Scrubs: Are Colorful Ones Unprofessional?

[purplegal]

So, I recently accepted a position where the dress code is very laid back. Any style or color works, and you can even wear front prints. While I am able to and plan to wear my navy scrubs from my previous nursing job to this one, I had thought about buying one or two "fun tops" for the weekend. However, someone advised me to stick with the navy blue so I look and feel more professional. What are your opinions? Are colorful scrubs less professional than more neutral/traditional colored scrubs?

[seasidesoul]

If I were a patient, I think I'd love to see a nurse in fun scrubs! They give you the option, so I don't see how it could be unprofessional. Maybe try it out and see how you feel?

[brownbook]

I enjoy wearing "fun" jackets over my scrubs and many patients say they like it.....however I work in the "Disneyland" of nursing, out patient surgery. I think your patient population, what type of unit you work on, could be a factor.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

We can wear what ever kind of scrubs we want. It really depends on the facility.

I wear black jeans, a black t-shirt and my scrub jacket is the thing that is in different colors. I also have scrub tops - I really like the Hawaiian ones.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

I prefer solid scubs, I have no interest in character or theme tops, if others want to wear them that's their choice.

[Farawyn]

I wear black, except on Wednesday, when I wear pink.

I'm not a fan of prints.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

I realize I am old school, graduated in 1982. We wore all whites and nursing caps.

Now in this century, if I was a patient.. I would not want to see my nurse wearing Looney Tune scrubs.

[Farawyn]

In the hospital we wore navy pants and white tops. It looked sharp. I do think patients of a certain age like to see nurses in white.

Now I'm in a HS, and I have to be cool. Or at least try. Black scrubs.

[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

The thing is, color policy was developed to aid patients/visitors (i.e. "customers") in recognition of staff but in reality effect is directly opposite.

1). If the aforementioned "customers" know who is who, they still have no idea of who does what, hense the constant trouble of nurses fetching water and pillows while their other patient is near code, and aides/techs looking for nurses b/o someone's "something for pain" for much longer than circumstances dictate.

2). Patients tend to remember staff, and the uniform makes it more difficult for LOLs and others. This results in things like very polite asking to please find "that fat-bottomed lady with an ugly accent" to start the mom's next IV (yep, that was me... and I did not know what to do, laugh or cry. But what those poor folks had to say if they happened to forget my name?)

Overall, I am not a fan of prints myself, but I would appreciate WAY more freedom with my scrubs, although my employer provides them for free.

[MunoRN, RN]

I'm all for some "fun" and individuality in scrubs, although it's really easy for fun looking scrubs to look much more like you came to work in pajamas. "Fun" prints in peds is appropriate, I'm not sure walking into you're gravely ill patient's rooms with what looks like superman PJ's is as appropriate.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I'm all for some "fun" and individuality in scrubs, although it's really easy for fun looking scrubs to look much more like you came to work in pajamas. "Fun" prints in peds is appropriate, I'm not sure walking into you're gravely ill patient's rooms with what looks like superman PJ's is as appropriate.

That's why I don't wear scrub bottoms - too much like pajamas.

Black jeans. Black t-shirt. Scrub jacket - I have blue and olive green.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Farawyn said:

I wear black, except on Wednesday, when I wear pink.

I'm not a fan of prints.

Couldn't resist.