What do you wear?

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Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.

When you're at work, and NOT in the OR, what do you wear? Say you're going to the cafeteria to go grab a bite to eat, or the tube station is down and you need to run some records to another unit. Are you required to wear a jacket or cover over your scrubs?

We are required to wear a lab coat over our scrubs when leaving the OR. I get it, but I don't. I understand we don't want to go down to the cafeteria or out in the hospital, and have our uniforms exposed like that when we're going to be standing next to someones open abdominal cavity an hour later. At the same time, I don't get it. It's a jacket, not a N-95 mask. Germs are going to get through it, and all it really does for me is to keep me from spilling soup on my uniform. I'm still exposed to germs on my uniform walking through the OR halls and sitting in the staff lounge, where I am not required to wear my uniform.

Every staff member had a jacket, some have several. The racks are littered with these jackets, many for the same people. We also have disposable jackets that can be worn, but I can't imagine how much those costs. I can't imagine the cost for the jacket for each staff member, cleaning them, or the disposable jackets.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

We wear scrubs everywhere else in the hospital. We have warm-up jackets, but they are allowed in the OR. The only requirement is that masks, hats, and shoe covers are taken off. Not really enforced, and most people just leave their hats on too.

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Wearing lab jackets outside the O.R. is a sacred cow. It doesn't make a difference but it looks like it does. See article....

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BPC/is_9_24/ai_65649979/

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Specializes in scrub tech 3 year, Circulator 2 years.

We have to wear coverups whenever we leave the OR suite area. Going to Pt rooms, cafeteria, gift shop and labs we were them. If we leave the hosp for lunch we much change back into street clothes.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

We are not required to wear lab coats. It is my understanding that before staff had to years back, but they got away from it.

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