How come Docs don't have to wear scrubs?

[holdensjane]

Why is it that all direct patient care persons have to wear scrubs or uniforms and doctors/NP/PA don't? If food services, having very little direct pt. contact, has to wear a uniform, why aren't doctors required as well?

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Why is it that all direct patient care persons have to wear scrubs or uniforms and doctors/NP/PA don't? If food services, having very little direct pt. contact, has to wear a uniform, why aren't doctors required as well?

When our docs are coming from surgery, seeing patients just before surgery, or are to be "working" on them, they do wear scrubs. However, if they are just doing rounds with patients, before or after office hours, they wear business attire. Professional, except for the stray duck here or there.

[jjjoy, LPN]

Most MDs are not hospital employees. Instead, they work out of their private practice offices and contract with hospitals for "priviledges."

In their office, and thus also on their hospital rounds, docs usually wear business attire with lab coats. They may, however, require THEIR office staff to wear scrubs or other uniform.

[woody62, RN]

My ortho wears scrubs in his office, on his hospital rounds and in the OR. I don't ever recall seeing him in anything but scrubs. And he has been my ortho since 1989.

Woody

[justme1972]

Why is it that all direct patient care persons have to wear scrubs or uniforms and doctors/NP/PA don't? If food services, having very little direct pt. contact, has to wear a uniform, why aren't doctors required as well?

Because..

1) They are not usually not direct employees of the hospital, and work on priviledges.

2) This is to set their position apart in the hospital as authoritative.

That is why no matter what hospital you go to in the USA, doctors, etc. will be dressed the same. They make sure it STAYS like that. They, and the hospitals, want you to be able to recognize them immediately without having to ask.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

The medical residents do have to wear scrubs like the rest of us. The other docs, etc. are not employed by the hospital and have their own personal dress codes. Most look professional, so it doesn't bother me.

[RNperdiem, RN]

Oh many of those docs really love the scrubs. The surgical attending had to get firm with the surgical residents recently about when it is appropriate to wear scrubs and when professional dress is required.

Personally, I would rather not go through the expense to build and maintain a non-scrub professional wardrobe. I own 2 uniforms and spend the rest of my clothes budget on clothes for my social life.

[Sabby_NC]

A little off track here but I was working with a Doc (some years ago now) who asked me to get the pen out of his pocket. I should have been more aware of what was going on really!!

I dove my hand in his pocket and went straight to his groin area.

He laughed so hard and I went all shades of puce!

YES he had scrubs on and decided to play a prank on me.

I should have grabbed that LITTLE thing I felt and twisted it.:angryfire

[Altra, BSN, RN]

A majority of the MDs where I work wear scrubs.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Professionals who are not employed by a corporation or entity tend to have more control over their working conditions, and are less likely to be governed by workplace rules as stringently. Doctors have more control over their work environment, so they can basically wear whatever they wish. Most physicians wear business attire under labcoats, and some choose to wear scrubs.

The vast majority of non-managerial healthcare positions require that the worker must adhere to a specific dress code, which usually entails scrubs. Most staff nurses are regarded as non-managerial.

[holdensjane]

is it just me or does this seem bad for infection control? esp cause they do rounds on scores of patients at a time.

[jjjoy, LPN]

Docs who frequently perform surgery are the ones most likely to be wearing scrubs as they are in and out of the OR all day.