I work in a clinic setting at a university affiliated facility. I have been noticing lately that professional standards for dress have been deteriorating. Now I'm not advocating a return to the white dress, white hose, and caps, but what from what I've seen lately in the halls and on the bus, nurses, nursing assistants and medical assistants are going to work in their pajamas.
The original reason for wearing scrubs instead of uniforms in surgery, critical care, and obstetrics was infection control. Scrub were also comfortable and so became the norm in most patient care areas. In our clinic, the medical assistants may even wear T-shirts with their scrub pants if have an "Iowa" logo.
What I object to are not only the wild prints and loud colors, but the lack of professionalism and uniformity. Nobody know who belongs where, and I can't help but think the public is even more confused. And what other professionals would wear cartoon characters on their uniforms?
Is this the image nurses want to present to the public?
Any other opinions?
8 comments:
Hi Teresa!
I've been following yours and Beth's blog for awhile now.( My 48 yr. old husband has been diagnosed w/ MM; on Thal/Dex now; going for an autologous PSCT in July). I have to chime in on this scrubs issue - it's a pet peeve of mine! When I started working in a hospital lab in 1985, scrubs were "regulated" - the color you wore identified the area where you worked. T-shirts were only worn under scrub tops. Now, ANYTHING GOES, and it's hideous! My kids wear more dignified looking pajamas. The "theme" tops really get me: I have trouble taking seriously anyone who wears a Sponge Bob or a Scooby Doo scrub top. In addition, scrubs rarely fit well - they're either too tight or too baggy (not at all figure flattering) and the athletic shoes that people wear with them are so unprofessional looking. I don't think we should go back to the days of uniform whites, but dignified, conservative-looking street clothes with comfortable shoes are my preference. Funny thing-this has happened to me a couple of times now-I've been in a elevator in my street clothes and lab coat and a young kid in the elevator has asked me if I'm a doctor. I bet they don't ask anyone in a Tweety scrub top that question !!!
Patricia DuBose
ps- I've gotten a lot of good medical info. from your blog entries. THANKS SO MUCH.
I agree with Patricia. I get asked if I'm a doctor when I wear my white lab coat. I have been asked if I was a CNA or a housekeeper in my scrubs. Patients like nurses to look like nurses. Hope Richard is doing well!
Agree totally. It's not be tolerated/respected in other professions. Why is it acceptable in ours?
beth
pixelrn.com
I agree with why scrubs were designed in the first place, but it's gotten completely out of control.
I think we should start a movement for a professional nurse uniform. Who's in??
Iposted a rant about scrubs on my blog not long ago titled WTF??? The sequins really got to me.
I walked into a local uniform shop last year and was confronted with a floor-to-ceiling ad for Dickies nursing uniforms that was practically pornographic. There were 2 women, draped around each other in a provocative, sexy way wearing scrubs that exposed their navels, cleavage and hip bones. I was absolutely stunned and horrified by this enormous image on the wall of a store that claims to sell "professional uniforms". I asked the manager whether the store or the Dickies people were responsible for the ad, and he basically shrugged. I told him I thought it was disgusting, demeaning to women and to nurses, and that it hardly reflected a professional image. While the Dickies ad was offensive because it portrayed nurses in a sexual way, I find the cartoons equally offensive. We are adult, professional people who do a job that requires a great deal of technical skill and clinical knowledge and judgement. If I were a patient, I would have a hard time taking a nurse in Sponge Bob scrubs seriously enough to believe that he/she posessed the professionalism and skills necessary to keep me safe and provide me with appropriate care. If we want to be taken seriously as members of a lifesaving medical team, we need to look the part.
One day last summer as I was working as a summer nursing student, I walked by an LPN who was wearing those awful low rise scrub pants with a short scrub shirt... and her thong (bright pink I might add) was just calling to be yanked. If I wasn't brand new to the floor and didn't really know the staff there very well, I might have given her the wedgie of her life.
Been reading you for a while, as I'm quite interested in medicine (as more of a hobby though... let's just say contact with patients wouldn't be a very good idea for me!).
This post inspired me to comment, because I couldn't agree more!!
It pains me to go to the doctor (located in a large hospital) and see these 'uniforms'. I'm not sure whether to be embarassed for the wearer or not ... is this by choice? Did they forget to do the laundry and have to borrow from a co-worker? Was this the only thing available when they did their shopping?
It just looks unprofessional and rather immature. Plus, I'm an adult. You aren't going to win me over by wearing a cartoon character.
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