This document discusses how color psychology has been applied to nursing scrubs and its influence on healthcare workers and patients. A 2008 study found that over 65% of healthcare workers believed scrub color made a difference for patients and over 28% believed it impacted their own mood. Common scrub colors like blue, pink, and green are seen as soothing, while white is now impractical and black or red are not recommended due to their negative associations. Scrub color allows nurses to express individuality while influencing the mood of their patients.

1. 1
Color Theory: Not All Scrubs
Created Equal
Image Source: http://shop.pacuniforms.com/images/7881multi.jpg

2. 2
Color Psychology
 Color psychology is the study of how colors influence
human behavior.
 Color psychology has been used in interior
decorating for a long time, but surprisingly the
healthcare industry has been among the last to
incorporate it.
Image source: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-
n2TKZoJTU7E/UIWdg4CJitI/AAAAAAAAUjc/C1tgDv_-
huo/s1600/choose-interior-paint-color-with-color-
wheel.jpg

3. 3
Color and Scrubs
 In a 2008 study by Ohio State University, 65.5
percent of healthcare workers surveyed believed that
the color of their scrubs made a difference for their
patients and peers.
 28.6 percent of the people surveyed, mostly nursing
professionals and doctors, believed that scrub color
made a difference in their own mood.
Image Source: http://cherokeescruboutlet.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/cherokee-color-Scrubs.jpg

4. 4
White
 Nursing scrubs have
traditionally been white to
symbolize cleanliness and
purity.
 White is now considered
impractical due to the nature
of healthcare professions.
Image Source: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-
F1y0hUBMhgk/TrIGoX6yJxI/AAAAAAAAB8A/YDsWSRaKTKI/s16
00/REAL5583.jpg

5. 5
Blue
 Blue is considered to be
soothing and is also the color
of trust.
 Most common color for
doctors and nurses in a
hospital setting.
Image Source: http://www.lifewearproducts.com/images/products/PandaScrubs.jpg

6. 6
Pink
 A soothing color that evokes femininity and health.
 Pink scrubs are often used in obstetrics and pediatric
healthcare facilities.
Image Source:
http://cdn.allstardirectories.co
m/asd-images/ans/pediatric-
nursing.jpg

7. 7
Green
 The color of balance
and growth.
 Doctor’s preferred
choice in scrubs.

8. 8
Red
 Unless scrubs are required for nursing college, red is
not recommended in a professional setting.
 Red is associated with danger and desire.
http://www.wallpaperpin.com/webdisk/abstract-red-white-smoke-desktop-free-wallpaper.jpg

9. 9
Black
 The color of death and mystery.
 A color not recommended for nursing and other
healthcare professions.
http://artistpaintsupply.com/images/black%20paint-2.jpg

10. 10
Scrubs are a comfortable way to express your
individuality as a nursing professional and the color of
your scrubs can influence the mood of your patients. If
you want to become a nurse in Utah, there are many
nursing college options.
Image Source: http://info.ameritech.edu/_presentation/images/ameritech-college-1.jpg