Medical Workers wearing scrubs to and from work, outside the Hospital, etc..

[Galvatron1]

New York Daily News

Tuesday Oct. 17th 2006

-Barbara M. Simpson writes:

"MEDICAL WORKERS NEED TO CHANGE

I have bben wondering if there is now a rule that persons who work in the medical field, hospitals, nursing homes, etc. can wear their uniforms in the streets, on the buses and on the trains.

Aren't they required to wear regular clothes to work and then change to their uniforms and change back after they have completed their tour of duty?

Every day you see white uniforms, blue uniforms [scrubs] in the post office, in the stores, in the banks, in restaurants, on the streets. That kind of behavior is unsanitary."

I happen to agree, what do you guys think? I admit, I've been guilty of this as a student, after following the lead of my health care profession colleagues. But I realize I was wrong in doing so, & I'm willing to change. I always see scrubs on the trains, and we were taught in school to change once we get to the hospital & when we leave. Why do many of us do it? I believe we can do better as health care professionals.

[NoMoreStudying]

I will run errands in them. I'm no more germy than anyone else. Even negative air flow rooms vent the TB-infested air to the outside world.

There is a guy who come to my gym in his denim scrubs. I hate nothing more than to see him on the elliptical working up a sweat in those things.

[CarVsTree]

When my institution provides my scrubs and a place for me to change into/out of them, I'll be happy to comply. Until then, I'll wear them to work and to the grocery store, etc. And I'll try my best not to rub my germy self all over the strangers I meet there. :trout:

[Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN]

the produce shelves at the supermarket! Going to the bank after work in blood splattered, vomit coated scrubs is unnessary, but I'd be willing to hypothesize that our scrubs are no more or less germ-ridden that regular street clothes worn all day. And if we were to compare, swab per swab, Officer O'Myacin's uniform is by and far filthier than mine at the end of any given shift!

Blee

[Princess74]

Most people that I see wearing scrubs turn out to be housekeepers for hotels, cooks, and people who just want to wear them because they like them. They are not even in the medical profession. Now a days it seems everyone wears scrubs the way that they wear jeans. Doesn't matter if they are in the medical profession or not. They seem to be the uniform of choice for many professions.

If I were to need to stop by the store on my way home I would do it in my scrubs, I don't have enough time in my day to go home first, shower and change and then go back out to run an errand.

[Spatialized]

It is a peeve of mine to see people in scrubs in public, but I've learned to live with it. Granted, normal everyday street clothes are probably just as nasty as scrubs worn on the floors, but some may not think about that when you see scrubs on the person standing over your fresh produce at the market.

Myself, I prefer to either change, or go straight home. Being a cycle communter before, I've had to change in some unpleasant places and am pretty used to it. Sometimes you just have to gut it out, if that is what you want to do. I like to change before leaving, but that's me, I'm not going to force that on anyone.

Cheers,

Tom

[daisey_may]

Myself, I prefer to either change, or go straight home. Being a cycle communter before, I've had to change in some unpleasant places and am pretty used to it. Sometimes you just have to gut it out, if that is what you want to do. I like to change before leaving, but that's me, I'm not going to force that on anyone.

Exactly. I think it is a personal preference and if it is YOUR preference to be in street clothes on the streets and scrubs during the day. Idon't think less of anyone who is in scrubs. I figure they have a hectic schedule like me or some other excuse. And I've seen so many patients who bring their OWN scrubs that who knows how many people have scrubs that are not in the medical profession.

It's impractical to be anything more than clean when you're working on the floor. Do you change you're shoes and take a shower just before and after you are at the hospital? And how about the number of people who leave their stethoscopes on the floor or over thier rear-view mirror? ...and i don't even want to think about what's growing all over my badge.

I often wonder how I've kept myself from becoming a germaphobe and not wearing gloves for EVERYTHING I touch (like door handles, shopping carts...)

[BSNtobe2009]

Well, when you think about it, alot of doctors when they make their rounds come to the hospital in street clothes with a lab coat.

[babynurselsa, RN]

Yeah my scrubs are soooo much nastier than that lady in the mucky looking slippers and the stained, dirty t-shirt, and the pajama pants that obviously she did not put on just today who just sneezed on her hand before she touched the lettuce..............

I think this person has an outsider view of things. If my scrubs are visibly soiled I WANT to get straight home and shower and change. But, if I need to stop and get gas, or milk on the way home, I will.

I would much rather have my street clothes on, but depending what shift you work it may not be feasible to go home, shower,change and THEN go to the post office.

[MS._Jen_RN, ASN, RN]

Well, when you think about it, alot of doctors when they make their rounds come to the hospital in street clothes with a lab coat.

Not to mention that there is question as to the last time that the lab coat was washed and not just hung on the back of the office door at the end of the day.

I think that the public is often just unaware of many factors this discussion involves. I could just see all 15 floor staff for my evening shift trying to change in the bathrooms before the shift starts.

~Jen

[Halinja, BSN, RN]

Well, when you think about it, alot of doctors when they make their rounds come to the hospital in street clothes with a lab coat.

I watched as a doctor removed a bandage on an abdominal incision, then leaned forward to inspect something. His tie swept across the length of the incision. The next time I showed up on the floor, that patient's incision was infected with MRSA.

Now, I'm not saying the tie did it, who knows? But after it trouched that incision, did he take it off? Or did he wear it home, hug his wife and kids, go out to dinner or....? Doesn't make him any cleaner than someone wearing their scrubs home.

[GeminiTwinRN, BSN]

I watched as a doctor removed a bandage on an abdominal incision, then leaned forward to inspect something. His tie swept across the length of the incision. The next time I showed up on the floor, that patient's incision was infected with MRSA.

Now, I'm not saying the tie did it, who knows? But after it trouched that incision, did he take it off? Or did he wear it home, hug his wife and kids, go out to dinner or....? Doesn't make him any cleaner than someone wearing their scrubs home.

:barf01:

[onlyhope]

I wonder kind of world Barbara Simpson lives in, "if there is now a RULE that persons who work in the medical field, hospitals, nursing homes, etc. can wear their uniforms in the streets, on the buses and on the trains. " Oh please give me a break! We are not 'old-time lepers.' Doesn't she realize the germs she is exposed to in public? Perhaps she should wear gloves when she goes out of her house. Her life must be pretty good if this is her big concern. By the way, most nurses want to get them off as soon as possible. Scrubs really aren't high fashion. Perhaps she needs to get a life and quit worrying so much about other people.

I agree! this woman needs to get a life and quit sweating the small stuff. sometimes i think that people just make stuff up to complain about so that they can be miserable and their lives full of drama.