Concealed Carry in Scrubs

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I have friends whose careers are spent in scrubs and they have used this shirt and been pleased with the results. The neck is available in a V cut, too, which accommodates the scrub V-neck, and they're available in black and white and are supposedly quite comfortable. Yes, they're spendy, but it's the price of carrying discretely.

http://www.511tactical.com/apparel/shirts/holster-shirts.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=511%20holster%20shirt&utm_content=Shirts%20-%20Holster%20-%20Exact&utm_campaign=NEW%20%20%205.11%20Brand%20%20%20Apparel&gclid=CjwKEAiA4YGjBRDOxa3XvfTnvSASJACC3bLBwamqps0sO8x_ouinwolr8FwDvADk9PM5iyQUJYM0eBoCDEPw_wcB
 
I can think of almost NO scenario where you would need to have a weapon, much less a firearm, while at work in a hospital. Inside is a fairly well controlled environment, and there are systems in place to deal with both violent patients, as well as visitors. It would be too easy to have a firearm taken from you, and too difficult to safely use one. You would almost NEVER have a clear background. Our company police carry Tasers in addition to G19's. Entry to the facility is well controlled, and certain areas, like our O.R. and psych unit, are card or fingerprint access only.
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Your "company police??" Lol. I appreciate the concern, but it sounds like we may be living in different worlds. Certainly working in different ones. I worked in a state prison that didn't have nearly that level of high tech security. Between working, volunteering, being a patient, and visiting various sick family members, I've never been to a hospital that had armed security. Only one of those that I knew of had security staff at all, and they only had radios. There's two hospitals in that group, out of seven, in three different states, that MAY have had security I didn't know about. The other five, I know for sure.

I don't mean to be a jerk. I do appreciate everyone who took the time to reply. That said, this thread has a specific focus. I'm not interested in speculation about hospital policy. I'm definitely not interested in anyone's opinion about where I do or don't have a "need" to carry. I did start a thread about the legal concerns of this issue (in the legal subforum), and I made it clear in that OP that I know most hospitals will have a policy against employee carry.

This thread is about how to conceal a firearm in scrubs. The other thread is about whether one can do so while breaking neither the law nor a hospital's employer-employee agreement. Even there, though, speculation isn't helpful.
 
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bangswitch said:
I can think of almost NO scenario where you would need to have a weapon, much less a firearm, while at work in a hospital. Inside is a fairly well controlled environment, and there are systems in place to deal with both violent patients, as well as visitors. It would be too easy to have a firearm taken from you, and too difficult to safely use one. You would almost NEVER have a clear background. Our company police carry Tasers in addition to G19's. Entry to the facility is well controlled, and certain areas, like our O.R. and psych unit, are card or fingerprint access only.

Wearing scrubs to work, in some facilities, is also a no-no, due to sterility and contamination issues. You change after you get there, and change before you leave. So, if you're thinking of how to carry while wearing scrubs to and from work, I suppose there are ways, but like I said before, it's hard to hide anything under a set of them. Just ask any of the women when it's cold in the room.
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A lot of this really depends on what the OP is going to be doing. Is he going to be a hospital floor nurse in a GI/Colorectal unit where exposure to body fluids is likely? Is he going to be a surgical technician who will be changing frequently? Is he going to be a clinical assistant or something who wears scrubs but essentially works in an office?

I would point out that while the likelihood of ever being attacked in the workplace, much less one with armed security and physical access control, is low, one could also point out several instances in the last year where exactly that happened, so the threat, while low, is also not zero.

Another thing to consider is that if the OP is in a health-care facility where there is a higher risk of being attacked, such as emergency department patient care, triage, or intake; psychiatric care; substance abuse treatment; or simply in a bad part of a bad town, the increased risk of what will probably be a minor assault means you need to weigh the severity of the attack against the near-certainty of being fired if you draw.

Another issue, as you point out, is if you have a facility where you change into scrubs when you arrive at work instead of at home. Most such places will have locker rooms to change in, so there will be less privacy, and it will not always be possible to change in a bathroom stall instead.

That being said, my number one choice for CC in scrubs would be a Ken Null shoulder holster with a J-frame or similar revolver. These are lightweight, thin, print substantially less than other shoulder holsters, and are available in black or white to match the color of your undershirt of choice. If you were to go this route, you could get scrub tops with a higher waistline.

