the rest of the care givers in the hospital all need to be able to identify the professional nurse in order to direct their questions, comments & concerns, and plan of care. I too came from white uniforms, white hose, white oxfords, caps, and a nice gold pin with my (whole) name and credentials. Needless to say THAT is all gone – good or bad. The bottom line was that no one was happy not being able to identify who they were approaching. It is a waste of time to have to approach 3 different people to find the right person. I agree that it is a patient satisfier to know with whom they are speaking. Additionally, I have had many different people in scrubs tell me they ‘are a nurse’ and then find out they are a patient care assistant, LPN or MA etc. A lot has changed in my 45 years as a Registered Nurse, some for the good, some not so good – but I never minded white uniforms and caps. I was one of the last to give up my cap. I was, and currently am proud of my profession and professional contributions. The opinions voices are relative to inpatient facilities as I have not experienced home care.

Hello-
Although I agree with much of what has been said about having options, professionalism, and laundry issues, I whole-heartedly agree with the benefit of easily recognizing the caregiver that enters your patient room.
I have been a nurse for 32 years and have worked in a variety of settings. Although it is ‘old school’ there is a real importance in unified colors. My health system mandates bedside nurses to be in white. This was initially met with some resistance, but has proven to be exceptionally helpful to our patients.
There is some variation in the specialty units across the system (psych, peds, oncology, outpatient surgery) but this has overall brought a feeling of great unity and professionalism.

Color coded care is a great idea. Have the bright colors, but with the code color primary. For example if an RN is coded the color navy blue, match the top and/ or jacket to navy pants using colorful tops with a navy scrub jacket, or navy scubs with a colorful jacket. Let’s not let the color code care take the place of the introduction to the patient.

After accompanying my wife through a week long stay in a busy Medical Center,
I can truthfully say that anything that can be done to easily identify the role of the person who enters the patient’s door is helpful and important, but for sure a badge and a quick introduction at the beginning of the shift was not enough. There are so many barriers: eyeglasses not on, groggy from medication, unclear thinking from illness, sheer volume and variety of people who walk in … But it was the Nurse she always wanted to see.

I have found that even WITH color coded scrubs, most patients try to call everyone a nurse, just because they are wearing scrubs. No matter the color. My own elderly family members doing this was where I first noticed it, but in talking to people who have been patients recently, this persists. It leads to a lot of frustration – recently, one relative has been livid his entire hospital/rehab stay because he asks anyone in scrubs a question, or demands something of them. In many cases, even introducing yourself and stating your role and responsibility doesn’t help a lot… but that’s not to say we shouldn’t do it! It is only polite. I am NOT a fan of color coding by function – I actually don’t think it helps patients, who are not there long enough to realize that maroon is dietary and bright blue is respiratory, etc. We work hard, and it has always made me feel better to use favorite prints and colors to lift my mood. Introductions, perhaps color coded nametags (although subject to same issue as above) with LARGE print for the title… and persistence. I hated white uniforms, being made to wear ceil blue for years was ridiculous… and I guarantee you that whomever picks the mandated color for a particular group is NOT going to pick the color that makes everyone in that group feel good about themselves. One place I worked put a whole unit in gray scrubs… why would you DO that? Patients have always commented on my scrub tops, and some of the quirky patterns I wore when I worked in an inpatient environment – they enjoyed them, and so did I. Looking like one of the herd is demoralizing, and tends to get everyone judged the same if a patient has a bad experience with one member of the group.

I am old school and proud to wear white uniform and cap. Today like everything else things have changed. Good, Bad or indifferent. I remember my Dad at age 99 state that he did not know who was a nurse coming in and out of his room because of different uniforms colors and no caps. I had to agree with him. Today, colors are great especially for different places ex.- PEDS, PYSCH, ETC.. I still am proud of my cap and what it stands for and would like to wear it with or without color uniforms. Know some think a bother to wear a cap, but I earned it and proud of it. I remember when I was a little girl and looked up to my Mother in her starched uniform and beautiful nurses cap wanted to be liked that when got older. Like anything else we shouldn’t lose what nursing is all about and how nurses should stand out as people /patients look to us.

I don’t mind a specific color for each specific groups but white should never be worn !!! It yellows with well water stains and is see though ! It is 2018 we should at Least have a say and vote with what we wear!! Also we spend more money on whites to try and look somewhat clean!!!

