Should hospital provide and launder scrubs?

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2013

We actually had some CNA's file a lawsuit at my hospital because they have a mandated scrub color, which there are no hospital laundry services provided for. Their argument is they hospital should be washing their uniforms or they should be reimbursed for doing so at home if it is a mandated uniform. I never really understood the lawsuit and thought it sounded silly. FYI nurses can where whatever they want where I work.

psu_213, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2013

We actually had some CNA's file a lawsuit at my hospital because they have a mandated scrub color, which there are no hospital laundry services provided for. Their argument is they hospital should be washing their uniforms or they should be reimbursed for doing so at home if it is a mandated uniform.

Was there not a lawyer out there that told them their case did not have a snowball's chance in Hades?

itsnowornever, BSN, RN · Apr 14, 2013

Was there not a lawyer out there that told them their case did not have a snowball's chance in Hades?

I don't think they stand a chance at what they are aiming at- but they CAN win with the reimbursement of cost or the hospital supplying uniforms. That's been don't before and awarded with a yearly stipend.

Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! :)

itsnowornever, BSN, RN · Apr 14, 2013

I don't think they stand a chance at what they are aiming at- but they CAN win with the reimbursement of cost or the hospital supplying uniforms. That's been done before and awarded with a yearly stipend.
Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! :)

Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! :)

Editorial Team / Moderator · Apr 15, 2013

I have to wear my Army uniform in my ER. These things are not cheap ... about $40 for the top, $40 for the pants. Good boots are at least $90. I got a one-time $600 uniform allowance when I commissioned into the Army, but it didn't cover everything -- I spent about $1K to get everything I needed. There are all kinds of "prices" one pays to wear this uniform! Haha. Our civilian nurses wear scrubs -- no mandated color. Hopefully we're switching to scrubs very soon, it was a power struggle/political thing that kept us in our combat uniform while at work. Of course, just in time for me to deploy outta there for 9 months! I was so looking forward to wearing my poor, sad, lonely scrubs. I have no idea what I'll be wearing while deployed -- probably scrubs, though.

itsnowornever, BSN, RN · Apr 15, 2013

I have to wear my Army uniform in my ER. These things are not cheap ... about $40 for the top $40 for the pants. Good boots are at least $90. I got a one-time $600 uniform allowance when I commissioned into the Army, but it didn't cover everything -- I spent about $1K to get everything I needed. There are all kinds of "prices" one pays to wear this uniform! Haha. Our civilian nurses wear scrubs -- no mandated color. Hopefully we're switching to scrubs very soon, it was a power struggle/political thing that kept us in our combat uniform while at work. Of course, just in time for me to deploy outta there for 9 months! I was so looking forward to wearing my poor, sad, lonely scrubs. I have no idea what I'll be wearing while deployed -- probably scrubs, though.[/quote']
I'd kill to be able to break out my BDUs to work! The pockets! The comfort! And yes, my boots were SEVERAL hundred dollars, but I've had them for years and I'd KILL to be able to wear those! Walking on clouds! Keep in mind though, uniform allowance is not for what you want, it's for what you need- and $40 tops and $50 bottoms and $90 boots along with $12 for a three pack of shirts---well, $600 will have you clothed for 3-5 days. Good enough for government work!
Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! :)

Ixalia · Apr 17, 2013

Regarding scrubs, I never had the option to have them laundered at work. Instead of the hamper with other clothes, I place them separately (usually a paper bag). After washing them I run the machine empty with just bleach, if nothing else, at least for my peace of mind that the next load would not be exposed to whatever I may have brought home.

The other thing I do is keep a small cardboard box in my car, so that before getting in, I place my work shoes in it and put on regular street shoes to drive. I do the reverse when arriving at work. It's true that street shoes can pick up stuff from all the other places we go, just like being exposed to everything else, but I'm not comfortable wearing them (work shoes) even in my car.

lisa.casanovasidoti · Apr 17, 2013

It would be nice for hospitals to supply and launder scrubs; however, it would not be cost effective for them. My guess is that if they did supply and launder, they would decrease rates of pay to make up the difference, and nobody wants that.

You mentioned stopping at the supermarket or making other stops on your way home wearing your scrubs. In nursing school, it was drilled into our heads that we should never stop anywhere in our scrubs because of the potential to transmit germs. i read a study a few months back that talked about the germs we carry everywhere from our shoes. This makes me think our shoes are a bigger issue than our scrubs. I always take my shoes off and put them in a sealed plastic bag before I get into my car.

theantichick · Apr 17, 2013

I'm a germaphobe, and the uniform thing has bothered me since nursing school. However, I don't think I'd like hospital issued scrubs or using their laundry service. I'm finding that it's hard to find scrubs that fit me comfortably, and the ones I really like are spendy so I don't think a hospital would spring for them. Incidentally - for those who wish they could wear their BDU's to work for the pockets - check out Aviator Scrubs. They're on the spendy side, but they are super high quality and have more pockets than I can find use for in their custom models.

