Time of the month in light colored scrubs

[jkmk]

This is a 'personal' question for the female nurses... It seems in school and professionally, most nurses wear light blue scrubs and the school I'm looking into requires them. Typically during 'that time of the month' I wear dark pants just on the off chance that there may be an accident. I can only imagine when you are on a long shift and taking care of people, possibly doing strenuous transfers and such, it can be harder to get to the bathroom as often as needed and an unwanted incident could occur. Professionally, do most of you have the latitude to wear dark scrub bottoms and if you can't, what do you do?

Sorry for asking a 'gross' question that people aren't really 'supposed' to talk about, but I'm trying to figure out the logistics of our annoying monthly situation. You're all nurses or nurses-to-be, so I figure you should be able to handle personal questions like these, if anyone can.

[K nurse-one-day]

That's actually a really good question! Ive never thought about that

I'll be checking back for answers too!

[kbm318]

Same here! I haven't started clinicals yet but we have to wear white and I was wondering about this as well

[Anne36, LPN]

Good question, Im sure it is something that other people think about as well. I would have been in big trouble the last couple days if I had to wear white. Anything that has protection for the sides so there is less leakage is helpfull. If you can use a tampon, doubling up helps to prevent leaks pretty well. I hope bathroom breaks are not a big deal.

[Conqueror+, BSN, RN]

This may seem like an odd answer but our uni's were WHITE when I was in school. I "double-bagged" that week by putting a pair of black scrub pants/leggings under my pants and wearing a pair of uni pants a size bigger than normal. I tend to go pretty heavy and I would have been a wreck otherwise. It is a question that needs to be asked. Good for you OP.

[CBsMommy]

I also tend to layer when it's that "time of the month". We have to wear white for clinicals and I've already been in that situation. I wore my regular underclothes with all of the necessary...things. Then I put on a pair of white running shorts (you know the ones made out of lycra so they are form fitting) over my usual unmentionables. Then with scrub pants over all of that. I was still as comfortable as I usually am and no one could tell anything. That seems to work for me! I also applaud you OP for bringing this up. This is a natural part of life and sometimes we women just have to ask these questions!

[DroogieRN]

I asked this exact same question on here when I was starting nursing school -- seems like so long ago! I was very worried, d/t heavy flow and the requisite white pants (whoever thought it would be a good idea to put menstruating women in white pants and then have them lift and squat and stand on their feet all day ought to receive something fitting in return...).

Anyway! Here I am at the end, with two weeks to go, and I survived with no accidents to speak of! Some things I did:

• Double protection. Just do it. Always makes a new pad called Infinity, and it's aptly titled (especially the overnight ones). Same with the new-ish Playtex Ultra tampon. I wore both. And if you need to go to the bathroom, go. Don't be a martyr.
  
• Bring an extra pair of uniform/scrub pants and a spare pair of underwear. You'll feel better knowing they're there (I never actually needed it, though).
  
• Google "period panties." I bought some and they're great. Somehow they stop the leak from going through to the outside. I don't care what sort of horrible chemical they may be made with, they work.
  
• If your underwear doesn't fit snugly, wear a spandex-y, girdle-y something over them, as suggested above. I still recommend the period panties, though.
  

I had to make up my mind early on that I would absolutely not be humiliated if I did have an accident. Healthcare professionals above all people should understand. Just have a backup and continue through your day. Best of luck to you!

[caliotter3]

When I was, eh, hemorraging, I wore jeans or dark pants to my job. Sometimes even that precaution didn't help.

[jkmk]

Thanks for the tips ladies!

[Always_Learning, BSN, RN]

I wear all white uniforms for school (bah!) and my advice: invest in a pair of Spanx (or some generic brand that is less expensive). This, worn under scrubs, has several advantages:

• Acts as a makeshift girdle (suck it in!!!)
  
• Extra layer between you and your scrub bottom
  
• Holds things in place (i.e. maxi pads)
  

I bought two when I started school, and it makes me so much more relaxed! Haven't had any problems

[Intern67]

jkmk said:

You're all nurses or nurses-to-be, so I figure you should be able to handle personal questions like these, if anyone can.

No biggie. Sorry for being male and sticking my two cents in!

We have to wear white scrub pants for two years worth of clinicals at school. So far, no embarrassing incidents have occurred. Well, one classmate was lactating at first semester clinical and had issues further north, but that doesn't apply here.

By the way, the white pants are universally despised. One girl in my class came into school in uniform for a lab checkoff, soaking wet after walking through parking lot in a rainstorm. She stomped by me saying, "Why the h*ll even wear pants!!!!?!?! her pink legs shining clearly through.

As one classmate put it, "Get the flesh-colored grandma undies out and make sure you've got padding."

[whichone'spink, BSN, RN]

Wear a top that's long enough to cover the area that will be most effected if you, um, bleed. Next time, I will also put on long johns during those times that nature takes its course.