Black scrubs?

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Specializes in LTC, Subacute Rehab.

All right, I admit it, I tend toward the Gothic side of things outside of work. My problem is that I feel... ill at ease? in bright or pastel colors. I made myself a scrub top from a black print with little dancing skeletons on it. Is this weird / inappropriate to wear (I'm in LTC)? What would you think of an LVN in black / funky print scrubs?

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Personally as a patient I would be uncomfortable if my nurse had dancing skeletons on her scrubs.. It would make me think of death. But black with other designs would probably not bother me.

But then again it might not bother me at all, so really I am no help at all.

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I guess the best person to ask would be your DON or administrator, no? Other than that, it's really just a matter of personal opinion/choice, I think.

I don't know that I'd wear dancing skeletons to work in an LTC. LOL. Kind of morbid, no? But that's just me! Maybe around Halloween?

But seriously, I don't feel comfortable, either, in bright, funky, trendy scrubs, so I tend to migrate toward the darker colors and neutrals. There are plenty of scrubs out there that aren't hot pink, purple, magenta and turquoise! I have mostly plain black, brown, navy, olive, tan and I think a pair of maroon scrubs. If I'm feeling in a cutesy mood, I do have a couple of the mock wrap tops with a coordinating color piping. My current favorite pair of scrubs is army green with black piping around the neck.

I'm just not one for print scrubs in general, but it's really a matter of individuality and what your facility allows. Hope you can find a happy medium!

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Black scrub top with dancing skeletons on it? IMO very inappropriate in LTC unless its Halloween.

I have nothing against black scrub bottoms or black scrub top with some sort of print but all black scrubs with no other color or something to break up the black to me brings a feeling of "the Grim Reaper" LOL

I would think its best to ask your DON before you wear it to work.

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Specializes in no specialty! (have to graduate first!).

IMO I think black scrubs with dancing skeletons is HIGHLY inappropriate in any health care setting. Especially in LTC where I imagine most of the patient are elderly. The patients may already be in a personal turmoil being faced with their mortality and their inevitable deaths. Dancing skeletons would be upsetting. And if I was a family member of a patient in LTC, I would be upset and I would complain to a higher up.

I do agree that dancing skeletons would be okay around Halloween. But any other time I just wouldn't do it.

I definitely think that black scrubs whether they are plain black or with some kind of design IS appropriate. Just not with a design that reminds people of death. I have a friend that has a pair of all black scrubs and the top part has the West Coast Choppers sign on it. She also has a pair of black scrubs that have little blue monkeys on it. Very cute. :o)

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Our pediatric transport team members wear black scrubs. All black. No pattern.

I have a pair of black scrub pants, and a scrub top with Jack-o-lanterns on it for Hallowe'en.

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I always wear black scrubs... In a LTC facility. No one has said it bothers them.

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Specializes in no specialty! (have to graduate first!).
I always wear black scrubs... In a LTC facility. No one has said it bothers them.

Do you wear them with skeletons on them? Because I think that is the difference. I think black scrubs with or without designs are fine, but not with skeletons.

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Skeletons... maybe if I wouldn't feel like such a dork :chuckle:chuckle:chuckle:chuckle:chuckle

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Specializes in Rehab, Med Surg, Home Care.

I don't know if it is the nursing equivalent of an Urban Legend but at my facility they tell the story about wearing costumes on Halloween while coding a patient. Seems the pt woke up looking at an Angel...(could be worse, and there was also a clown there too). So I dunno, but that has always been the test for me-so while I do have black pants I wear with a subtle flower print top, I would not feel comfortable in head-to-toe black. And just couldn't bring myself to wear skeletons/ ghosts/ mummies, Halloween or not.

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Specializes in LTC, Subacute Rehab.

Well, I wore it yesterday (I brought a plain blue top just in case). Wouldn't you know - people loved it. Yes, even residents. Maybe California is just more casual?

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.
Well I wore it yesterday (I brought a plain blue top just in case). Wouldn't you know - people loved it. Yes, even residents. Maybe California is just more casual?[/quote']

I'm glad that no one said that they were offended. I think from LTC the pattern is a little morbid unless its Halloween. I think that after a while the skeletons will get old (but maybe not) I'm not sure but maybe you could get a black pair that had like a plain moon and stars pattern. I think something simple like that would allow you to get away from pastels (I'm not into them either so I understand your pain) but the pattern is a little more subtle and less likely to offend a client or upset them.

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