Scrubs: Are Colorful Ones Unprofessional?

Nurses Professionalism

Published

  1. Are colorful scrubs less professional?

    • 3
      Yes
    • 18
      No
    • 17
      Depends on the scrub
    • 35
      Depends on the facility/type of specialty

73 members have participated

So, I recently accepted a position where the dress code is very laid back. Any style or color works, and you can even wear front prints. While I am able to and plan to wear my navy scrubs from my previous nursing job to this one, I had thought about buying one or two "fun tops" for the weekend. However, someone advised me to stick with the navy blue so I look and feel more professional. What are your opinions? Are colorful scrubs less professional than more neutral/traditional colored scrubs?

Specializes in Rehab, pediatrics.

I've worked in two hospital settings that were color coded - one was navy or royal blue and the other was grey or black. The thing that stinks with those scrubs is that they have the hospital logo on the tops so I can't really wear them else where.

I also work per diem with kids and with that job I do have some printed scrubs.

After only two years of being an RN I have a lot of scrubs. [emoji15]

I feel that the printed scrubs are more suitable working with kids, but I also have been leaning towards wearing brighter solids when I work with them instead. The solids make me feel more comfortable and professional.

But I don't think I will ever stop wearing Halloween printed scrubs during that time of the year because those are my favorite prints.

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LadyFree - are "belly shirts" those shirts that are too short and show off a person's belly if they lift their arms at all?

My t-shirts are long enough - they are actually called "Boyfriend shirts" and I get them at JC Penney. They have cuffed short sleeves and the waist is a bit more roomy than the tighter fitting t-shirt to hide the menopausal muffin top :whistling:

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Specializes in med-surg so far.

The hospital where I now work has color coded uniforms for different areas (maroon for housekeeping, royal blue for PT, grey for lab, khaki for techs, etc). But the nurses are all assigned different colors depending on which unit you work (ceil blue for ICU, red for step down, navy for ED, teal for general med surg, purple for oncology, hunter green for surgery, etc). I find that patients don't really notice that the colors differentiate staff roles. I think it's a good idea in theory, but I personally don't see that it matters. And it's a bit awkward if you have to float to another floor - then you're wearing a different color than the other RNs! At my old job we could wear any color or print we liked. Like others have said, a lot of a person's professional presentation has to do with style, fit, grooming, etc - not if their shirt is solid blue or has pink & purple flowers all over it.

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Specializes in ED, School Nurse.

When I first started as a CNA---> early years of being an RN I wore patterned scrub tops. Then I got a job in a hospital where all RNs/LPNs wore white tops and maroon pants. With all white shoes and socks. One of my coworkers got spoken to because he wore black socks.

We hated wearing white in the ED. We tried to get the higher-ups to let us use a different color, but it was a no-go.

Now I am a school nurse, I was excited to wear non-white tops and even thought I might buy a few patterned tops. Nope- looked and looked, couldn't find any that appealed to me. So I wear solids now. Today is all dark purple. Yesterday was all grey with a pink long-sleeved shirt under the top. Sometimes I even wear *gasp* street clothes!!

I don't think patterned scrubs are unprofessional, but I personally don't wear them. I am not a fan of cartoon scrubs in adult settings. But I wouldn't ever call someone out on it.

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

Not all printed tops are cartoons. I wear prints but they are usually small patterns, maybe a flower print. I think the fit and condition are more important. Who looks better, someone in a baggy, wrinkled solid set pf scrubs or someone who has a properly fitting, ironed set with a print top.

I see more silly surgical caps on surgeons, but I guess the pts don't necessarily see them

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Specializes in med-surg, IMC, school nursing, NICU.

My first hospital job was navy, white or ceil blue for all RNs, maroon for CNAs and hospital issued green for OR and PACU. Housekeeping wore black, PT wore khaki. Pedi and NICU could wear cartoons and whatnot. We could wear prints as long as the primary color was navy or ceil. It was nice, especially when a patient couldn't remember who told them something they could tell us what color the person was wearing.

My most recent hospital job was anything goes. People wore colors, prints, patterns, t-shirts. It was really confusing for me for a while because I didn't know who was who when I first started. I had several patients tell me they didn't like the patterns and cartoon characters, it made them feel infantilized which I can understand. We had this CNA who was absolutely crazy and she dressed up like a bunny on Easter night. Patients HATED that.

I only wore the navy and white that I already owned, it was actually a running joke that I had the most boring scrubs on the unit. My friends who still work there tell me now EVERYONE has to wear navy blue. RN, PT/OT, CNAs, dietary. Everyone. And they need to be purchased directly from the hospital. BOO to that nonsense!

Now, I wear some prints. The little guys love it and it's fun to be festive during holidays. I think it all depends on the environment.

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School nurse here. I can pretty well wear anything I want to school (in dress code of course). Jeans, scrubs, whatever. I usually just wear solid scrubs, but today I have a print top... I am the Bat Nurse :) Scrubs are just easy, when it warms up I like to wear crop pants and mascot/school tshirt. I guess I could wear flip flops, but would never do it.

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Specializes in family practice and school nursing.

Street clothes. No school nurses around here wear scrubs. Can wear pretty much what we want. Normally khaki type pants or dark jeans, pull over shirts, comfy shoes or sneakers. I like wearing scrubs, I do at my part time DRs office job, usually solids but I have a couple of print ones, no cartoon ones.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Prints are unprofessional for licensed nurses. Unless you work pediatrics or NICU, please save the prints for Halloween.

I wear black.

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Hay.....I didn't give permission for my picture to be posted. You'll hear from my lawyers. (I am the prettiest one, the one on the left).

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PS...I am so proud of myself...I managed to use the quote function correctly and copy the picture...yay for me! Now how can I use "my picture" as my avatar?

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I'd say it depends on where you work, IMO. I personally love the classic, royal blue scrubs...I don't know why but that color just seems the most serious and professional to me in healthcare. Obviously in a peds setting or maybe LTC, it would be more appropriate to wear more fun designs and colors. That's just me though! :)

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