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Nurses' scrubs to get a more uniform look
Many of the workers at Mary Washington Hospital, including the nurses, will soon be subject to a dress code
Date published: 5/29/2008
BY JIM HALL A nurse buying lunch in the Mary Washington Hospital cafeteria recently wore white scrub pants and a colorful scrub top, a printed fabric in bright red. Her outfit was appropriate, but soon it won't be. "I have a little time," she said, smiling. Beginning Sept. 1, Mary Washington will adopt a "professional clinical attire" policy, better known as a dress code. Patients, families and visitors will know instantly that the workers dressed in navy or white scrubs are nurses. Hunter green scrubs will signal nursing assistants, technicians or unit secretaries. "This is a pretty significant change for us," said Eileen L. Dohmann, vice president for nursing. Hospitals in Virginia and elsewhere have adopted similar dress codes in recent years. For many, the change recalls an earlier era when nurses were easily recognized in their white dresses, white shoes and white cap. At Mary Washington, the change will affect about 1,000 people, or 25 percent of the workforce, and has been greeted with mixed reviews. "I think it's a good thing," said Vera Lloyd, a nurse on 4 South. "People don't know who they're dealing with. The person who cleans the room walks in, they think that's your nurse." Michele Green, a certified nursing assistant on 5 South, said: "I'm definitely for the change. I think it will be a lot more professional." Other nurses are opposed, or as Dohmann said, "Not everyone thinks change is a wonderful idea." Most nurses wear "scrubs," the loose-fitting cotton pants and V-neck tunics. The tops come in a variety of bright colors and prints, or even cartoon characters, for those in pediatrics. Plain blue or white, as required by the new code, will be "boring," one nurse said. Nurses also complained that white will be hard to clean, and that they have a closet full of scrubs that soon will be obsolete. Replacing them will be expensive, they said. (Some nurses asked that their names not be used because they didn't want to publicly criticize the new policy.) The Mary Washington Hospital Foundation has agreed to pay for two sets of scrubs for every affected worker. Homecare America, the medical supply store owned by MediCorp Health System, the hospital's parent company, earlier this month sponsored a show and sale of the new uniforms at the hospital.
Read more stories about Fredericksburg Date published: 5/29/2008
Must have hit a nerve
(posted by
Getitright
, June 15, 2008 11:54 pm)
Sure is nice not to read a bunch of moaning. It just goes to show that if you cover the facts and present your argument in a polite, positive manner, those with opinions that may be contrary will eventually catch on. Thanks to all of you for finally getting it right! Cheers!
Sounds like a bunch of moaning women
(posted by
Getitright
, June 13, 2008 7:34 pm)
Nursing is predominantly owned by the female gender. It is fitting then that all of this confusion over what color uniform to wear to work would create such an outpouring of whiny estrogen. I find it amusing personally. Might it have something to do with that women's lib thing? You know, the part about someone telling a bunch of bossy "I'm in charge here" women what color uniforms to wear? Identifying personnel is paramount. Hey, I have the answer! They should have offered to buy all of you Kleenex!
WHITE??? Get Real
(posted by
TicklemeElfmo
, June 12, 2008 8:25 am)
I'm an RN and don't have a problem with a dress code
that's practical. Wine, Navy, Green, Blue, whatever color is
fine with me, but white has never been practical in
healthcare.
On a daily basis nurses deal with blood, urine, vomit, feces,
as well as liquid spills, and food messes. White is about as
practical as diapering a baby in a paper towel. In addition
women still get their menses once a month and white
doesn't exactly make it practical there either.
Immature
(posted by
ecbs354
, June 4, 2008 10:43 am)
Disputing this policy is just immature. I can't believe that some nurses are worried about having stripes or looney tunes on their scrubs. It's absolutely unnecessary. Will it really kill you to wear blue or white everyday? No. Will you be living on the streets after you accept the two pairs of scrubs that Medicorp is providing, and then buy a few pairs of your own? No. I beg of you, take a step back and realize how empty your argument is. All this whining is not very becoming.
by the way mommyrunner
(posted by
Katie
, May 31, 2008 11:16 pm)
nobody mentioned the word stupid except for you, and there is no doubt in my mind that the nurses on the floor work a lot harder than dohman and kane!
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