Are your choice of scrubs childish?

[rose89]

I recently read an article that nurses that wear scrubs that are brightly colored with cartons or vibrant colors such as green are not taken seriously and are not considered competent. The study was a poll by patients and they were shown 8 different scrub options. The nurses that wore all white scrubs were (according to patients) seemed more competent and were taken more seriously because it resembled the closest to the traditional nurse uniforms back in the 40s and 50s.

What are your thoughts?

[rnforforty]

I wish I could choose what to wear! Have been required to wear certain colors at the last 3 places I worked. BORING!

[wooh, BSN, RN]

My experience has been that apparel has nothing to do with how my clients treat me.

Yep. If my patients/families are judging based solely on how I look, I must not have walked in the room yet.

That said, when I worked with adults, I did prefer solids, they're just more flattering on me.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

I think one should dress for the population served. That is, when working with children, wear things that put children at ease: cartoons or silly designs. If they're happy, you're happy.

I've had elderly patients comment on how cheery and happy my scrubs are (brighter colors or patterns, but not juvenile). And I've never been taken more or less seriously (than I would have otherwise) for the choice of top.

I work with adults, and personally feel that wearing Betty Boop or Tinker Bell would look silly on me. Like pajamas instead of nursing attire.

Sometimes my mood is such that I'll wear solids for a few days' running.....and then a pretty floral or other print for a few days. I have the option of street clothes, too, so I wear them interspersed. Sometimes I just don't WANNA wear scrubs :)

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

Latest job will probably move to navy scrubs soon. That sucks.

[Nola009]

I don't wear characters or animals on my tops. I will wear a simple print. Also try to stay away from pink pants. These are just my preferences.

[bwannabnurse02]

Personally, I don’t think so. I work in home health care, so I don’t work with pediatrics and I wear printed tops. My patients are middle-aged, but I have yet to have a patient not enjoy my printed scrub tops! I wear Snoopy & Woodstock scrubs (my favorite printed top), floral tops, Disney ones (such as tinker bell, Kermit the frog, chipmunks, etc), looney tunes Pepe Le pew, and I do have some solid color tops also! (a lot of my patients were kids when looney tunes cartoons were popular, so they enjoy those prints the most. I always get comments on those ones! ) The only prints I won’t wear are ones that are holiday related (such as Halloween, Christmas, Easter, etc) because I feel if I have a patient that doesn’t celebrate that particular holiday, I don’t want them to feel excluded. I will wear Spring, Summer, fall, Winter themed tops, but not specific holiday.