One set of scrubs?

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Can you get by with just one set? We will only have to wear them one day a week and money is tight, really would like to just get by with one. They recommended two...

At clinical sites does anyone bring an extra pair with them in case something gross happens to the set you are wearing?

You could get by with one for awhile but eventually you will need a second (maybe even a third), so start saving those pennies and look for sales or maybe even used scrubs from craigslist or from graduating classmates.

My school has a scrub recycle program where the graduating class donates them and the SNA sells them for $5 each (per top & per bottom). Ask your school about something like this and if they don't have it, maybe they will start it because you asked! :)

I know for me, we are having clinical now twice a week (2 days in a row mostly) and you should always wash them as soon as you get home because you never know what kind of germs and gunk may be on them.

You don't want to bring that home to your family OR to your patients.

Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.
You could get by with one for awhile but eventually you will need a second (maybe even a third), so start saving those pennies and look for sales or maybe even used scrubs from craigslist or from graduating classmates.
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What makes you say that? I'm starting my sixth of seven semesters and I've not needed a second or third set. If we had clinicals more than once a week, or if I were going to be wearing them after I graduated, I could possibly understand your reasoning, but if I'm going to be wearing them once a week, why am I going to eventually need more than one set?

I have two sets so far, but I'm eventually going to buy three more sets for a total of five, because once I have class/clinicals five days a week I'm going to want to do laundry only once a week... I have enough laundry to keep up with, what with 3 kids running around my house ;) We are required to wear our scrubs at all times - lecture, lab, clinicals. Everyone has different uniforms, requirements, and schedules. I'm just happy that I *like* my uniform - I don't think I'll want to pile them up and shoot them with a flamethrower upon graduation, but I may be singing a different tune after I've gone through all the stress ;)

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What makes you say that? I'm starting my sixth of seven semesters and I've not needed a second or third set. If we had clinicals more than once a week, or if I were going to be wearing them after I graduated, I could possibly understand your reasoning, but if I'm going to be wearing them once a week, why am I going to eventually need more than one set?

Did you read my whole reply? I stated that the reason was cleanliness. You shouldn't wear your scrubs more than once without washing them after giving pt care.

I'm glad to hear that 1 set has worked out for you (maybe its because your program is part time?) but won't you have a preceptorship coming up where you are basically working as a nurse with your preceptor?

If so, you will be working their hours, which is more than likely going to be multiple days in a row. Hence the need for at least 1 more set of scrubs like the OP's program recommends....just something to think about.

And I'm not saying you CAN'T get by with just 1 set but I know I wouldn't want to work 10 or 12 hours and then come home and HAVE to do a load of laundry each day because they are my only set.

My first term, 1 set was just fine. I also only had clinical 1 day per week and lab. But my second and third term we had clinical 2 days a week back to back, plus lab.

Every program is different and it's important to be prepared, another reason I suggest a second or even a third set for extra peace of mind. I'm just trying to be realistic and give my honest advice so OP can plan for the expense ahead of time rather than it coming up out of the blue.

You should be able to get by with one set for now. My school makes us wear scrubs to class as well as to clinicals, so I needed at least 3 sets per week, otherwise I'd be doing laundry all the time. Since my school doesn't mandate what color scrubs we wear, I buy all my scrubs at thrift stores. Last week i found four (brand new with the tags on!) pairs of scrub pants in a nice dark maroon color in my size at a St Vincent de Paul thrift store for $3/pair. You bet I bought all 4 pairs.

Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.
Did you read my whole reply?

Yes, I did. Did you happen to read the original post? Here it is again:

Can you get by with just one set? We will only have to wear them one day a week and money is tight, really would like to just get by with one. They recommended two...

Based on this, why the assumption that they'll be needed 2-3 times per week?

I stated that the reason was cleanliness. You shouldn't wear your scrubs more than once without washing them after giving pt care.

Where did I or the OP state anything about wearing them multiple times before washing them? :confused: That's just disgusting....

I'm glad to hear that 1 set has worked out for you (maybe its because your program is part time?) but won't you have a preceptorship coming up where you are basically working as a nurse with your preceptor?

No, I will not have a full-time preceptorship as a student. After graduating, I will work as a Graduate Nurse in a local hospital's GN program which will include preceptorship/orientation, but at that point I will be a GN, not a student nurse, so I will no longer be wearing my "student nurse scrubs" but rather the scrubs associated with my hospital employee, Graduate Nurse status.

As you stated, every program is different, and I'm well aware of the format for my own school, as I'm sure OP is aware of how her school is set up. It's rather presumptuous to assume that someone's not able to figure out that they should wash their scrubs after wearing them for patient care, and it's rather presumptuous to assume that someone else's program has more than one clinical day per week, just because your program includes more than one clinical day per week.

As I have stated TWICE now, I'm starting my sixth of seven semesters in two days. I'm not wet behind the ears, and this isn't my first time at this particular rodeo -- I know how things work. I have only ever had one set of scrubs, and I have only ever had one clinical day per week in my program. And I have never worn my scrubs again without having laundered them. And I saved myself about thirty-five bucks as a result.

It's nice that you want to help out and all, but if the OP's program honestly only has her at clinical one day per week, following your advice would result in her wasting money on scrubs that she won't necessarily need to purchase. Goodness knows that nursing school is expensive enough -- why pay for things we won't need?

Okay Brillo....rather than pick apart your post like you have mine, I'll simply say that the OP asked for advice. I gave mine. You gave yours. I can see how my first post sounded like she HAD to get a 2nd or 3rd set but in my second post I clearly said that I wasn't saying that they COULDN'T get by with 1 set but that I wouldnt recommend it because frankly, it's not the easiest thing to do. (due to having to wash them each wear)I never assumed anything and I don't appreciate you insinuating that I have. All I did was tell them my experience and some things to think about so that they don't have any unexpected expenses pop up. I also gave some ideas on how to get cheaper scrubs so I don't understand your need single out my post & criticize my advice. Even her program is recommending 2 sets. In reality, maybe they are who she should be asking because they are the only ones who know their program?

Specializes in Oncology/hematology.

Well, goodness.

Anyway, I would recommend getting a 2nd pair, if you can. I know I said in an earlier post that we have 2 clinical days a week, and they're back to back, which is unlike your program. But, now that I'm 2 weeks into my program, I'm finding out that our lab teacher expects us in scrubs on lab days. And our simulation instructor expects us in scrubs on her days. My syllabus didn't say this and it wasn't in orientation. I now own 3 pairs of school scrubs (we got 1 free pair of hand me downs at orientation), and 2 pair of my own scrubs. Since I have school 5 days a week, I can make it work without laundry, if need be.

I had a few sets but as I gained weight only one fit and I had clinical twice a week. I knew I would never wear white scrubs after school so made it my last year on that one set

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