Hospital laundered scrubs?

[tmarie]

I saw an article a while back about the increasing number of hospitals and other healthcare facilities that are making the switch from employee-owned and cared for uniforms to uniforms that are supplied and laundered by the hospital. I remember the writer of the article making some very good points about how gross it is, when you think about it, that healthcare workers wear their scrubs and shoes outside of the hospital before work, during break, and after work. He or she made a very good case for all hospitals switching to hospital-laundered scrubs that the healthcare workers would change into once at work and change out of before leaving. I wish I could find the link to the article now.

What are your thoughts on this? Do any of you work at hospitals that launder your scrubs? Do you prefer it? Think it's a good idea? I am a pre-nursing student, and this just popped into my head today and was curious about it. I was just wondering how common it is. Actually, what brought it to my mind was a conversation I had with a "concerned" (AKA nosy and bossy ) family member who is convinced that me becoming a nurse would pretty much ensure that my family and I will be sick all the time from all the germs I will carry home from work with me.

[Slappy387]

A hospital I practice clinicals at participates this technique in select areas. For instance, surgery, LD, nursery, etc... uses hospital supplied uniforms and the rest of the hospital brings their own scrubs to wear for their shift. I love the idea. Im hoping they will put showers into the changing rooms so I can rinse off all the germs I collect throughout the day.