I think cutsey scrub tops look ridiculous on adult units

Nurses Uniform/Gear

Published

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.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatric, Hospice.

I personally would never wear the types of scrubs the OP mentions, but, if I were a patient, I'd rather have the excellent nurse in the teddy bear scrubs than the crappy nurse in solid colors. (If that were the case). I don't think the patients care as much about your clothes as they do about the care you give (or don't give). That's what they remember.

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My analytical and critical thinking skills are just fine within my Hello Kitty scrub tops, thank you very much.

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I'll throw in my 2 cents, you can spend it or not...but first of all, I think that the hospitals that try to tell you what scrubs to wear to work, is just another way of CONTROLLING YOU! And it's all political bull--whatever happened to knowing who your nurse, tech, housekeeper, food service worker, doctor was because when they walk in the room they say "Hi, my name is Sally and I'm going to be your (insert title here) today" and YES you say that everytime you walk in and there are new people in the room, I don't care what color your shirt is or what you have in your hands! And #2: I second the person that said that her clinical and critical thinking skills are NOT affected by what she wears to work! Did we or did we not all pass the same NCLEX? (I know not everyone acts like it), but we are all capable of completing this job, per the state, so who cares if I wear care bears to work or not? Maybe that's the way I get through my day knowing that everyone around me is just trying to repress all the political bullcrap that hospitals are throwing in our faces rather than dealing with it head on? You want to people to start dealing with nurses in more of a professional light? How about all of us banding together and getting people to realize that when they come to a Hospital it is a HOSPITAL and not a HOTEL and we are there to help them get better and not to wait on them hand and foot, because many of the patients and the management seem to think that's what nurses do now?

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Specializes in NICU.

Ehh I think people should wear what they want. Sure it may look a little funny wearing cartoon scrubs on an adult unit, but at the end of the day as long as you're getting your job done that's all they really matter. I don't think what you wear earns you respect amongst the different disciplines of health care. I think you earn respect by delivering the best care, knowing what you're talking about, and often making great recommendations for patients. Not what by what you're wearing (as long as it meets the dress code). :-)

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Specializes in Acute Care, CM, School Nursing.

I've never been one for the cutesy-cartoon printed scrubs. The "wildest" scrub top I ever wore was soooo cool. It was covered with pics of candy bars! Hersheys, Kit Kats, etc. I can't remember where I bought it, but everyone always thought it was custom made.

I prefer a nice print on top, solid on bottom. Or just solids. But, I am a huge fan of stupid looking socks. The more ridiculous, the better! LOL

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aw geez, if you don't like 'em, don't wear 'em.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
My analytical and critical thinking skills are just fine within my Hello Kitty scrub tops, thank you very much.

A Hello Kitty top is the only cutesy print scrub I own...I bought it about 10 years before I became a nurse. I never wear it on the floor though--it's for sleeping in.

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Well...some interesting perspectives. I have to agree with what some people have written in that the level of care a patient receives is what's important, not what the nurse is wearing. A great nurse in Hello Kitty scrubs is still a great nurse.

I'm also a new nurse just entering the profession, so I'm not management trying to put my boot down on the back of the worker and controlling what they wear for no good reason.

I guess my whole point is (and maybe I should have made it more clear in my opening post) that nursing has a lot of infantile, juvenile and "cute" icons associated with the profession. Teddy bears, hearts, rainbows, angels, silhouettes of people holding hands. You get the picture. And it's not just on scrub tops, but on lots of things that the public and other medical professionals see everyday.

I don't know if it's because I worked in the business world previously, but darn it I think a professional should dress like a professional. As a new nurse entering the field I am constantly hearing about how nurses think they should be treated as the professionals they are - and I agree 1000%.

Professionals should want to dress in a way that says "I expect you to take me seriously as a professional." I'm sorry...you can be the best nurse on the unit, but if you are wearing Tweety scrubs and bright yellow crocs I'm not going to respect you as a professional. I'm going to look at you as a walking, talking example of someone who contributes to the "just a nurse" negative stereotype.

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I really don't care what other people wear. I can tell you, however, that whites work. They command respect without my even saying a word. I was standing at the nurses' station in a white scrub dress and a man approached me and remarked, "You're obviously the nurse in charge here."

Don't discount the power of an icon.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Patient Safety.
I'll throw in my 2 cents, you can spend it or not...but first of all, I think that the hospitals that try to tell you what scrubs to wear to work, is just another way of CONTROLLING YOU! And it's all political bull--whatever happened to knowing who your nurse, tech, housekeeper, food service worker, doctor was because when they walk in the room they say "Hi, my name is Sally and I'm going to be your (insert title here) today" and YES you say that everytime you walk in and there are new people in the room, I don't care what color your shirt is or what you have in your hands! And #2: I second the person that said that her clinical and critical thinking skills are NOT affected by what she wears to work! Did we or did we not all pass the same NCLEX? (I know not everyone acts like it), but we are all capable of completing this job, per the state, so who cares if I wear care bears to work or not? Maybe that's the way I get through my day knowing that everyone around me is just trying to repress all the political bullcrap that hospitals are throwing in our faces rather than dealing with it head on? You want to people to start dealing with nurses in more of a professional light? How about all of us banding together and getting people to realize that when they come to a Hospital it is a HOSPITAL and not a HOTEL and we are there to help them get better and not to wait on them hand and foot, because many of the patients and the management seem to think that's what nurses do now?

The whole argument about management trying to control the workers by dictating a specific scrub color is ridiculous. Honestly, it makes it a whole lot easier for patients to be able to identify who is who in a hospital unit when one group of people (either nurses, PCTs, other techs, residents/doctors) are wearing one specific color. Doctors wear white lab coats (or blue or gray), why can't nurses wear one scrub color? I've floated to many units and find it a lot easier to identify who is who when that particular unit has a specific color code for scrubs. They don't have to be solid color scrubs, just one color (either print or solid) to identify people better.

I do, however, think that requiring nurses or techs to wear all whites is a crime. No one can keep that uniform clean and everything shows underneath.

Otherwise, i do agree with you that hospitals should be hospitals and not hotels. I do think there are bigger issues, however, than getting up in arms about scrubs.

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Specializes in Family Practice, Urgent Care, Cardiac Ca.

I totally agree...When I'm coming out of anesthesia in the PACU and someone's sponge-bobbed bust is hanging over my face, I find it hilarious that they wonder why people think that nurses aren't taken seriously as clinicians...

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.
It bothers me like those people who wear adult whinnie the pooh clothes. Why do they even make XL sweatshirts that have Eeyore on them? I mean what were you thinking when you bought that purple bomer jacket with a disney character on it?

The world may never know...

I can't answer for the world, however, I can for myself.

I adore Eeyore. He is a nice childhood memory for me.

I have a few stuffed Eeyores about that make me smile and give me some comfort at times. I have a set of PJ's with Eeyore designs on them. I also have a hoodie with an Eeyore on it. I also have some Eeyore magnets and other little trinkets.

That being said, I wouldn't ever be parading about in any exclusive Eeyore outfits, nor would I have my house decked out in Eeyore decor.

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