Are pattern/print scrubs unprofessional outside of pediatrics?

Nurses Uniform/Gear

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  1. Are print/pattern scrubs outside of pediatrics unprofessional

    • 59
      Yes
    • 158
      No

64 members have participated

This topic has bugged me for a while. I only wear solid scrubs (and would even in pediatrics). I don't have a problem with individuals wearing patterns/prints in pediatrics, but elsewhere it vexes me. I find it quite unprofessional. What do you believe?

I'm not saying that bugs bunny makes the physician incompetent. However giving the appearance of focus on science instead of silliness is my preference. I'm simply raising another arena of perspective on this discussion![/quote']

I guess I look at this differently. I like seeing the little bit of personality behind the science. It doesn't interfere with the care he would be providing, but the way I see it, knowing he likes Bugs Bunny makes him not just some cookie-cutter oncologist doing his job. It makes him human. Even if I don't like Bugs, I like that he does for the same reason I like that one of our anesthesiologists always wears funky colorful bonnets and one of our GPs always wears purple shirts because his call-group is "the purple group".

Specializes in Forensic Psychiatry.

My 'hospital's' (I work at a state hospital as a psych nurse) dress code is "Don't wear anything too revealing, or anything that has rips/tears in it". That's about the only dress code we have to go by.

Personally, I wear good jeans, a long sleeve T-Shirt that I wouldn't mourn over if it got ripped during safe containment, and a good pair of boots that won't kill my feet, but would protect my toes if they got run over by a stryker stretcher. Some of the nurses that I work with wear scrubs and some of them wear cartoon-print scrubs. I really don't care what people wear to work as long as 1. They do their job 2. They interact well with my crew and 3. If we have to do safe containment, I won't have to see any of the 3 T's (Tata's, Tummy, or Tush) and 4. It's at least nice enough that I can differentiate them from my patients.

Personally, I think I have it made at my work in that I can wear what I feel most comfortable with (and yes, my doc's wear jeans and a T-shirt too, and some of them wear print scrubs). Many of my friends are engineers, and compared to how some of them dress (star wars print shirts, ripped up jeans, chucks, dreadlocks), we're pretty darn professional here.

My philosophy in life is not to judge people based on what they wear. If it's a hospital that has a dress code - that's great, I'd adhere to it and expect my crew to adhere to it as well. However, If there isn't a dress code: as long as it's not revealing and the clothes don't look like something one would sleep in, or go dumpster diving in - I'm not going to judge them. I don't think the clothes make the person. I have many friends outside of the medical field and honestly some of the brightest most professional of them (engineers, Ph.d level educated faculty members ect) can be rather eccentric in their dress - and it doesn't affect how well they do their jobs.

When I did my LNA class, we were told there were no scrub color or print requirements, but not to wear anything that would make an already sick person want to toss their cookies. Hahaha. They should have fixed the carpeting in the hallway then...

When I did my LNA class, we were told there were no scrub color or print requirements, but not to wear anything that would make an already sick person want to toss their cookies. Hahaha. They should have fixed the carpeting in the hallway then...

Puke green, I take it?

I'd like to thank everyone for their feedback thus far. I feel it has been constructive. Professionalism in healthcare is a large subject. I've pierced ears (diamond studs) And two fairly large tattoos - arm and forearm. Now, I would never deny care from a nurse in what I class as "silly scrubs," but my preference for my self persona of professionalism is to dress in solids.

I'd like to thank everyone for their feedback thus far. I feel it has been constructive. Professionalism in healthcare is a large subject. I've pierced ears (diamond studs) And two fairly large tattoos - arm and forearm. Now I would never deny care from a nurse in what I class as "silly scrubs," but my preference for my self persona of professionalism is to dress in solids.[/quote']

Much like the physician with his Bugs Bunny top, I would see your tattoos as that piece of personality I like to find in anyone. I do like patterns, but solids are fine and in fact there are some nice colours and cuts in solid scrub tops that make them not "plain". I own some myself.

I tend to wear brightly patterned tops with a black background and black pants, although I occasionally wear solids. The bright colors make it cheerful. Older patients seem to like them. I work in a rural setting so we get all age groups, but it's the elderly who stay more than a day or two. Holiday tops? Yes. I change my earrings from silver studs to studs of the prevailing holiday at times, too. Neat/clean/good fit is professional. What you actually wear depends on your facility policy and your own taste. I don't care what any other professional person wears, but I'll take black or navy over white any time. Finding white uniforms that aren't so thin your undergarments are seen (even skin-colored) is difficult. and I always wore a jacket in those days no matter how hot I was to keep some modesty. For a while we had to wear a solid that we referred to as "Pepto" pink. Looks great with orange-red (natural color) hair. Let me wear what is appropriate for my coloring, my personality, my patients, and you can wear what is appropriate for you.

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
I'd like to thank everyone for their feedback thus far. I feel it has been constructive. Professionalism in healthcare is a large subject. I've pierced ears (diamond studs) And two fairly large tattoos - arm and forearm. Now, I would never deny care from a nurse in what I class as "silly scrubs," but my preference for my self persona of professionalism is to dress in solids.

I'm truly curious: how do you manage your tattoos at work? Most places do not consider visible tattoos as being professional.

Specializes in ER.

Personally I like to wear solids. Including matching my top to my bottoms. I buy scrubs in a set and only wear it with that set. Just my preference. However, I think that saying patterned or printed tops offend you is a little much. If a shirt offends you then you probably should not go out in public. You do not have to wear it, or even look at it if you don't want to.

As long as it's neat and clean I say go for it!

1 Votes
I'm truly curious: how do you manage your tattoos at work? Most places do not consider visible tattoos as being professional.

We're allowed "discrete" tattoos. It isn't enforced very well. I see neck tattoos where I'm employed with no mention of unprofessionalism. In fact, the man with a neck tattoo is an amazing CNA. I just where long sleeves most of the time cause of cold anyway, but get no flack when I roll them up for doing showers, etc. I think my first impression was good. I wore a suit to my interview, carry myself as a professional, and don't make it a big deal.

Specializes in Palliative Care.

I sure hope patterned scrub aren't unprofessional - that's all I wear! I prefer colors and patterns I'd wear outside of work, coordinating plain pants with patterned tops. I think it depends a lot on the pattern and how well a person presents themselves overall. I have one scrub top that literally has all the colors of the rainbow...but it's well tailored, ironed, and I wear dark scrub pants and black shoes with it.

1 Votes
Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

A little discretion should be used; I personally wear solid dark colors (they hide blood stains better, should a pt's blood get on me.) A floral or batik pattern? Fine. Hello Kitty or baby angels in our adult ICU? Not so much.

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