Graduating w/ only 1 pair of scrubs

[Beldar_the_Cenobite]

I plan on going to CNA school soon and they're only giving me a pair of scrubs. 1 dark blue top and 1 gray bottom. I was told by a clerk at a uniform store that a travelling nurse she deals with directly says she has different colors for different hospitals. I never thought hospitals gave a damn about the color scrubs you wore so as long as they were clean and you showed up to work on time with what you know you're supposed to have and to do your job.

I don't know where I want to work when I graduate. A hospital that pays CNA's really good requires CNA's to have a year of experience at least. That leaves me open to any facility. The VA doesn't hire CNA's I don't think. Scrubs(I think) are a bit pricey. I thought a top could go for $5-10 but nope. A store here in Vegas sells tops ranging from $30-50 and I'm a college student. I don't have an employer that will give me a stipend for uniforms or a discount for the store. What the F.

I thought about working for Maxim but because I'm not even in CNA school they really didn't give me the details on what I should expect as I contract for them(scrub colors, stethoscope requirement, etc).

When you guys graduated CNA/LPN, or Nursing school, how did you buy what you needed when money was tight? Is it true that anything you buy for your job(pens, scrubs, watches, stethoscopes, etc) can be written off on your taxes?

[missmollie, ADN, BSN, RN]

Buying two sets of scrubs is a small price to pay for a job. Like previous posters have stated, check goodwill, wal-mart, and amazon has some great scrubs for a decent price. Spend some good money on shoes, save what you can on scrubs.

[BSN16]

while i was in nursing school i had 2 pairs of scrubs so that i didn't constantly have to be washing my clothes everyday

[middleagednurse]

Good Will is loaded with scrubs

[sevensonnets]

Family Dollar has really cheap scrubs if cheap is what you're after. I'm not quite sure why you're so concerned about how we as nurses paid for our uniforms and supplies when we graduated from nursing school.

[Ddestiny, BSN, RN]

When I was a CNA I found the cheapest, most unisex scrubs I could get. I got them online and they were about $5 per top or bottom. I had all different colors and they weren't flattering at all but they allowed me to show up and do my job. I don't remember the name of the site at this point but you can just search "discount scrubs" or "cheap scrubs" and you will see what pops up. There are also many websites that sell scrubs and have a page for scrubs that are on sale. Beyond that, most scrubs are expensive. Even Walmart these days is running $10-15/each item. I've worked in nursing homes, a hospital and a doctors office and was never given a uniform stipend so I wouldn't assume that is going to be an option. Just like any other job, they assume you have the clothes/uniform to show up on Day 1 and fulfill the requirements of the job.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

I worked in a hospital, and they let you wear whatever color scrubs you wanted as long as it was professional. Stop being judgmental and harsh. Good grief.

I'm not and you are reading too much into it. Can you read tone? Why is it harsh to inform somebody what the real world is like? He expected to graduate from CNA school with enough scrubs to work with. A little reality check was in order. I was not being harsh. Harsh is calling people names and belittling them. I did neither.

Check the sensitivity factor at the door before entering. I'm not here to coddle feelings. I'm here to answer questions in a realistic manner.

It's great you can wear any color you want at work. That is not common unless in peds or a physicans office. I'm going to say that 95 out of 100 facilities require associate's to be color coded. It's evidence based practice. And more and more as physician's align themselves with large hospital systems those parent companies require their employees to dress like those in the hospital. It's a fact.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

It's great you can wear any color you want at work. That is not common unless in peds or a physicans office. I'm going to say that 95 out of 100 facilities require associates to be color coded. It's evidence based practice. And more and more as physicians align themselves with large hospital systems those parent companies require their employees to dress like those in the hospital. It's a fact.

I wouldn't say the ratio is that high - otherwise all these scrub companies would be out of business. They'd have a hard time making their way relying only on peds folks, dental offices, and MD offices.

If there's evidence-based practice on that I'd really like to see it. Not being smart or cute - I'm legitimately interested.

If I were a patient in a hospital I don't know that I'd be able to (a) keep up with all that information or (b) really be concerned about it as long as care was appropriately given. I know a lot of L&D units went to that for safety reasons, which makes sense.

There's been a lot of talk bandied about for literally years about requiring this everywhere, but it's yet to happen - and the proliferation of scrub stores still selling prints seems to back that.

Just curious.

[ButtaflyRN]

All staff who have do some type of pt care all color coded scrubs, my hospital does have a contract with a local store that we can buy scrubs and pay them off over 6 paychecks. Not the greatest scrubs but they'll do in a pinch. I've never worked anywhere in any capacity that my employer bought my scrubs, and that goes back Medical Assistant school, CNA school and the nursing home I worked at, LPN and RN.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

The only employer that's ever supplied scrubs for me has been the military. And they're horrible. :)

(They saved me a bundle, I must admit...all those cute shirts are addictive...)

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

If there's evidence-based practice on that I'd really like to see it. Not being smart or cute - I'm legitimately interested.

If I were a patient in a hospital I don't know that I'd be able to (a) keep up with all that information or (b) really be concerned about it as long as care was appropriately given.

I'd like to see the evidence as well. Each hospital is different. In my town, my facility requires navy and/or white for nurses. The hospital across town requires burgundy and/or white for nurses. Well, in my facility burgundy is respiratory care. So unless it's standardized nationally, I can't see how color coding is going to do patients a lick of good. Maybe staff familiar with the colors and who they belong to, but then I also work with the same staff day in and day out, see the same people in ICU when I'm dropping off my vented surgical patient, so I don't need the colors.

OP, I bought my nursing school scrubs at Walmart. I don't buy scrubs for my job as I work OR and we are required to wear facility provided scrubs. There are bargains out there. I would also not expect any kind of uniform allowance from an employer. That way, if you find a place that does actually offer one, it's a bonus.

I think you would really benefit from some research into the realities of the health care employment gig. Looking at your various threads, you've got quite a few misconceptions.

[Meeshie]

A really quick google search found a couple of articles on the whole uniform and color coding issue.

Color coding nurse uniforms : Nursing Management

Medscape: Medscape Access

What works: Implementing an evidence-based nursing dress code to enhance professional image - American Nurse Today

No clue if there's more out there. It was either do some googling or watch Blaze and the Monster Machines for the millionth time so google won.

[compassionresearcher]

My hospital supplies the uniform, all nurses outside of ORs wear a scrub top with the hospital logo on it and blue pants. I think they give 2 sets on hire. Walmart sells really inexpensive scrubs if you need to buy them yourself.