Number two choice would be a SmartCarry. This would allow you to carry a semiauto instead of a revolver, but you lose some concealability, and I can't recommend this method if you are in the kind of job where you bend a lot and you wear scrubs with a short-cut top, as the extra 'belt' may appear when you bend over, and is hard to explain, although you could sell it as basically what it is- a pouch for you to keep your wallet and keys or something in.

Just remember if you carry in scrubs to wear very loose-fitting ones with no waist taper.
 
I've worked in residential construction all my life. This means I wear a tool belt, grapple with large bulky items like cabinets, doors, windows, etc. Thus I cannot wear my CWC on a belt or carry in my pockets. Nor would I want something heavy enough to protect me, dangling off my neck. I have carried a J-Frame in an ankle holster since CWC became legal here. It is comfortable and very secure. I have never lost retention even when climbing thru trusses and going up and down ladders. With the correct pants, and minimal practice, one can easily and readily draw. I also have used a shoulder holster, but that concealment under garments is harder to draw from and I prefer that for open carry. I think the majority of those that discredit an ankle holster have never seriously tried one and are only repeating what they have read here on the internet. As for being against the law or company policy, regardless of what the OP wants to hear, it is a legitimate concern and should be addressed here as not everyone regularly visits the "legal' forum. One reason he has gotten so many replies to this thread containing such. IMHO....One needs to do what they feel they need to do to ensure their safety. If it is against the law or their companies policy, and they decide to do it anyways, they should not brag about it in open public nor recommend to others to do it.
 
Big difference in breaking a rule and breaking a law.
No metal detectors at the door no problem IMO.
I like belly bands and the tee shirts in real light clothes. Neck chain holsters print bad if you are a thick chested man or a woman.
 
oneounceload said:
You can carry in a hospital as an employee?
What state is that in?
Never saw one yet that allowed employees to carry and if caught, you were fired yesterday, if not arrested.
Make sure you can before you do
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There is no law against carry in hospitals in Maine, until I retired from LE a few months ago I was a sworn LEO as well as a respiratory therapist, I work in a small hospital in a rural area with no security to speak of and hospital administration is aware that I carry and I do so with their blessing. As a respiratory therapist I work everywhere in the hospital as needed, I'm not assigned to one floor or ward.

I don't care where you work or what you do, what kind of security they have, or what the history or violently crime in your facility is, if you think that you are safe working in a place that is loaded with drugs and helpless people you are deluding yourself. Small and medium size rural hospitals are especially vulnerable because most have no security and no plan beyond calling 911. The only reason there isn't more violent crime in hospitals, especially ERs, is luck.
 
If that requires violating someones rules or laws, so be it.
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Then why stop there? Why not carry in the PO, sports areans, schools, etc? Way more issues in those venues.....

Sad when folks pick and choose even when illegal but then decry others doing the same thing from the other viewpoint. You can't have it both ways
 
Sad when folks pick and choose even when illegal but then decry others doing the same thing from the other viewpoint. You can't have it both ways
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Theres really no picking and choosing here, and really only one way, that being the way that youre most comfortable with as it regards to your own security. No one will take care of you, better than you. Anyone who tells you otherwise, certainly doesnt have your best interests at heart. If that isnt blatantly obvious to you, with all the "gun free zone" shootings we have seen, then I dont know what to tell you.

You have to do what you feel most comfortable with, and who am I, or anyone else, to fault that? You have to deal with whatever it is that comes by doing so. If youre comfortable being told you must disarm, and with no recourse should something happen, and are comfortable with that, have at it. Its your choice, and your decision. If things go south, maybe you'll get lucky.

I simply choose not to put my faith in, nor to count on, those who have proven time and time again, to be ineffective in their handling of things. They only know whats best for them, and do not know, nor really care, whats best for me. Except in those rare instances, where intent on their count can be proven, they are not normally responsible, in pretty much any way you can fathom, when they fail in protecting you. "Sorry, just your bad luck, you were dumb enough to believe we would take care of you, when you need it most, but thats not our responsibility". They are right you know, its yours.
 
