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Why Lab Coats Turned White

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Re: Why Lab Coats Turned White

#31

Post by zabzonk »

manarth wrote: post #28
infinitewars wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The writer is retired and probably in his 70s now, so keep that in mind

I assume you're referring to the HN user zabzonk, rather than the article author Donna Vatnick. The HN user zabzonk's profile description says "Ex C++ programmer and project manager". It'd be interesting to understand more about their crossover from microbiology into C++ (or vice-versa).

Well, as you ask, I got fed up with dealing with human excrement, urine, blood, pus from wounds etc. I was developing an interest in computing using things like the TRS80, and so decided to switch over. The two (microbiology and microcomputers) had nothing in common. I quickly started using & programming things like DEC VAX & DecSystem10, IBM VM/CMS, Unix in various forms and so on. Now (at 72 years old) I'm retired, but do like to keep my hand in a little.

My observation about female technicians was in no way meant to be derogatory - I had several female managers who I liked very much, and I've always admired female tech's aseptic technique, and other techniques compared with mine.

Re: Why Lab Coats Turned White

#32

Post by zabzonk »

infinitewars wrote: post #15
zabzonk wrote: post #4

When I worked in the NHS, our coats were far from white because we used to write on them, in magic marker, things like specimen numbers, doctors and nurses names, phone numbers etc. that we had to deal with queries about. I was always impressed that the laundry managed to get them pristine white again. Of course this was just us sloppy men - female techs carried useful things like notebooks (paper) and biros. And now…

Did you write on them because a notebook could cross contaminate while the coats are sterilized safely? Did you wash the markers? I wonder how people handle this now? With IP68 tablets, you can probably just dunk the whole thing in alcohol. (Also thanks for sharing such an interesting anecdote)

No, after a couple of days (or even halfway through a day) our lab coats were about as contaminated as could be!

I agree with you about the use of tablets in hospitals though. I don't think I ever saw one being sterilised las time I was in hospital for a bit.

Re: Why Lab Coats Turned White

#33

Post by nabbed »

At one point, I worked in the labs division of a big internet company, where I was a regular software developer surrounded by people with the title "scientist" (basically, programmer/statisticians with PhDs who were running engagement and revenue experiments on our user base).

In the first group meeting I attended, I jokingly asked why no one was wearing a white coat, but my colleagues didn't get the reference, so my joke fell down with a thud.

Re: Why Lab Coats Turned White

#34

Post by karlgkk »

OJFord wrote: post #19
zabzonk wrote: post #4

When I worked in the NHS, our coats were far from white because we used to write on them, in magic marker, things like specimen numbers, doctors and nurses names, phone numbers etc. that we had to deal with queries about. I was always impressed that the laundry managed to get them pristine white again. Of course this was just us sloppy men - female techs carried useful things like notebooks (paper) and biros. And now…

> And nowadays in the NHS you will be hard-pressed to spot a white coat - people wear ordinary clothes, scrubs, or nurses uniforms. At least that's my impression as a recent in-patient. Yeah, they were banned in the name of hygiene (sleeve length) not that long ago. 2007 in England & 2014 in Scotland I think. The BMA has some lingering objection to it from what I understand, but since Covid they're all in scrubs anyw…

> as they do in some US TV shows

It depends on the hospital and it might also be regional.

At the hospital I go to in California, green is for surgery and everyone else seems to be in a free for all. I know they reserve dark red for visiting specialists, but the doctors and nurses both wear whatever they want.

Re: Why Lab Coats Turned White

#35

Post by fennecbutt »

zabzonk wrote: post #31
manarth wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I assume you're referring to the HN user zabzonk, rather than the article author Donna Vatnick. The HN user zabzonk's profile description says "Ex C++ programmer and project manager". It'd be interesting to understand more about their crossover from microbiology into C++ (or vice-versa).

Well, as you ask, I got fed up with dealing with human excrement, urine, blood, pus from wounds etc. I was developing an interest in computing using things like the TRS80, and so decided to switch over. The two (microbiology and microcomputers) had nothing in common. I quickly started using & programming things like DEC VAX & DecSystem10, IBM VM/CMS, Unix in various forms and so on. Now (at 72 years old) I'm retired,…

I think it's more that it's implicitly derogatory to other men. People get annoyed when you speak for them, sort of deal.

Re: Why Lab Coats Turned White

#36

Post by enoint »

clort wrote: post #24
OJFord wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> And nowadays in the NHS you will be hard-pressed to spot a white coat - people wear ordinary clothes, scrubs, or nurses uniforms. At least that's my impression as a recent in-patient. Yeah, they were banned in the name of hygiene (sleeve length) not that long ago. 2007 in England & 2014 in Scotland I think. The BMA has some lingering objection to it from what I understand, but since Covid they're all in scrubs anyw…

They do this at my local hospital at least. There is a plethora of colours for different staff roles. I understand this is not consistent across the whole NHS but in general the principle is mostly followed. eg, see https://www.workwearexpress.com/blog/NHS%20Uniform%20Colour%20Codes

I didn’t see maroon on there for anesthesiologists.

Re: Why Lab Coats Turned White

#37

Post by arwineap »

fennecbutt wrote: post #35
zabzonk wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, as you ask, I got fed up with dealing with human excrement, urine, blood, pus from wounds etc. I was developing an interest in computing using things like the TRS80, and so decided to switch over. The two (microbiology and microcomputers) had nothing in common. I quickly started using & programming things like DEC VAX & DecSystem10, IBM VM/CMS, Unix in various forms and so on. Now (at 72 years old) I'm retired,…

I think it's more that it's implicitly derogatory to other men. People get annoyed when you speak for them, sort of deal.

I'm a male, I don't write notes on my clothing, and I found the whole comment hilarious

It's possible some folks have thin skin.

Re: Why Lab Coats Turned White

#38

Post by OJFord »

clort wrote: post #24
OJFord wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> And nowadays in the NHS you will be hard-pressed to spot a white coat - people wear ordinary clothes, scrubs, or nurses uniforms. At least that's my impression as a recent in-patient. Yeah, they were banned in the name of hygiene (sleeve length) not that long ago. 2007 in England & 2014 in Scotland I think. The BMA has some lingering objection to it from what I understand, but since Covid they're all in scrubs anyw…

They do this at my local hospital at least. There is a plethora of colours for different staff roles. I understand this is not consistent across the whole NHS but in general the principle is mostly followed. eg, see https://www.workwearexpress.com/blog/NHS%20Uniform%20Colour%20Codes

Oh, interesting. The few hospitals I've been familiar with through my wife's working there have all been single colour (or slightly different shades with different ages of stock!).

I don't think there's a rule about it though, it's just what they stock & launder. I don't think they're mandatory for doctors at all – my understanding is they pushed to be allowed to wear them during the pandemic, at least at the hospital she was at at the time, and it just stuck, 'nobody' wanted to go back to 'professional clothes' and washing them at home, and it'd be hard to enforce once you've dropped it I imagine.

Edit: see this doc (2024), seems it's being standardised nationally, and there's nothing for doctors at all: https://azuksappnpdsa01.blob.core.windows.net/datashare/NHS-...

(So what they'll do in practice, no pun intended, when the trust moves to this system I have no idea... Keep using the old ones washing them at home? Buy Figs etc.? Stop wearing scrubs?)

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