I have spoken before about my distaste for what passes as uniforms in many a medical establishment.Scrubs.
Scrubs are pajamas. Initially a simple garment to be worn and left in the operating arena, the scrubs are now available in many a color and pattern to be worn by nurses, billing agents, medical assistants, doctors and anyone else in any way associated with physicians.
The fact that most people have no idea the difference between the girl who takes their copays and the nurse that evaluates them, most people assume they are all "nurses."
On a recent trip to the local Brewery/Restaurant I frequent the Pajama Bridage was in full force. In a corner of the bar area, which is open to the maybe 30 table dining area a dozen or so pajama clad folks were loudly discussing their favorite clients and patients from that week.
I mention loudly because a few of them felt the need to yell patient information over the sound of their laughing friends.
Alcohol was involved, sure, but so was poor judgment.
After watching most of those around me turn to them and scour, I decided to give them a heads up they were not only being rude, but if I knew where they worked, were clearly violating both the letter and intent of HIPAA's current form.
"Hey guys, I hate to interrupt, but you're not only very loud, but I work in the healthcare industry and some of the things you're saying could be considered violation of patient privacy."
"Mind your own business," was he only reply I got from the young lady closest to the man I spoke to, who chose not to even look to me when I spoke.
Returning to my seat, they started up again, laughing, banging the table in hysterics and each trying to outdo the last with tales of "lazy," "ugly," "deformed," "stupid" people they had seen this week.
What upset me the most was that had they said the same things online they would all have been fired, likely because we would then know their names and where they worked.
Then my mind shifted to the uproar and headlines if a group of paramedics in uniform were having the same discussion (sans drinks). Heads would role, careers would come to an end.
But for some reason the pajamas bring with them an aire of respectability, an assumption of a hard working floor nurse who deserves to unwind after a long week. I know from what they were discussing they are likely not even nurses, but technicians and desk clerks, and how would the average person ever know that?
Nurses need to stand up and differentiate themselves from the pajama clad masses who continue to distort the public's image of their profession. Ditch the pajamas and accept something more like what I saw in England, or something from your past, something with some class to it. Something that when you walk in a room I'm not wondering if you just rolled out of bed, but see you as someone who respects their line of work enough to dress the part.The kids at bar making you look bad look just like you and feel comfortable enough in their pajamas to hit the bar after a long day of supporting your hard work.
Comments
There are tons of other options, I just think that throwing everyone in the office/building/hospital into scrubs makes it harder to find who I need, both as a paramedic and as a patient. The only way I could tell the janitor from the nurse when my daughter was sick was the task they completed once in the room.
If the nurses wore something that was still cotton, still washable and held up to constant washing, but was styled to tell them apart from everyone else would be nifty and go a long way in my mind.
Thanks for reading.
I don't think scrubs need to be done away with, but I do think that, along with the confidentiality teaching, there might need some dress code teaching!
Imagine my surprise when he picked up his mop and walked out of the room. Yes, he was from housekeeping, but he had on the same scrubs as the surgeons wear. Given the quality of care, I think I actually gave report to the right person, but that's a different story.
Actually, I don't much care what the nurses wear, but the doctors should be wearing lab coats. Short ones for the residents, long ones for the attendings. Sort of like insignia of rank.
"What upset me the most was that had they said the same things online they would all have been fired, likely because we would then know their names and where they worked."
Sounds like a job for a cell phone camera and YouTube, then they would be saying it on the internet.....
The fact that everyone thinks people in scrubs ties into the fact that we would likely faint if only the nurses wore them. Meaning that so few of the persons in a medical setting can actually render immediate and direct care.
As far as being surprised when a fire engine shows up when they call for Paramedics, I too am surprised when that happens. It's a fire engine. Why would it come to help us? Either we educate them or address the 4 man 500,000 first response unit issue.
I'd love to know where you work to have a better idea of your background and perhaps discuss it more? If not here, then perhaps via email - thehappymedic@gmail.com, anonymity OK.
Thanks for reading
Your blanket approach to Nurses and Techs is definitely not the behavior of the Professionals I work with. I am proud of the kindness and compassion shown from our people. We once had over a million dollars left to our hospital by a "homeless person" who was shown kindness and loving care by a tech in our ER. Turns out he was homeless by choice and he was moved by the care he received. We have a beautiful facility with great people.
For those of you that read this "happy medic's" opinion, It's nearly an opinion and one group of unprofessional people in a bar is NOT the norm for most Techs and Nurses. And our Medics get along great with our staff.
( you may want to change your name from "happy" to grumpy.)
I detest healthcare providers wearing those scrubs outside the OR suite or hospital. I am disgusted to see folks on public transit wearing them (for the hygiene of the hospital and world). I understand a surgeon wearing scrubs in the OR, then rounding on the wards in scrubs sometimes (but expect them to put a white coat on), but do not understand the outpatient clinic nurse wearing them every day.