Scrubs that meet a dress code
What to ask for, and why it matters:
- Color by role. Many hospitals color-code staff so patients can tell an RN from a technician at a glance. A new employer or assignment may use a different color from your last one — confirm the exact shade before buying a full set.
- What is allowed over and under scrubs. Warm-up jackets, long-sleeve undershirts and prints are often restricted, especially in procedural areas.
- Who launders. Operating rooms and some procedural units provide facility-laundered scrubs and do not allow home-laundered ones in restricted areas.
- Fit for the work. Pockets you can reach while gloved, fabric that tolerates hot-water washing, and a cut that lets you kneel and lift. Size charts vary widely by brand, so buy one set first.
Shoes for long shifts
Most clinical dress codes require closed-toe shoes with a solid upper that fluid cannot soak through — mesh running shoes often fail that rule even when they are comfortable. Beyond the policy:
- Look for a slip-resistance claim backed by a stated test, not just the words “slip resistant”; hospital floors are wet more often than you expect.
- Choose an upper you can wipe clean with the disinfectant your facility uses.
- Break new shoes in before a 12-hour shift, and replace them when the cushioning is gone rather than when the upper wears out.
- If you have foot or back pain, a clinician’s advice beats any product claim.
Choosing a stethoscope
Match the instrument to the assessments you actually do:
- General bedside nursing (med-surg, telemetry, long-term care): a well-made general-purpose stethoscope with a good seal is enough. Fit matters more than tier — the eartips should seal without pressing.
- Cardiac, critical care, emergency and advanced practice: a cardiology-grade stethoscope makes faint heart and lung sounds easier to hear, which is where the extra cost pays for itself.
- Pediatrics and neonatal: a smaller chestpiece, or a dual-head with a pediatric side, fits small chests.
- Put your name on it. Stethoscopes go missing on busy units.
Keeping a stethoscope clean
A stethoscope touches every patient you assess, which makes it a surface that can carry organisms from one patient to the next. Clean the diaphragm and bell between patients with the disinfectant wipe your facility approves, and follow your facility’s isolation policy — patients on contact precautions often have a dedicated or disposable stethoscope in the room. Check the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions before using a new product on it.
On a travel assignment
Ask the recruiter or unit manager for the dress code before you pack, and bring one set in a neutral color for day one. The license question comes first, though — confirm your license is valid in the assignment state with the travel nurse license checklist before spending anything on gear.