Scrubs!!

It depends where you will be working. I work on a med/surg floor and we have to wear our Khaki uniforms to work. If you do work on a floor that allows scrubs, like Labor and delivery, you can wear more colorful scrubs, at least in our hospital. I'm sure the scrubs policy varies by command so make sure to ask someone before you buy a bunch of scrubs.

Agreed, it all depends on the hospital. They provide us with ours, but we generally wear our own and no one seems to care. Our hospital is very small, so that may contribute to the laid back attitude towards scrubs. I agree, check before you go buying a bunch.

LT Dan

not long after i got out, there was some buzz about all branches switching to one working uniform (probably BDUs). has that idea gone south, or are they still considering implementing that?

i can't imagine working a 12 hour shift in med/surg in khakis and chlorophrams!! YUCK!

Josh-

Nope they actually approved the new working uniform just a few months ago. It's only Navy-wide though. It is a BDU style uniform. It will take 2 years to phase it in an dthat doesn't start until Fall 2007. Would you believe I worked in one Navy hospital where I had to wear my Khakis in the ICU? It was beyond rediculous.

LT Dan

Josh-

Nope they actually approved the new working uniform just a few months ago. It's only Navy-wide though. It is a BDU style uniform. It will take 2 years to phase it in an dthat doesn't start until Fall 2007. Would you believe I worked in one Navy hospital where I had to wear my Khakis in the ICU? It was beyond rediculous.

LT Dan

good grief! i think khakis anywhere in healthcare besides a clinic is crazy. how on earth did they justify that one?

it's cool that they're switching to a navy wide uniform though. it will make it hard for squids with bad eyes (like me)...i was always getting in trouble for not saluting in the hangar bay, but i couldn't see far enough to discern between officer and chief insignia on coverall collars.

but i always knew when i passed someone that "SHIPMATE!" meant i screwed up!

What's a BDU?

What's a BDU?

Battle Dress Uniform

Typically a fatigue-type uniform (like what you see the guys over in iraq wearing).

BDU stands for Battle Dress Uniform. Basically, we're talking qbout the camaflouge style uniforms you see on the Marines, actually anyone in a deployment status will wear a BDU . The new Navy BDU is going to be a blue/grey/light grey pattern. They are much easier to care for than are standard uniforms.

LT Dan

PLEASE don't let them get rid of the coveralls!!! hands down the best deployment uniform ever!

I work at NMCSD. We only wear scrubs in the ER/Peds/ICU/PICU/NICU/L&d/OR/PACU. They have to be the hospitals scrubs, with white t shirt under. No patterns! Each area has a different color. All other areas are khakis or platform uniforms on fridays. Coveralls are not allowed in pt care areas.

I work at NMCSD. We only wear scrubs in the ER/Peds/ICU/PICU/NICU/L&d/OR/PACU. They have to be the hospitals scrubs, with white t shirt under. No patterns! Each area has a different color. All other areas are khakis or platform uniforms on fridays. Coveralls are not allowed in pt care areas.

That sounds about right. I spent some time at Bethesda and it was the same there. However, I'm overseas now and on the ward the nurses wear their uniform (khaki's) on Monday's and Friday's. All other days they wear the unit issued scrubs. The scrubs are color coded per department. Med/Surg=Teal. ICU=Blue. L&D=Pink. ER=Grey.

Believe it or not, you actually get used to working the wards in your khaki's. But the scrubs are definitely much more comfortable. However it does cause some confusion as to who's who sometimes (i.e. corpsmen vs nurse vs doctor)

BDU stands for Battle Dress Uniform. Basically, we're talking qbout the camaflouge style uniforms you see on the Marines, actually anyone in a deployment status will wear a BDU . The new Navy BDU is going to be a blue/grey/light grey pattern. They are much easier to care for than are standard uniforms.

LT Dan

ACKKK!! Khakis can be dreary to a pt's eye, that's for sure! I think the BDU's you just described will be at least a little easier on the eyes because of the blue in them. How many of you are surprised when places actually require grey or khaki for workplaces amongst those who are sick, when it's proven that certain colors affect a person's emotions -especially critical pt's who can become more emotionally disturbed by their environment (sounds, lights, colors...). Such as soft blues & greens proven to be soothing, while white, bland, or other neutral colors (& bright reds & yellows, etc) can be disturbing &/or depressing to those who are sick. I'm just curious as to what you guys think about that? It would be an interesting topic! Especially since this is why many hospitals & health care centers are beginning to paint those sterile white walls w/ soft, soothing colors due to these same studies. :bowingpur