Ironing your Scrubs

Nursing Students General Students

Published

Okay, I just got a job as a CNA, I am a pre-nursing student waiting for my acceptance to the RN program in San Antonio Baptist, and this is my first time really wearing scrubs in a facility other than my CNA clinicals. As I was ironing my scrubs for my orientation next week, an episode of Grey's came to mind where George was talking about how his mother irons his scrubs. And I realized that I may be acting a bit old-fashioned (36, mother of 3) in ironing my scrubs. Are scrubs not supposed to be ironed? I realize we are not interns or whatever, but my scrubs came out of the wash very rumpled, and I hate looking sloppy!

What do y'all do, given that you have the time and wherewithall, iron or not?

-natasha

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

I never iron my scrubs for school or work. Instead, I throw them in the dryer for 15-20 minutes. That way they are wrinkle-free but not stiff in appearance, and I can be doing something else with that time while the dryer's running.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I used to work at a dental office and never ironed my scrubs but I feel like I have to look presentable at clinicals so I iron them the night before, but not everyone likes to iron i guess if you take them out of the dryer right away and put them on a hanger they will look fine

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Hillbilly iron is all i do

Bring them into the bathroom when I shower. I dont iron much of anything and am not about to start

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My hair is just like the "before" frizz in shampoo commercials, so I flat-iron it most days. And my Chi works wonders on those wrinkles around the edges and collars. No need to iron, just a touch-up here and there. My hair, on the other hand...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm "old school".

I starch and iron. It just looks sharp.

Nobody wants a sloppy nurse.

I keep my shoes clean, my nails short and my hair up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.
Okay, I just got a job as a CNA, I am a pre-nursing student waiting for my acceptance to the RN program in San Antonio Baptist, and this is my first time really wearing scrubs in a facility other than my CNA clinicals. As I was ironing my scrubs for my orientation next week, an episode of Grey's came to mind where George was talking about how his mother irons his scrubs. And I realized that I may be acting a bit old-fashioned (36, mother of 3) in ironing my scrubs. Are scrubs not supposed to be ironed? I realize we are not interns or whatever, but my scrubs came out of the wash very rumpled, and I hate looking sloppy!

What do y'all do, given that you have the time and wherewithall, iron or not?

-natasha

Step 1 in elevating yourself in a professional position is looking like a professional.

Ironing scrubs is step 1 to that goal.

I personally, can look down the hall and tell you who irons their scrubs and who doesn't...scrubs look like you have slept in them if they are not ironed.

Now, the ONLY scrubs I have found that do not need to be ironed is the Greys Anatomy scrubs..if you hang them up as soon as they come out of the dryer...they are 100% wrinkle free and they look great at the end of your shift.

Otherwise, pull out the iron AND the spray starch...takes 2 minutes and leaves a lasting impression.

To me, what kind of time you are willing to make yourself look presentable is directly correlated to how much time you will take caring for a patient.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I iron my scrubs just cuz...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I remember my mom doing my father's thick, twill whites. She put stretchers in the pants legs and totally wet the uniforms with liquid starch to iron. Pure hot, daily slavery.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in gyn.

Occasionally I iron - it depends on how my scrubs look when the dryer is finished. The cool down setting on my dryer is AWESOME!

Now I almost always iron my scrub jacket (higher cotton content, so it wrinkles easily).

At a previous job, the young heathcare assistants would come to work looking like they had just rolled straight out of bed, and it cast a very unprofessional impression on our patients and anyone else who walked in the door. Hair looking a mess, untucked undershirts, scrub pants too long, crust in their squinty just got up eyes. BAD. The seasoned nurses and upper management began to comment on it.

I'm not saying everyone should do a full face of makeup (or any make-up at all, who has time to retouch?), I do think you should take pride in your appearance. Put yourself in the patient's place. A nurse who can't even take care of her grooming certainly can't do mine.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
A nurse who can't even take care of her grooming certainly can't do mine.

That has always been my mantra.

Don't think pt's don't notice, either.

They sure do.

I notice it when I am a pt, myself!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.
Hillbilly iron is all i do

Bring them into the bathroom when I shower. I dont iron much of anything and am not about to start

I love doing this lol! But I usually do it with my dress clothes..rarely do I ever iron my scrubs for work(I'll do it if they come out extremely wrinkly). I'm starting nursing school soon, and last week in orientation, a lot of the nursing instructors were talking about how they expect our uniforms to be ironed:uhoh3: :uhoh3:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CNA.

I always iron my scrubs on the first day of a clinical rotation. The instructors are looking for uniform boo boos mostly on the first day.

After that it's wash n' wear!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment