I think cutsey scrub tops look ridiculous on adult units

[AZO49008]

The other day a co-worker strolled in wearing a scrub top festooned with furry, smiling teddy bears. On an adult cardiac floor...REALLY? On various adult units I've seen Looney Tunes, Precious Moments, rainbows and clouds, hearts, and yes...oodles and oodles of teddy bears.

I think these types of scrub tops look ridiculous unless you work in peds, in which case they would all be highly appropriate. On one hand nurses are striving to be taken seriously as professionals, yet with the other hand they are taking juvenile looking scrub tops off the hangar.

I'm a guy and pretty much have to wear solid scrubs if I don't want to look like a freak. But I am not motivated out of jealousy to kvetch about print tops on the ladies. If women want to pizazz up their uniforms, I have seen tons of very tasteful, very professional looking print scrub tops coordinated with solid pants.

If I were director of nursing of the world, I would ban dorky print scrub tops.

Okay...talk amongst yourselves.

[sauconyrunner]

Although I wear street clothes to work now, I admit, I was quite glad to work at several hospitals that had required scrub colors. I had 4 sets and never had to think about what to wear ever.

I do think our nurses look nicer in the blue and white also than a hodge podge of colors and such. All of our staff is color coded. I dont think the patients can tell, but it helps me to know when I am on the floor who is a tech and who is from pharmacy...

[rgroyer1RNBSN, BSN, RN]

Im a nurse manager of the er and sicu, and this is a pet peeve of mine why adults would want to even do this is beyond me, and I am sorry but the next time I see the lpn from fastrack wearing the ugly bright yellow top with the black cat on it and pair them off with bright orange pants I personally am going to barf on her as you are just asking to be projectile vomited on, as this color yellow makes me and about half my nursing staff physically ill. Who makes these scrubs and think they are appropriate in any setting needs their brain examined.

[Catch22Personified]

I'm a guy so I haven't seen scrub prints that are unisex/male. I'm in LTC so printed scrubs are commonplace.

Though that doesn't stop me from looking for Hello Kitty scrubs, whenever I'm at the uniform store. I would love to see the reactions from my coworkers and patients.

Seriously though, If I'm in the hospital I'd probably be wearing either white or solid colors.

[notjustanurse]

I was blissfully unaware, in my loud colored cartoon scrubs, that there were so many uptight traditionalists in my chosen profession. Oh well.

[yousoldtheworld]

Who gives a crap? Unfortunately, in this world, looks matter. We all want to be respected as professionals...yet we wear Looney Toons garb? Leave that for the kiddos to wear, please.

I think solid scrubs, in brighter colors, still look very nice and professional.

If a person thinks I am not worthy of respect as a professional because I am wearing a cartoon print, then I don't care if I have their respect or not, personally. I will not refrain from wearing things I like and that make me happy (within my facility's dress code, of course) to fit into some antiquated idea of "professionalism" when it has nothing to do with my job performance.

If a person prefers solid colors and feels good and professional that way, that's great. But don't try to police what is worn by others.

[withasmilelpn]

Yellow and orange, hmm. Would not go that route myself. (Halloween maybe - probably not as not a huge fan of orange.)But I rather like my new light blue scrub top with smiling frogs - it makes me smile too :)What's an LPN from fastrack anyway? Is that a school uniform you are talking about?

[opossum]

I'm all for cheering up my adult patients, but I'm not sure cartoon characters are the way to go here...in the hospital setting people already feel infantilized - how is Scooby Doo going to help the situation? (Unless it's Wonder Woman, of course).

But seriously...it does look a little odd outside the peds unit.

[skinnymomi71]

Somehow these scrubs never fail to bring a smile on both my pediatric and adult patients in the ER. Adults reminisce childhood memories while younger kids thing of me as a friend.

[ProudStudent]

I agree, sort of. I dislike seeing adults wear scrubs that display Spongebob, Scooby Doo, Disney; etc. However, the occasionaly holiday attire would be cute and fun. Most places have a uniform policy anyhow, different colored scrubs for different positions.

[UofTexas]

i think that all people have an inner-child, and they feel warm and taken care of if they see their favorite childhood characters...

[libby11]

So my question is... being a new CNA, will it be okay for me to wear the 'cutesy scrubs?' I was told I could wear any color/print except plain white (would not want to wear white anyway!!)

Maybe I'm thinking into this too far, and here's where I'll take your advice... but I just feel being new I should wear solid scrubs. What's your opinions? It's transitional care & rehab.

[nursel56]

I agree Libby - I would wear solid or understated prints for your first days until you pick up on how other people dress. Perhaps it wouldn't matter in the slightest if you wore a splashy or juvenile looking print, but it's awkward enough to be the new person without worrying about that, too! Best wishes! :)