"cutesy" printed scrubs - staff response?

Nurses Uniform/Gear

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Hello everyone! When I first started out working in the hospital, I was a nursing tech in pre-op/post-op for same day surgery and then switched to pedi inpt/ED. There were no limits to the dress code, so I had some fun with it. I'm a kid at heart and so I bought some "cutesy" scrubs, from Bambi to flowers. After NS, I worked in psych nursing. I continued to wear the scrubs that I'd already had from working as a tech and accumulated a bunch more scrubs. Pretty much all of my scrubs are "cutesy", from cartoon characters to butterflies and the like. I've never had a patient complain about my appearance and my scrubs have often served as a conversation starter, "Hey, I used to like XYZ movie or cartoon."

I'm about ready to switch to a role as an RN in a SNF and think my scrubs will be just fine there, but I'm worried about perception of my professionalism from other staff. I feel comfortable with what I'm wearing and don't think the patients will have objections, but I'm nervous that my new colleagues might think I'm "childish" for my scrub choices. Am I just being silly and paranoid?

When I was a civilian RN, I wore what I liked. Know what patients remembered? I had several - and family members - who commented that they recognized me because I ironed my scrubs! My pants always had hard creases and my tops had crisp creased sleeves. Took about five minutes before heading out the door to work and made all the difference in the world.

So my guess is my favorite Kermits with their creased sleeves were professional enough. I saw RNs in solids that look like they'd just rolled out of bed, hair all down and hanging off their shoulders...I wore Classic Pooh starched with my hair pulled up and I'm assuming I looked very squared away and like a pro.

There's more to projecting a professional appearance than what you're wearing. Wear it right and the pattern will become irrelevant.

Specializes in Psych.

I have become a certified scrub a holic LOL! My first job was in the community, I wore street clothes and we were expected to dress very casually so that when we were out with the clients, people would not look at us and think, "Oh, there's his worker". When I started my job at an inpt psych hospital I got a few pairs of dark colored, soild tops and pants. They were pretty cheap too, didn't look so great after a few washes. Then I went to a store in town that sells scrubs and was having a sale. I was in hog heaven! Now I have a bunch. No cartoon characters though. Mostly floral or geometric prints that aren't too busy but I likes me some bright colors. I have the Koi Lindsay pants in Flamingo and Limeade LOL. I have a Koi top I LOVE that has butterflies on it. I think that is the most "cutesy" top I have.

Specializes in SDU/MS/Tele Float.

I used to work in a SNF and I'd wear Koi Giraffe printed scrubs, our residents would call me "little giraffe" since I'm only 5 feet tall.

I work in a snf and the nurses here wear all kinds of stuff. The director of nurses wears a lab coat and buisness clothing and her assistant wears all white. Everyone else though wears all kinds of crazy stuff. During the week more nurses wear solids because there is more administration and visitors here but on the weekends is when i see a lot of colorful scrubs. Today I saw a rainbow butterfly top it was pretty cool.

More and more places have solid color dress codes. I have NO problem with colored/patterned scrubs. In fact many patients enjoy them, and they can be an ice breaker or provide some distraction. I have many, especially holiday ones.

Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
... I now wear them everywhere... and they last forever...

Mine get so beat up if I wear 'em out... so I never do.

I love them. I don't wear them but I love printed scrubs. I know my friend loves being able to wear the breast cancer awareness scrubs in the office that does the mammograms. I am stuck to wearing teal or black depending on my job for the day. We can also wear white scrub tops, but most of the people do not. I bought two white tops though so I could continue wearing them as a nurse after I become licensed.

I used to work in a SNF and I'd wear Koi Giraffe printed scrubs, our residents would call me "little giraffe" since I'm only 5 feet tall.

hahaha. I'm also only 5' tall. That's funny. I don't care for animal prints (Mom always told me street walkers were the only ones to wear animal prints and even though times have changed & they're totally fashionable again, I just can't do it).

I also don't do characters, although, I feel a kinship with Tinkerbell and all of her spunk so I am tempted every time I see a cute Tinkerbell top. I have Koi cargo pants in almost every color and I prefer print tops that go with the season. Many styles make my dizzy because they're so busy so I look for prints that either have a lot of "dead space" or use larger prints. I, too, prefer them to be pressed. I have a cheerful, outgoing personality and I like cheerful, outgoing scrubs to go along with it.

I take the test for my CNA cert soon and I sincerely hope I can wear these adorable scrubs.

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I wear whatever the machine in the OR gives me, some days they are horribly wrinkled and it drives me crazy!!

I have contacted two different scrub shops in my town to ask them to carry "grown up" scrubs. No response.

I was in a SNF most of 2012 with my broken femur. My favorite CNA on the PM shift used to wear a Garfield scrub top often, knowing it would make me smile. I was pretty down in the dumps with my medical situation, so it was great to have a caregiver who cared enough to consider my feelings. >^..^

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