I was reading the paper this morning, and this topic was mentioned in teh "Ask Marilyn" column. The question and answer was this
"A question has been bothering me since I moved to a city that is home to some of the finest hospitals in the world. When I use public transportation, I see people wearing scrub suits to work. Is this acceptable? I had thought employees were supposed to change into scrubs provided at the hospital in order to leave outside germs at the door"-
and her answer
"You're right. I've noticed the same phenomenon in other cities, too. If those people are hospital employees they are endangering patients and should be reported to hospital authorities. Another growing problem is scrubs being stolen and word in other places, such as the subway, to convey an impression of respectability. Anyone seen wearing scrubs outside an appropriate environment should be regarded with caution"
What do you think?
WHen i was a student, so recently, we had to wear our scrubs into the hospital, we were told not to change at the hospital. Here I saw the OB nurses and OR nurses were the only ones who had uniforms provided to them to change into at the hospital.
Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.
prickly
While that may be true, it is probably best not to make negative moral admissions about ourselves. Espcially since most of us have no intention of repenting.
You're right. The next byline for Marilyn's column:
Nurses Caught Making Light of Their Filthiness On Internet
While that may be true, it is probably best not to make negative moral admissions about ourselves. Espcially since most of us have no intention of repenting.
You may want to reconsider... I heard the steep wantawiscuit (or was that wantabiscuit... well ANYWAY) visits those who wear scrubs (especially the vile dirty ones) in public and the villains are never seen again. :uhoh21:
I am a new nurse, and I will be taking the train to work some days, and I plan on wearing my scrubs on the train, I will change my shoes though and I don't see anything wrong with that, any germs I have on my scrubs just from going into work will be no different than if I was my scrubs at home and bring them to work and change at work. a germ is a germ! :)
I personally do not use public transportation as it isn't an option in my rural area, but from what my nurse friend tells me about the subways where she lives in New York City, I have a few conclusions:
1. People in scrubs are not the scary people on the subway you avoid
2. There are most likely more germs on the rail you hold onto for balance than on your scrubs! :barf01:
I wonder if the hospitals should have a separate cafeteria for workers and visitors. I'd hate to think someone sat in my chair after I got up...and got a germ on them.
Our hospital did in the 70s- Nurses were not allowed to eat in the main caeteria, had to carry their food to their floor lounges in covered boxes. Drs ate in the Med Staff lounge so that left visitors, admin staff, and nuns in the reg cafeteria?
i never heard of ms marliyn b/4 this posting===but let me tell you she is a dingbat
i have purchased many scrubs [don't like the reversible ones with a high pocket on each side] but you can purchase them at walmart, on line, any medical store
i don't believe that there are many stolen or worn to make an impression on anyone
don't know where people get such weird ideas
i do believe in changing shoes when you come home,,nurse or general run of the public, when you have a crawling baby because of the likelihood that they will put anything and everything into their mouths
when you have a condition like sars going around use common sense but it wouldn't hurt to use common sense at other times as well
This is an interesting post -- very enlightening to see the varying responses. I buy all my own scrubs and, mainly for practical reasons, wear them to/from work every day on the bus. I also wear my shoes to/from work each day. I do always wear a clean uniform each day. I can see where it's possible that I'm carrying germs on my clothing, but I also think that unless I'm actually coming into physical contact with people it's unlikely they'll catch something from me. If I have a patient with anything other than standard precautions, I would always wear a gown and gloves to care for them. The funny thing is -- sometimes I'll have cared for a patient for 2-3 days in a row and all of the sudden they're on MRSA contact precautions. Who knows how long they've had it, and before that I was dragging their germs around to my other patients. I think the most vulnerable folks are the patients in the hospital. I'm not sick with MRSA and I assume people on the bus (who more often than not have intact immune systems) are probably safe too. A very good question though....
Trust your immune system and don't encourage super bugs by disinfecting every surface in your life when it isn't necessary!
I have yet to explain this to people who don't understand bacteria. They just don't get it. Only people in medicine opt for the plain old scrubbing bubbles vs. the disinfectant.
Take this for what it is worth since I'm exhausted and realize that it comes from someone who was treated pretty shabbily today by a sales clerk who thought I was nuts about something I asked her. I admit to not having all the information and was willing to be educated but got the rolling eyes . . .
Anyway, I don't think it is fair to berate the columnist - maybe she just needed some more information - look at how many opinions are here on this thread from nurses or nurses-to-be . . .
Guess I'd just like someone to feel that they can make a mistake without being told to "kiss my azz" . . . . or called a dingbat . . .
Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.
Anyway, I don't think it is fair to berate the columnist - maybe she just needed some more information - look at how many opinions are here on this thread from nurses or nurses-to-be . . .
Guess I'd just like someone to feel that they can make a mistake without being told to "kiss my azz" . . . . or called a dingbat . . .
steph
Steph, I totally agree with you. But...when someone writes a column which is published in a national newspaper, and is read by millions of people - and that person is touted as having the highest IQ in the world...I think she should do a little research into the subject before she makes statements like she did. It's one thing to put your foot in your mouth in casual conversation, but the job she does carries with it a responsibility.
She could have spoken with people in the healthcare field, gotten some input and balanced that with her opinion.
You have to admit, the statements she made were not only inaccurate, but very harsh and condecending. Came close to making all of us who wear our scrubs to and from work look like irresponsible idiots and possibly criminals! I just hope that the majority of the people who read it have the common sense to see it as pretty silly.
Steph, I totally agree with you. But...when someone writes a column which is published in a national newspaper, and is read by millions of people - and that person is touted as having the highest IQ in the world...I think she should do a little research into the subject before she makes statements like she did. It's one thing to put your foot in your mouth in casual conversation, but the job she does carries with it a responsibility.
She could have spoken with people in the healthcare field, gotten some input and balanced that with her opinion.
You have to admit, the statements she made were not only inaccurate, but very harsh and condecending. Came close to making all of us who wear our scrubs to and from work look like irresponsible idiots and possibly criminals! I just hope that the majority of the people who read it have the common sense to see it as pretty silly.
pricklypear
1,060 Posts
You're right. The next byline for Marilyn's column:
Nurses Caught Making Light of Their Filthiness On Internet