I’ve been a nurse for a long time . When I was hospitalized I had no idea who was who . Everyone was in scrubs . It’s hard on the patients . Where I work now we just have color coded pants, you can wear any type of top . I’m proud of who I am and I want people to know I am an RN and now an APN . I worked hard for that title . So color coded uniforms makes the patients happy and should make the nurses happy

I work in an inpatient hospice unit that is affiliated with a large hospital system. We were made fairly recently to go to the “all coded color system” like the hospital. They said it was because of the new term of the decade “SYSTEMNESS” 😞😬😞.
Needless to say us nurses and ancillary staff were not happy. My patients and visitors would frequently comment about how they liked my uniform. Now all of us havt to look the same…. even tho at our free standing unit there are only two major areas… the patient techs and the nurses.
SO to help standout in the crowd… I have collected individual and fun pins to wear.
But as u can tell I am disgruntled. 😬😟

I started nursing with all white uniforms , shoes & those awful caps. Later progressed to lots of bright colors & prints. All my patients loved them. Then I moved to Fl. & had to wear solid navy blue or white. Boring. Patients really do appreciate bright colors in a stressful place like the ER.

I came out of the starched uniform, hose, cap, white oxford era, but after 54 yr in nursing (and still counting!) I find that I can’t tell who’s who by checking name tags. Too many just say “Mary” or whatever. I actually ask the “nurse” in my doctor’s office, “Are you a Medical assistant?”
So I would welcome color coded scrub uniforms so our patients could easily identify us.

What I find help the patient to identify us is not only introducing ourselves to the patients but a name badge. I just started working at a new hospital and each department has a distinct color. I could not remember the colors and what department wore what but a quick look at their badge with name and dept applied actually helped. P.S. I am all for the going back to white however as a child I remember being freaked out by the sight of a lady in white uniform. ( They represented pain, innoculations, etc.)

I believe we have lost that little part of courtesy of introducing ourselves, and KNOCKING on the door before entering the room. With all the high tech the personal side of our profession seems to be dwindling. With that being said I like the fact that patients and visitors know you are a staff person by the scrub. It doesn’t matter what the color but you are safe in asking someone in a scrub for information. They will usually point you in the right direction or inform you where you can get the information. For patients seeing that scrub walk into the room they know something is about to happen, and they have someone they can ask a question to. I love the idea of scrubs for everyone.

I began my career in the white uniform, which transitioned to one color scrubs, then street clothes for a period, and now a mandated white shirt black pants.
There are lots of arguments about what LOOKS professional, and whats best for patients. Why have we lost the respectful practise of introducing ourselves, and taking a minute to explain what they can expect from us? That one minute shows concern for who the patient is, respect for thier needs and expectations, and also respect for thier space. Just because they have consented to a hospital admission doesn’t mean that anyone can walk in and do or say what they want. I think we need to make that minute, and patients, where possible, need to step upto the plate and demand /expect that respect. Is it really what we wear and how we look? I think not. It’s about how we behave. Honestly.

I have been on both sides and although making certain jobs wear a specific color may depress our personal style, it truly does help the patients identify who they are talking too. I am not a fan of all white, for many reasons, but uniform colors are a smart organizational trick.

I believe it makes for happier patients to see the brighter colors. We as health care staff should always introduce our self to the patient for proper identification, that way they know what that individuals position is. Granted during a given hospital stay there are a lot of healthcare personnel that come into a patients room.

I agree, when multiple folks enter your room, and there is no consistency in uniform/colors – I become upset if what I requested was a nurse. I know that no one working now in a hospital wants to go back to white uniforms -and Caps – I would love to see that as a patient. Perhaps only on med/surg floors, but that is usually where us old fogies are.

In surgery it was easy, you wore the teal scrubs in the laundered bins, period. Then years of dialysis where we see the patients 3 days a week usually and they LOVED the expression of our personalities through our scrubs because sitting for 3-4 hours in a drab painted unit can get boring in a hurry apparently! Then we were bought out by another company who demanded we all begin wearing their horribly fitting and monotone dark colored scrubs (they did not paint the unit to at least be brighter LOL). We were all dumbfounded when the patients raised such a fuss about not seeing the colorful scrubs expressing our selves that the company actually allowed our unit to go back to the way it was! I now work as a Home Health Case Manager and have noticed many of my sickest patients react better to my colorful prints or colors than the few darker ones, even on the pain scale which I have watched reactions for in my own info gathering. So, although we must do what each company wants the bottom line is depending on what your specialty is I have found the bright colors can at least help a person with the blues feel a bit better and give you something to start a conversation. I had to wear a nice shiny name tag with every job and always stated “Hello I am your Nurse today”….