My washer died right before nursing school, so I used part of that year's tax refund to buy a new set, and specifically chose one that has a steam setting for sanitizing laundry. I wash my scrubs separate from the rest of my clothes, and typically hold the dirty ones in a separate laundry bin. My shoes come off at the door, and since they're sealed leather, they get clorox wipes before they go on the shoe rack I have in my entry way.

In my perfect world, I'd put on clean scrubs at home and go to work, and have a locker room where I could shower and change into street clothes before I went home. I personally just feel slimy and grungy after a shift and don't feel clean until I completely shower. Just a clothes change isn't enough for me, though it would do in a pinch. In my next-to-perfect world, my laundry room would sit between my garage and the rest of my house and I'd strip my clothes on my way in.

Incidentally, I'm one of those who can't stand the thought of going to a store or heavens forbid a restaurant in my scrubs after work. I know that there's other nastys out there in the real world, and I try not to get OCD about it, but I do believe the resistant ones are more prevalent in the hospitals. I take what I consider reasonable precautions out in the world too... I wash my hands a lot, carry hand sanitizer and don't touch my face or eat without cleaning my hands. And I realize that my reasonable precautions seem seriously OCD to most people, and I'm OK with that... :) I don't curtail my activities because of my germaphobia, I try to keep my skin in good intact condition and stay hydrated so my mucus membranes do their jobs. I'll get dirty with the rest of them, but I have to wash up when I'm done.

itsnowornever, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2013

I'm a germaphobe, and the uniform thing has bothered me since nursing school. However, I don't think I'd like hospital issued scrubs or using their laundry service. I'm finding that it's hard to find scrubs that fit me comfortably, and the ones I really like are spendy so I don't think a hospital would spring for them. Incidentally - for those who wish they could wear their BDU's to work for the pockets - check out Aviator Scrubs. They're on the spendy side, but they are super high quality and have more pockets than I can find use for in their custom models.
My washer died right before nursing school, so I used part of that year's tax refund to buy a new set, and specifically chose one that has a steam setting for sanitizing laundry. I wash my scrubs separate from the rest of my clothes, and typically hold the dirty ones in a separate laundry bin. My shoes come off at the door, and since they're sealed leather, they get clorox wipes before they go on the shoe rack I have in my entry way.
In my perfect world, I'd put on clean scrubs at home and go to work, and have a locker room where I could shower and change into street clothes before I went home. I personally just feel slimy and grungy after a shift and don't feel clean until I completely shower. Just a clothes change isn't enough for me, though it would do in a pinch. In my next-to-perfect world, my laundry room would sit between my garage and the rest of my house and I'd strip my clothes on my way in.
Incidentally, I'm one of those who can't stand the thought of going to a store or heavens forbid a restaurant in my scrubs after work. I know that there's other nastys out there in the real world, and I try not to get OCD about it, but I do believe the resistant ones are more prevalent in the hospitals. I take what I consider reasonable precautions out in the world too... I wash my hands a lot, carry hand sanitizer and don't touch my face or eat without cleaning my hands. And I realize that my reasonable precautions seem seriously OCD to most people, and I'm OK with that... :) I don't curtail my activities because of my germaphobia, I try to keep my skin in good intact condition and stay hydrated so my mucus membranes do their jobs. I'll get dirty with the rest of them, but I have to wash up when I'm done.

The BDUs were me!!!! How does Aviator size their scrubs? I'd really just live the pants!!!! Were I'm hoping to get hired we don't have to wear scrub tops, do that doesn't really concern me.

Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! :)

theantichick · Apr 17, 2013

For the Aviators - there's a size guide on their website with measurements that are pretty accurate, and I *think* they're mostly inline with the sizing from the other major brands. I found I was right on the line with my hip measurement but if I ordered the size indicated, they were too tight on my thighs - but I carry all my weight in my hips and thighs and put on 45 lbs in nursing school alone. If you're not as bottom heavy as I am, you should be safe to go by their measurements. They also recommend getting one of their "stock" pants to double check the size, as the stock pants are returnable but the customs aren't. I don't care for the pocket configuration on the stock "classic" pants so I'd definitely recommend that if you order them to only order one to start and see what you like. The configuration I like is the ER (Trauma) for both the pants and shirts.

Their selection comes in two fabric weights - the lightweight is the thin cotton stuff that most other brands use, and their heavy weight is my distinct preference as it actually has a bit of structure and just feels sturdier - they'll usually send you a swatch set with your first order as well.

I've had excellent customer service with them, and have nothing but great things to say about both the product and the company. And all the sewing and distribution is done here in the USA. (Not far from where I live as a matter of fact.) Takes a little while to get the orders in since they're a small shop, but I have found them TOTALLY worth the wait. My only complaint is actually about the ankle pockets as I've found absolutely zero use for them, but I'm sure they were added for a good reason for someone, and they've added the option to leave them off.

lpncal · Apr 17, 2013

I've believed for some time that a facility should provide and launder all their employee's scrubs. Think of the germs we bring in from out in the community, places we go prior to work: gas station, 7-eleven, grocery stores, day care, etc. Then we take those germs in to our patients. And obviously, why would we take the C-diff, MRSA, VRE, from our patients back to our homes? If the hospitals truly want to cut down on cross contamination, wouldn't this help??