SCRUBS IN PUBLIC: YES OR NO
I’ll confess that I sometimes wear scrubs in public. I’m not a heath care professional. When a new line comes out or one of our manufacturers comes up with the next new and improved fabric, I’ll take a set and wear it and wash it for a while to see about the comfort and how well it holds up. That way when a customer asks me about the product, I can give an honest answer rather than just reciting the description provided by the manufacturer.
It’s kind of funny, but I’ve noticed that more strangers will make eye contact with me, smile or speak to me when out and about in the scrubs. I’ve had people just standing in a line at a store or sitting at the next table in a restaurant ask me what hospital I work at, or if I’m a nurse or a doctor. My answer is usually something like, “No, no…I just sell scrubs and I’m doing some product testing.” I get some weird looks then. So why do you think that people would feel comfortable initiating a conversation with a stranger? Could it be the scrubs?
Let’s face it. When we are at one of our most vulnerable times, sick and possibly frightened, it is a person in scrubs who is working to make us feel better, who is bringing us food, cleaning up our mess, bathing us or maybe just giving a kind word or a gentle touch. The scrubs you wear identify you as someone who cares and who is willing to give of themselves for the good of others. They indicate you are a walking safe place for us to rest in.
Ok, so that is my opinion and my observations from several years of wearing scrubs in public and paying attention to people’s reactions. But this still doesn’t answer the question of should or shouldn’t you wear scrubs outside the work place.
First off let me say that you need to be smart about it. If you work in a doctor’s office at the reception desk or in medical records, you are less likely to have an issue with contamination so it really shouldn’t be a big deal for you to wear your work clothes outside of the work place.
If your work includes direct physical contact with patients, then the chance of you either taking home, or bringing in to your patient, harmful germs or bacteria has increased exponentially based on the level of patient contact your job requires. If you have direct physical contact with patients with contagious illnesses, your facility should have a changing room and professional laundry service for your uniforms. You should come to work in your street clothes and change into your uniform and work shoes on sight, then at the end of your shift, change back into your street clothes. Let the professionals clean and sanitize your scrubs. MRSA and RSV are not welcome house guests, so leave them at work!
If you are working in a facility that doesn’t have a locker room or laundry service, you may want to take steps on your own to prevent the transfer of the yucky stuff. Wear street clothes in transit to or from work. Carry your scrubs in a duffle bag and change on sight. When you get home don’t put your dirty scrubs with your other clothing. Wash your scrubs and wash your hands after handling your dirty scrubs.
From the CDC regarding the spread of MRSA on clothing or linens: https://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/community/environment/laundry.html
Routine laundry procedures, detergents, and laundry additives will all help to make clothes, towels, and linens safe to wear or touch. If items have been contaminated by infectious material, like blood or puss, they can be laundered separately, but it is not absolutely necessary.
In general, wash and dry in the warmest temperatures recommended on the clothing label. Hot water washing is not necessary to remove MRSA from laundry. Read and follow the clothing and soap or detergent label instructions. Water temperatures for household laundry depend on the type of fiber or fabric of the clothing. Also, some laundry detergents are made to clean best at certain temperatures. Not following instructions could damage the clothing item or decrease the effectiveness of the detergent.
It is not necessary to use bleach for each load of laundry. Detergent alone will make laundry clean and safe for wear and use. Use of bleach as a disinfectant in laundering is optional, and not all fabrics are suitable for bleach. Read the clothing label instructions.
Wear your uniform with pride, but be smart and be safe!
