Undershirt

[OwlieO.O]

I'm wanting to stop wearing my undershirt because if I get hit with some fluid, it soaks through, and I just have that much more dirty laundry. However, I have a hairy chest that is partially revealed by my v-neck scrub top. Is it totally weird to go around like this? I see a lot of surgical staff with no undershirts on for obvious reasons.

[ComeTogether, LPN]

Yeah, but you have to wash it either way. A valid reason to not wear it is to not have to do more laundry, not because it may get soiled, since either way it's dirty.

I do think it's unprofessional to have chest hair showing.

Wear the t-shirt, or get tops that are cut higher.

I always look at it like if I'm wearing a t-shirt, I can take my scrub top off if need be, and there have been many times I needed to do that.

[OwlieO.O]

Also, what about putting proper PPE near the places where you would actually use it, instead of in your office?!? If you had PPE at the nurses station, near the trauma room and near regular ED exam rooms you would never get caught being unable to wear proper PPE. Remember the PPE is not just for you, but also for your patients! If you tried to come near me in a bloody trauma where I have several potential openings for infection I would not allow you to treat me until you were gowned and gloved at the VERY LEAST! I don't want your C-Diff/MRSA/Strep sleeves coming near me if I have any say.

I do work in a CCRC up in independent living. The residents do not have to keep PPE in their rooms, or even soap, because it is their personal space. We have a central office. I don't understand why we are discussing this. Yes, a gown helps, but I have a change of scrubs for that reason. I was just curious if no undershirt would be weird :/

[OwlieO.O]

The hairy chest is only acceptable when wearing a gold necklace.

There is a guy at work that actually does this.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

I wouldn't call it creepy to not wear an undershirt....if we really wanted to get off track we can talk about female nurses who should wear undershirts (different topic for another day, so don't go there ). However, I always wear one because I think it would be uncomfortable to not have one.

Personally, I think the "I don't want to do laundry" excuse to be kinda flimsy...sorry. If you wear an undershirt it has to be washed--splashed or not. If you are getting splashed that often that it becomes onerous when doing laundry, they, I agree with others, time to work on how to get more PPE around.

[KbmRN, ADN]

I never wear an undershirt. I let my taco meat sprawl in the wind. :)

[kool-aide, RN]

Yeah, that's actually a pet peeve of mine. I'm a man and wouldn't DREAM of not wearing an undershirt with my scrubs!

[guyjincj]

hairy here, no undershirt.