[Ilithya]

I think you also have to account for what you have been taking care of all day. If you've taken care of pre-post surgical patients (excision of skin care lesions, total knees/hip, lap chole...) you're probably not going to be 'germ-infested' I'm not saying that your surgical patient doesn't have some kind of unknown illness, but they're just as likely, (well less likely really because of pre-op clearance) as any person you run into on the street. I mean really we've all been in public bathrooms and we've all seen those people who don't wash thier hands... how do you know if that person who last touched that fruit is a post-bathroom handwasher, lol. Just sayings all...

[Kiringat]

Given the choice, I'd rather shop the produce section after a bunch of people wearing scrubs than a bunch of your average Joes (or docs....) who are on the way home from work. At least I can be fairly sure the scrub-wearing folks have passing knowledge of the phrase "infection control" and have washed their hands in the past 12 hours. Not to mention the sneeze into your elbow thing...
That being said, I would love to change in/out of hospital-provided scrubs when arriving/leaving work.

[dream'n]

What about elementary teachers or pre-school/daycare workers. They are probably around more germs than 2 nurses combined Are we as a society going to make them change out of their clothes in the classroom before venturing out in public? When all employed people (cashiers, accountants, real estate agents, etc) have to take the time to change clothes at their workplace before leaving for the day, I will too. Otherwise I'll continue to pop in the bank or run in the grocery on my way home in my scrubs if I need to. And honestly, the rest of the world will just have to deal.

[wooh]

Originally Posted by dream'n

What about elementary teachers or pre-school/daycare workers. They are probably around more germs than 2 nurses combined Are we as a society going to make them change out of their clothes in the classroom before venturing out in public? When all employed people (cashiers, accountants, real estate agents, etc) have to take the time to change clothes at their workplace before leaving for the day, I will too. Otherwise I'll continue to pop in the bank or run in the grocery on my way home in my scrubs if I need to. And honestly, the rest of the world will just have to deal.

Yeah, just imagine the amount of germs on MONEY. Anyone that deals with any cash during the day needs to wear gloves and gown up before and after.

[WitchyRN]

These "civilians" (non-healthcare workers) need to realize that germs are everywhere. There are people that have MRSA etc out in the community that are not on precautions. They're going to the same salad bar as you, the same gym as you, hell, they may even be waiting on you at your local restaurant.

I've worn scrubs home from work but not often. We have many surgeons who wear their regular shoes to operate, with no shoe covers. In the OR, you're covered with a sterile gown anyway and even fresh clean scrubs are in no way considered sterile. I don't have a problem with nurses and docs wearing scrubs home, as long as they're not covered with gunk.

[MAISY, RN-ER]

Lab coats have been proven to carry horrible germs, but then again during my microbiology swabs the school elevator button was swarming with all kinds of nasties that the public toilet did not have! I understand this same thing goes for hotel bedspreads, carpets, cloth covered airplane and train seats, shopping cart handles, gym equipment and any shoes that walk anywhere!

I wear my scrubs, I don't roll all over patients, the floor or surfaces. I am no more dirty than the guy who's in the hospital all day visiting someone, or the babies allowed to crawl on the floor! YUCK! Actually, I am probably cleaner.

Our ID physician told us as ER nurses we are more likely to encounter TB infected patients in the "real" world than in the hospital!

Anyway this is my ,

Maisy