Bobson said:
I ran a search for this but didn't uncover anything resembling a thorough discussion on the matter.

I'm going into a career in the medical field, and while options exist, my primary interest is in working in a hospital. I will be wearing scrubs at work 100% of the time, and I'm curious if anyone has advice about concealed carry in scrubs.

I feel like this warrants it's own thread because the scrubs themselves introduce at least two unique challenges to concealment. Namely, (1) scrubs don't have belt loops, which seems to eliminate traditional hip carry; and (2) scrubs are very light, flappy fabric, which means avoiding printing may be an extreme challenge.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
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Interesting topic, nonetheless your career will be quite short if you intend to carry in hospital, none that I know of will tolerate it.
 
WC145 said:
There is no law against carry in hospitals in Maine, until I retired from LE a few months ago I was a sworn LEO as well as a respiratory therapist, I work in a small hospital in a rural area with no security to speak of and hospital administration is aware that I carry and I do so with their blessing. As a respiratory therapist I work everywhere in the hospital as needed, I'm not assigned to one floor or ward.

I don't care where you work or what you do, what kind of security they have, or what the history or violently crime in your facility is, if you think that you are safe working in a place that is loaded with drugs and helpless people you are deluding yourself. Small and medium size rural hospitals are especially vulnerable because most have no security and no plan beyond calling 911. The only reason there isn't more violent crime in hospitals, especially ERs, is luck.
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Exactly, I am a physician in community hospital of 100 beds and these units are spread out!! For this only 1-2 security at any time!! Currently seeking permission for some of to carry , with that in mind would think for me would be ankle carry as I am in scrubs 100 percent of time!
 
IF you can legally carry, I would suggest these:

ankle holster: not ideal carry in general terms, but it will be most ideal in scrubs which are not condusive to concealing a pen in your pocket.

Concealment compression undershirt/tanktop: Your best bet at concealing in scrubs on your upper body is having it near the arm pit where the shirt will not cling to you. Granted, you need a super tiny pistol for it to be comfortable while working on patients.

I would stay away from:

Thunderwear or anything that goes near the crotch: you will look "happy" in scrubs. What works for jeans will not work for scrubs.

Things to consider:
If you are working on a patient: lifting them, moving them, in contact with them, having a pistol on your upperbody could prove dangerous as they might feel it or might be injured by it. If a patient's arm bumps it while you take their blood pressure and feels it, it could really be an issue. If you are lifting a patients and their arm gets pinched in a position where the hard pistol pinches or pokes them, you have a complaint on your hands. That is why I suggest ankle holster. There are a lot of good suggestions for carry on here, but carry should follow your job in this situation... not the other way around
 
oneounceload said:
Then why stop there? Why not carry in the PO, sports areans, schools, etc? Way more issues in those venues.....

Sad when folks pick and choose even when illegal but then decry others doing the same thing from the other viewpoint. You can't have it both ways
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"One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws." Dr Martin Luther King JR
 
To help the OP get back on topic...

Here is my two-cents worth...I am a medic in an outpatient facility. I wear scrubs daily. My job is taking your vitals, conducting pre-visit interviews, EKG's, administer vaccinations/meds, basic wound care, flip the room for the next patient, you get the idea. I wear scrubs to and from work with no changing unless it is to change into the spare scrubs I keep in my locker.

I have thought about this for quite a long time. While I cannot carry at work (federal law in my case) I do carry to and from work. I carry a Ruger LCP with belt clip tucked into my waist band between my under-shirt the scrub pants. My scrub top covers the top of the LCP and frequently make side trips to the grocery store, restaurants, and other errands without issue.

The trick to this is to ditch the cheap basic scrubs and opt for more expensive attire. Landau For Men is a good brand. The internal belt band is thicker/wider and wraps all the way around. Much more substantial that just tie strings. Wide elastic band that also goes all the way around. Has a zipper fly so you can whiz without having to loosen things up (or unclip your CCW). Are made for male anatomy so you can move freely. They are spendy at about $40 a pop but I bought 7 pairs in various colors about 5 years ago, work 5 days a week (new laundered pair every day ;) ), and they haven't worn out yet.
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by oneounceload View Post
Then why stop there? Why not carry in the PO, sports areans, schools, etc? Way more issues in those venues.....

