Nursing scrubs worn by visitors in the unit

Nurses General Nursing

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Just wondering about the policies in various hospitals about nursing scrubs being worn on hospital units by non-employees. Specifically, what are the thoughts on visitors wearing scrubs on a mother-baby unit?

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

It is absolutely forbidden* in our Women's and our Children's hospital.

*We have occasionally had a parent arrive with their emergently admitted child while the parent was wearing scrubs- we explain it as a security issue (they are all understanding) and we provide some donated shirts until they can have someone bring them other clothing.

I've never worked anyplace that had a restriction on scrubs being worn by visitors. That actually sounds a bit bizarre, to me. Our badges are considered our identification. At one hospital I worked at, even the housekeepers wore scrubs. I have never worked in pediatrics, though.

Specializes in NICU.

I can see hospital scrubs as potentially dirty if they've been worn all day. Security-wise I wouldn't think it mattered.

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
I can see hospital scrubs as potentially dirty if they've been worn all day. Security-wise I wouldn't think it mattered.

Sleepy new mom + person in scrubs/ badge turned backwards = abduction potential

Nearly every abducted newborn from a hospital was abducted by a person wearing scrubs.

Specializes in NICU.
Sleepy new mom + person in scrubs/ badge turned backwards = abduction potential

Nearly every abducted newborn from a hospital was abducted by a person wearing scrubs.

Well that's why moms should be taught to look for the name badge and not the scrubs.

Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
Well that's why moms should be taught to look for the name badge and not the scrubs.

I was taught after each of my 5 deliveries, do not relinquish the baby to anyone without looking at the face side of the badge (since we know it's practically a law of physics, badges turn backwards!)

I was taught after each of my 5 deliveries, do not relinquish the baby to anyone without looking at the face side of the badge (since we know it's practically a law of physics, badges turn backwards!)

When I had my baby, no one came to take him except for my nurse. And at shift change the old one introduced the new one. Hey ...I might have just found one thing I like about bedside rounding.

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

But we all know how many patients don't listen to the incredible volume of information thrown at them post-delivery. Because if they DID- we wouldn't have co-sleeping deaths, dropped babies, injuries due to improper car seat securement.....

Specializes in Med/Surg.

I have shown up in scrubs when each of my parents was hospitalized because I just got off work or was going to work. Once, I went to the cafeteria and was offered an employee discount because my scrubs were the same color as those worn at that hospital. I'm bot comfortable being there in scrubs and don't want to advertise that I'm a nurse, but sometimes it was just the only thing to do. If offered a t shirt and asked to change, I would, though I would be a little surprised. I realize all of this did not refer to OB.

But we all know how many patients don't listen to the incredible volume of information thrown at them post-delivery. Because if they DID- we wouldn't have co-sleeping deaths, dropped babies, injuries due to improper car seat securement.....

It must be because the nurse doing the education was overweight.

Not in L&D, but if a patient is discharged and they have no clothes of their own, and we can't get a family member or friend to bring in some clothes, we discharge them with some scrubs.

On a tangent, I think all staff should change out of their scrubs once the shift is over. I find it dirty that people go shopping with their scrub on from work that's seen all kinds of stuff. I don't even bring my shoes into the house.

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