Reddit Reacts To Hospitals Banning Jogger Scrubs

In today’s version of don’t-hospitals-have-bigger-things-to-worry-about, such as patient safety, the rising levels of burnout among healthcare professionals, and the lack of staff in many critical areas, we are discussing an area that some hospitals have allegedly latched onto to make nurses’ lives even more stressful: 

Jogger scrubs. 

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Yes, that’s right folks. Along with the mounting attacks on nurses’ hydration by one accrediting organization that will go unnamed, some hospitals are apparently moving onto criticizing the threads that clad last year’s healthcare heroes/today’s unprofessional slobs. 

>>Related: Top 10 Best Scrubs For Nurses 2022

The news came via a question posted in a Reddit thread, where one healthcare professional mentioned that their attending had pulled them aside to inform them that the jogger scrubs they were wearing were unprofessional, even going so far as to refer to them as “sweatpants.” 

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Shockingly, the OG commenter was not the only one who had been harassed about their pants. Other Redditors chimed in, with several even claiming that some hospitals are actually banning jogger scrubs altogether. For instance, one commenter explained that their hospital had banned them after some styles of the joggers left the wearer at risk with too much skin exposed. 

“The hospital I work at has banned jogger scrubs and their reasoning is that in clinical and laboratory settings they tend to pose a hazard by leaving the ankle area more exposed. Upon being given a visual example, I was convinced and didn’t argue with their decision,” TsunamiLadyWorms said. 

But others said their places of employment simply deemed the joggers as not fitting with “the look” of a true healthcare professional. 

Aside from the absolute absurdity of anyone trying to police the professionalism of scrubs—which, let’s face it, are basically glorified pajamas intended to bear the assault of bodily fluids—some commenters in the thread pointed out how jogger scrubs actually have an important purpose. For instance, one commenter pointed out that joggers are the only type of scrub that fit their body:

“Years ago when I was a scribe I (only I) was told I couldn’t wear my Figs joggers anymore because “a nurse” complained and said it was unprofessional. And the ankle exposure excuse wasn’t valid for me because I’m 5’0” and this was before they had petite sizes so they were def covered 😅 meanwhile other scribes were wearing ACTUAL leggings lolol. Tbh the joggers are the only scrub pants that fit me correctly because of my body type so 🤷🏻‍♀️”

As a vertically-challenged nurse who spent my bedside heyday back when the split bottom leg scrub pants were cool, resulting in a lot of unnecessary fabric dragging through feces, spills, and who-knows-what-else on the hospital floor, I can say with full confidence that a jogger scrub style would have made a world of difference for me. And I’m not alone, as many healthcare professionals in the thread expressed similar sentiments. 

>>Related: Top 10 Best Scrubs For Nurses 2022

“Honestly as a very short guy, traditional scrubs make me feel like trash cause even the smalls are dragging on the floor for me,” commented Husky121221. “I loved my traditional scrub-pants up until I had a night shift in the ER. I was basically tiptoeing around because I didn't want to pick up all of the spilled blood with my pants,” said misthios98. 

Other commenters noted the irony of hospital administrators focusing on what really matters out there in the world of so many healthcare crises. 

And while many of the replies were humorous (“They can’t contain themselves with such scantily clad 🥵ankles🥵,” commented Surgical_Potatoes), others pointed to an overarching theme of how healthcare, in general, is changing. 

Gone are the days when “professional” had a “look” and in are the days when patient care can safely be delivered by all people of all sizes, genders, races, bodies and rocking whatever hairstyles, clothes, and appearances they feel the most comfortable in. It’s a move that most likely won’t come easily for some in the medical world, but it’s a necessary one and if rising up against an attack on jogger scrubs is part of the movement, well count us in. 

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Oh, and as one final closing note, if we need any proof that jogger scrub pants are cool as hell and should never go away, may I present this evidence of Time’s 2020 Nurse of the Year, Amy O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan treated New York’s very first hospitalized COVID-19 patient in the early days of the pandemic, became infected herself and spent 4 days on a vent, then recovered and went right back to work. She’s so badass that Mattel even made a Barbie out of her and yes, the Barbie most definitely rocks jogger scrub pants too. 

Source: @nurseamyosullivan/Instagram

O’Sullivan is known for her trademark blue jogger scrubs paired with colorful socks and if someone wants to call this 19-year New York ER veteran nurse “unprofessional,” well, I’d like to see them just try. In fact, I reached out to O’Sullivan and she confirmed that she is, in fact, a fan of the jogger style scrubs. She had to this say: 

“Every single nurse, doctor, and tech who wears joggers is safer—no tripping or falling over the old scrub bottoms,” she told Nurse.org. Plus, they’re just plain better: “They’re for sure cooler and ya gotta be up to date with fashion!” she added.

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It’s a good thing someone’s looking out to save healthcare, ya’ll. One jogger scrub pants at a time. 

We want to hear from you—what do you think? Are jogger scrubs unprofessional? Do they pose a risk? Or will hospitals need to peel your joggers off before you give them up?