Sad when folks pick and choose even when illegal but then decry others doing the same thing from the other viewpoint. You can't have it both ways
"One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws." Dr Martin Luther King JR
__________________
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Then all of those other places deserve your carrying as well, and until the laws change, you will reap the same result

As an aside THR does not advocate breaking any laws, whether just or unjust.... ;)
 
Belly band WITH A RETAINER STRAP.
Having a .25 skid across the floor can maka a face turn red.
Use the waist band tie to keep it secured under the scrub waist band.
 
As an aside THR does not advocate breaking any laws, whether just or unjust....
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The only thing Im advocating is, you have to make the choice as to what your life is worth, and go from there. If you believe that arbitrary rules, or someone else will take care of you better than you can, by all means, follow your beliefs.

Im sure that Dr. down in Philly recently, wasnt "allowed" his Seecamp on hospital property, but certainly was glad he didnt follow your advice here, and had it along when it was needed.

Whats your life worth?
 
most healthcare facilities have a no weapons policy

I was a nurse for 35 years and never worked in any hospital where you were allowed to carry ANY weapon. I did break the rules and carried a knife and pepper spray but they stayed in my locker when I changed into scrubs. That being said, if you are lucky enough to work in a state that does allow CC in healthcare facilities the "smartcarry" holster is the way to go. I've carried my 642 in a smartcarry under my swim suit (no shirt) at summer get-togethers and nobody knows I'm carrying it would be the same with scrubs.

good luck
v-fib:cool:
 
I promise you you'll be OK
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Put that in writing, as well as a bond, and guarantee that you will continue to pay my families way, with adjustments for everything, pay my kids college tuition's, etc, and a nice retirement for my spouse, until she is dead, should something happen to me, while under your care/promise.

Let me know when you have it typed up and ready. :D
 
AK103K said:
Whats your life worth?
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This is a disingenuous question. You will not magically be murdered because you didn't carry a gun to work one day.

The correct question would be: Do you think the benefits of having a gun at work outweigh the risks of being fired if you are discovered?

Example:

Benefits
1. Emotional comfort.
2. The ability to defend yourself with deadly force if needed. The value of this increases or decreases with the level of risk to you at work. Do you work in a high-crime area? If so, do you have to go to and from work at night? Do you need to use public transit or park in public garage? Do you work in an area like emergency medicine or community health outreach where threats or violence are common? Do you have a specific threat against you or your employer?

Risks
1. Being fired. Can you quickly get another job? Do you have enough money to support yourself should you be fired until you can get another job? Will being fired blacklist you for jobs in your field? Will any job you can get after being fired have similar or better pay, benefits, and schedule?
2. What is the relative risk of being discovered? Do you have a highly physical job that requires a lot of bending, lifting, carrying, etc. that could expose a firearm? Do you have to change in a semi-public area? How hostile or friendly are your coworkers? Do you know if other people carry?

On a semi-related tangent, one thing that really grinds my gears is when people say "I trust my life to... gun X or ammo Y."

:banghead:

Anyone who thinks that is an idiot. Gun X and bullet Y will not save you. The odds are excellent that Gun X and bullet Y will never be anything but an extra weight on your belt. But... even if Gun X does leave its holster in response to an attack, it is not the gun that will save you, but your own situational awareness, tactical skill, and plain luck.
 
I don't think I'd carry if I had your job. I'm absolutely certain no one will attack you with deadly force while you are at work.

However, I have a utility belt that is all Velcro. No buckle. Just wrap it around your waist. With a VersaCarry holster, I can conceal very easily with just a T shirt. I've found it works well with shorts or pants that just have a drawstring.
 
Veterinarian but i dowear scrubs

I am a veterinarian and most of the time I wear the multi pocket "tactical" pants and a polo so IWB carry or sometimes OWB and wear my lab coat all day. But when I do wear scrubs I have no problems with a Bellyband, undershirt with shoulder holster or the compression underwear with a holster. I am often manhandling large dogs and down on the floor examining them and I have had no problems printing or with the firearm coming out or loose. I tend to carry a Kel tech 380 in those situations. And there have been robberies and break ins (I am often there late at night) at veterinary clinics to steal the controlled substances so there is reason to be armed other than the usual.
 
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