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?

[bluenurse85]

I once had to wait in an ER on the other side of the state (my niece burned her thighs with hot soup while we were out to dinner) All the nurses wore black scrubs & I thought it looked very professional. Those nurses were also very good. Some woman was giving the triage nurse holy hell because my niece got in before her-my niece was 1 1/2 years old at the time. The nurse very politely told the woman that children that young who were injured always were priority. The woman continued to scream & complain but the nurse never lost her cool. I felt bad for her, though-how sick could that woman be to carry on like that?

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

I think it helps to lighten the mood. I don't own cartoon scrubs but I wear patterned clogs. People seem happier when they see the clogs,

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

I like white pants with white socks and white shoes. I wear printed tops with the white pants, but never cartoon characters. I absolutely hate the Looney Toon ones! They look too Walmartish for my taste! I also like to wear solid sets in primary colors. I always wear crew socks so my ankles don't look bare. I don't think naked ankles looks professional at all. When I worked Pediatric ICU we wore solid purple sets. Our stethoscopes, etc., were purple. I called it PICU Purple. Maybe it is because I am 57, and because I worked in the business world and wore suits, dresses and heels before nursing, so it stuck with me. My white pants never look stained; I work in ICU and am wondering what on earth gets your whites stained? I have no problem with that. Oh, one more thing. I always thought navy and white were the traditional RN colors. The capes the RN's wore years ago were navy. I remember reading somewhere they wore navy sweaters, capes, jackets, etc. Does anyone know?

[Ava Z.]

All the major scrubs brands offer sophisticated prints and colored pieces, so there is obviously a demand. If you're clean, neat and put together there is no reason why you shouldn't be taken seriously in a lively print or colored top.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

I have also heard the line of reasoning that if you wear cartoons, you aren't treating your adult patients with dignity. I'm not sure if this is true or not.

My personal taste is more conservative, I tend to wear solid muted colored scrubs in dark colors.

But recently, I've branched out and purchased brighter colors and some print tops that I believe do look professional. Many of my patients and the staff have told me they love my outfits. They tell me I look clean cut, and I feel very comfortable in my scrubs.

[AmyRN303, BSN, RN]

If I worked peds I'd have no problem wearing something geared towards children. That being said, I'm a solids kind of girl, but I like bright colors. I don't find them unprofessional.

[AmyRN303, BSN, RN]

I think it helps to lighten the mood. I don't own cartoon scrubs but I wear patterned clogs. People seem happier when they see the clogs,

I love patterned clogs.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Peds aside, I think it's hilarious to hear new grads complain that nobody takes them seriously, when they look like they're dressed for a middle-school sleepover. Professionals should look professional. First impressions count.

[MissChloe]

I work in a residential care facility and I get compliments from the residents most when I where brightly colored and patterned tops--particularly florals, but I also have a cartoon owl print top that is a crowd-pleaser. I get lots of comments on my Dansko "Fresco" shoes ( Professional - Dansko - Shoes & Footwear - TheWalkingCompany.com ) as well. I actually went into this job thinking that the patterned tops would be "unprofessional" but those are the ones that get the best reaction from my residents so that's what I'm stocking up on. I aim to please! I do think in other settings (acute care hospital or primary care office), solid colors look more professional.

[RedInScrubs, ASN, RN]

When I worked in geriatrics and currently with home health peds, I wore/wear colorful scrubs with print tops. Makes sense, since it helps brighten the patient population.

With my med-surg position at the hospital serving diverse adult populations and families, the RN staff all wear one color, to make them easy to identify and professional in appearance. I have to say, it does give the hospital a more uniform and collected appearance, though I would hardly say that scrubs are a personal reflection of the nurse. I wouldn't choose to wear one color, but with the entire staff wearing one color in each division, it becomes more of a reflection of the professionalism and investment on the part of the facility.

[Carpediem1012, BSN, RN]

They are moving here to have RNs wear white tops to distinguish them from other staff. I don't think it's a bad idea. People have complained about not knowing who their nurse is. It could help to alleviate the confusion. And it does seem more professional.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

They are moving here to have RNs wear white tops to distinguish them from other staff. I don't think it's a bad idea. People have complained about not knowing who their nurse is. It could help to alleviate the confusion. And it does seem more professional.

I love being able to wear scrubs of my choice. Why don't facilities just use the name tags with the big RN that hangs down under the badge to identify nurses. One hospital around here does that. It makes it easy to know who is an RN.