Graduating w/ only 1 pair of scrubs

Nurses General Nursing

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I plan on going to CNA school soon and they're only giving me a pair of scrubs. 1 dark blue top and 1 gray bottom. I was told by a clerk at a uniform store that a travelling nurse she deals with directly says she has different colors for different hospitals. I never thought hospitals gave a damn about the color scrubs you wore so as long as they were clean and you showed up to work on time with what you know you're supposed to have and to do your job.

I don't know where I want to work when I graduate. A hospital that pays CNA's really good requires CNA's to have a year of experience at least. That leaves me open to any facility. The VA doesn't hire CNA's I don't think. Scrubs(I think) are a bit pricey. I thought a top could go for $5-10 but nope. A store here in Vegas sells tops ranging from $30-50 and I'm a college student. I don't have an employer that will give me a stipend for uniforms or a discount for the store. What the F.

I thought about working for Maxim but because I'm not even in CNA school they really didn't give me the details on what I should expect as I contract for them(scrub colors, stethoscope requirement, etc).

When you guys graduated CNA/LPN, or Nursing school, how did you buy what you needed when money was tight? Is it true that anything you buy for your job(pens, scrubs, watches, stethoscopes, etc) can be written off on your taxes?

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It really just depends on where you work. Some places let you wear whatever you want and others have you wear color coded ones according to your position. It's just the way it goes. Scrub stores often have clearance racks with multiple colors, and scrub shops online also have sales. I've spent as little as $5 and as much as $35 per item. Hunt for discounts, and wait until you are gainfully employed and know what is expected of you before going shopping.

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Specializes in ICU.

You wear whatever your facility asks you to wear. You don't get to wear what you want. I'm curious as to what made you think any color of scrubs was ok. Have you been to either a hospital or LTC? Most places color code their employees. Except in peds. They can wear kids tops.

You were given a pair of scrubs? Consider yourself lucky. I bought every pair in school.

Does it really matter if you can write it off on your taxes? Lol. I guess guy can write off $40 for a pair of scrubs. And yes, I said $40. Where can you get $5 scrubs?? I want to know where your research led you tomorrow that.

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Specializes in ICU.

I don't get a stipend for scrubs either. Did you dream all of these assumptions? A uniform stipend??? Hmmmmmm, would be nice.........

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Wait until you get a job before you buy more scrubs. Some require a specific color, some let you wear anything. I got a few scrubs tops at uniformadvantage.com for less than $10 in the clearance section. I'm sure other scrub shops have similar deals. Walmart carries scrubs too. You could try goodwill or resale shops too. Good luck!

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If money is too tight to buy supplies then you work more, or take out more loans, or beg. You're responsible for what you need. My school did not provide scrubs and our scrubs were monogrammed and thus - expensive. There was no cheap alternative for the tops. My job also requires monogrammed tops which means that again, I'll be spending a small fortune on scrubs. And no, we don't get a stipend.

As for stethoscopes - you get what you pay for, to some degree. I know for nursing school other supplies included things like pen lights, school supplies, a watch, a badge bug, bandage scissors, ekg calipers, and a lab kit that cost near 100 dollars and included a lot of practice supplies. Plus books, of course.. so many books. And then once you graduate you still have to pay for your license. A nursing license in Florida costs around 400 dollars all told. All of this before I got a job.

Btw if you go to most larger chain uniform stores with your student ID you will get a discount - just ask.

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Specializes in Pedi.

"Only" giving you one pair of scrubs? In my four years of nursing school and 9 working years as a nurse, I've been given precisely 0 pairs of scrubs.

I don't have an employer that will give me a stipend for uniforms or a discount for the store. What the F.

I fail to see why you would expect them to. This is not customary. In places like the OR or Labor and Delivery, nurses will change at work into company scrubs but they need to sign them out at the beginning of the day and sign them back in.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.
You wear whatever your facility asks you to wear. You don't get to wear what you want. I'm curious as to what made you think any color of scrubs was ok. Have you been to either a hospital or LTC? Most places color code their employees. Except in peds. They can wear kids tops.

You were given a pair of scrubs? Consider yourself lucky. I bought every pair in school.

Does it really matter if you can write it off on your taxes? Lol. I guess guy can write off $40 for a pair of scrubs. And yes, I said $40. Where can you get $5 scrubs?? I want to know where your research led you tomorrow that.

Not every place dictates what you wear. Some places you can wear what you want.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

If you're fortunate enough to be allowed to wear a combination color, all you'll need is 2 sets to cover your three 12-hour shifts.

Example: one blue set; one gray set >>> all blue one day, all gray one day, blue on gray one day, gray on blue one day. Four sets total, but only needed three.

Gotta work with whatcha got.;)

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Wallyworld has inexpensive scrubs. I sew my own tops, only a yard or so of cloth, and I get stuff on sale.

My hospital doesn't color code, we wear pretty much what we want, as long as there are no logos or sayings. They also supply scrubs, and many folks just change when they get there.

If you make enough annually to itemize, yes you can take professional expenses off taxes. But you need a lot of deductions before it is worth it, such as mortgages and professional dues, etc. If all you are deducting is the cost of scrubs I doubt it will be more than your standard deduction. (I am not however a tax expert!)

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allheart.com has scrubs that are very affordable, check out the website.

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Specializes in NICU, RNC.

Cherokee has $11 scrub pants on Amazon in every color imaginable. The fit is good on me (I need tall option), tons of pockets, and comfy.

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