Of Going Back to Whites

Starting July this year, some 7000 healthcare workersSquarePants scrubs."
will start to shelf their most loved cartoon characterAccording to the same report, the provisions in the
imprinted medical scrubs and fashionable medicalnew dress policy do not come from administrators of
apparels and accessories as one hospital in Salt Lakethe hospital rather been combed from the employees.
City, Utah implemented a rule banning any inappropriateIt also state that it took about 2 years before the new
apparels to be used in hospitals. That being said,dress code has been finally adopted. However, the
several practitioners had expressed dismay over whatspecific provisions particularly those with regard to the
seems to be a conservative hospital rule. Thetype of apparel, texture, or color that are accepted
University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics adopted awere not from employees but requested to be
rather specific dress code that does not allow denimincluded by managers as according to their judgment.
skirts, faded corduroy pants, sequined tops, baggyThe managers thought that the old provisions are
tops, bigger that 1.5 hoop earrings, and several more"vague and inconsistent" thus needed to be changed.
apparels and accessories."I would sometimes see folks with ripped, holey clothing
Some nursing forums and online social venues alwaysthat might be stylish in a different setting, or they'd be
have topics about uniforms, scrubs, the gadgets and all.at a counter, showing cleavage," Julie Schmidt, RN
And one of the debatable topics oftentimes hasmanager of the emergency department and who
something to do with the conventional white uniformserved on the dress code committee stated the
sets with matching caps against the modern and hipreport. "Or people who like to wear their slippers or
medical scrubs. More often, many nurse, especiallyflip-flops."
those new ones, sided with using the now conventionalThe new policy will also categorize the department
scrubs as their uniform by advancing its benefits likeaccording to colors. All nurses will use white tops
comfort, easy to clean, and ease to use. This made amedical scrubs or uniforms with red, navy or black
little rough opposition to those who prefer whites bypants. Those assigned in the pharmacy will be wearing
saying that their choice of traditional uniforms will baseolives while EMTs and nurse assistants will be the
their professionalism and identity.ones flaunting with red, navy or black scrubs. To make
Going back to Utah, the same reasons were shot upsure this coding will be obeyed, charts are provided in
by the hospitals administration. Primarily, it is aboutevery nursing room.
providing an environment to patients wherein they willThe main reason for these changes is actually
feel comfortable and confident that they are takendecades old. The identity of a nurse is often
care of capable hands instead of that nurses' comfort.compromised and many non-medical hospital
"It's a reflection that we take our job seriously," theemployees are often attributed by patients being
hospital spokesman Chris Nelson said in the Deseretnurses or doctors. So to bring back the orderliness, the
News report. "It's hard to keep that faith in your carecode is set to fully be enforced this July.
provider if the nurse is wearing SpongeBob