Wearing scrubs home??

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Im just wondering if anyone has a standard practice of changing their scrubs before going home? Or if changing clothes would help with germ transfer?

When I was in the Navy, I didnt wear that stuff home. I'm not going to start

"commuting in uniform" now. Just me.

aloha

Jim

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Specializes in Long Term Care.
It seems that with a nurse's salary you could have your uniforms laundered so that you could go and read to the kids at the library if you wanted to.

I would so love to see the Nursing Salaries that everyone keeps talking about come to my corner of the world minus the big city prices.

AND the nearest dry cleaning/ laundering facility is over 45 minutes from my home.

So... let's see... spend one of my days off traveling to and from the city to get my dry cleaning (and nothing else btw) or do my own laundry and still get to read to the kids now and then?

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Specializes in ED, CTSurg, IVTeam, Oncology.
I am glad to hear I am not the only one who wears my scrubs home. I have run to the grocery store (rarely) and even fallen asleep in them. "Back in the day", as a new grad, I wouldn't have been caught dead in them once I entered the house (kids were younger then too). Hospital supplied scrubs would be nice for patient protection--we only get them for OR/PACU, burn unit and L&D/mother-baby, but can always request them when we get "slimed" and need a change.

This is where a part of the problem had been, that hospitals want to do things on the cheap, thus allowing staff to go home an launder their own scrubs in violation of health care policy. At the start, the scrubs were a hospital responsibility. What next? Sphygmomanometers?

When controls break down, it's often the fault of the institutions, though they're probably the last to ever admit it.

Ralph

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, Infectious Disease.
I thought TB was caused by a bacterium, not a virus?

It is a bacillus and not a virus....d'oh! LOL

I know I kep saying this...but one day I WILL learn to proof read my posts! LOL

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Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.
Seriously, you should try it:) My DH knows it has been a bad day when he comes home and I am in full uniform on the couch. I think that I may be the only nursing student that has not even started yet, that has had to wash all 3 sets of scrubs!

T

Ok I am going to try it too :chuckle I have bought my scrubs already and I'm still waiting for a job interview. That phone is going to ring sooner or later! So in the meantime I am going to enjoy watching tv in them! Hey I'm going to have to try that Grey's Anatomy!

I know someone that likes to do housework in her scrubs. She says they are comfortable to wear around the house. I have to agree. I feel really good when I put mine on. I hated that school uniform of just white scrubs and the stupid teal apron SNA's had to wear. I'm so glad to be out of there. Now I can wear color! :)

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I did get an A in microbiology but I'm hardly an expert on the subject, so correct me if I'm missing something. I'm having a VERY hard time picturing germs bouncing from my nonsoiled, dry scrubs to my patients. Don't viruses die quite quickly when apart from living organisms (i.e. on scrubs)? Are bacteria really so drawn to cotton/polyester blends? :)

I'm not saying people can't get sick from contaminated scrubs, but it seems a little far fetched. I am one who washes my scrubs after each use, but I never considered a worn pair of scrubs to be the raging health hazard that this thread is making it sound like.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
And as far as taking things home to the family, didn't we learn in school that exposure to germs, bacteria, and viruses boost our immune system? Or did I hallucinate that lesson?
Precisely. Some people lack the wherewithal to realize this.
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Precisely. Some people lack the wherewithal to realize this.

Really?? Come off your high horse. Go back to Micro...exposure does not equal immunity...as far as "boosting" the immune system, I for one don't want my family to be exposed to potentially fatal organisms when I can take a very simple, common sense approach.....don't wear scrubs home!

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Specializes in ED, CTSurg, IVTeam, Oncology.
I did get an A in microbiology but I'm hardly an expert on the subject, so correct me if I'm missing something. I'm having a VERY hard time picturing germs bouncing from my nonsoiled, dry scrubs to my patients. Don't viruses die quite quickly when apart from living organisms (i.e. on scrubs)? Are bacteria really so drawn to cotton/polyester blends? :)

I'm not saying people can't get sick from contaminated scrubs, but it seems a little far fetched. I am one who washes my scrubs after each use, but I never considered a worn pair of scrubs to be the raging health hazard that this thread is making it sound like.

Take your lunch and sit out on the grass in the wonderful sun filled garden; then go back inside to your immunocompromised burn patient and wipe your clostridia laden behind on your hand as you dig for your tape scissors to change his dressing.

But "OH, NO... That would never be ME..." Yeah right.

Considering that you work in germ central, what's the temperature of your wash water? Don't know? Well, then... how the heck can you be sure that there are no communicable or infectious diseases on your clothing each and every time you put it on?

What agents do you use to disinfect the clothing? Bleach? How much, as in what percentage? Don't know? You're a pretty poor excuse for reliability in terms of infection control.

Infection control is just that. Control. Lack of it leads to infection. It isn't so much that germs are smart, but rather people are stupid when it comes to these things. The biggest fault in these things are simply that most nurses and physicians assume that they're too smart to pass on infection. That's why it happens.

Me, I'm too ignorant to do my own laundry correctly, and for my patient's sake, I'm willing to accept that.

Originally Posted by SharkLPN: And as far as taking things home to the family, didn't we learn in school that exposure to germs, bacteria, and viruses boost our immune system? Or did I hallucinate that lesson?

Well, if you take home the right germ, bacteria, or virus, you and your family may die a slow, disgusting and excrutiating death. But if you're certain of the pedigree of organisms that you have on your shirt, well... be my guest.

Ralph

ps. the "you" is only rhetorical, not you personally :) and as for spreading diseases with articles of clothing or linen, you should read up on the first examples of germ warfare, where small pox was spread through the use of infected blankets.

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Specializes in ED, CTSurg, IVTeam, Oncology.

oops sorry, double posted.

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/katrina/mrsainfoclinicians.asp

An article of interest. Also asking everyone to be mindful of not personalizing posts (or internalizing them as being aimed at us.) This is a passionate topic. Let's continue to discuss it professionally.

ETA: wrong link - I have one about the increase in community-acquired MRSA - will keep hunting :). Personally, I will note we're seeing a LOT more of it.

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
a girl that i thought was wearing the same scrubs everyday actually just had multiple sets because it was the uniform at her previous job...

now for my :twocents: -- i wear my scrubs home and strip asap as i hit the shower!!!!

Hi there,

Since its hard for me to find pants that fit, sometimes I will buy multiple pairs. Currently I have FOUR of the same pants, (same co., same size, same color same everything). To top it off, our company provides tops so I also have four exact matching tops too. :)

I am fresh every day, if boring but, fresh. :)

Gen

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