Medical scrubs are the everyday workwear for all nurses, doctors, assistants and other healthcare professionals. That’s their uniform and nothing else is acceptable on the job. This uniform is a way of following the hospital’s rules, preventing cross-contamination and it’s convenient. Just as any other uniform, it comes in several different styles, can be made of different materials and colours are abundant as well.
How to Choose Your Scrubs
Fit
The first thing to consider is the fit. It’s the most important factor when it comes to medical outfits. The scrubs you’re wearing should fit your body nicely and not be too tight or too loose. Otherwise, you won’t be able to move freely, or you’ll stumble on your legs, or your sleeves will get in the way. This can be hazardous for you and the patients you’re handling.
Go for flexible and stretchy materials that are designed to optimise your movement. Find high-quality, comfortable men’s black scrubs and nicely fitted women’s scrubs. There are specially designed scrubs for men and women. The ones made for women have a curve at the waist to follow the natural shape of the body. And the men’s and unisex ones have a boxier cut.
When it comes to the top’s length, it should fit below the waist. Make sure the bottoms you buy have a high waist. This is for your own protection against viruses, bacteria, blood and other bodily liquids. Also, no part of your skin will show when you lean or bend. If you fluctuate in weight a lot, choose pants with drawstrings, this will make them more flexible. Otherwise, you can buy a pair with buttons or zippers.
Material
There are 4 main materials meant for scrubs: cotton, rayon, polyester and spandex. Each one has its own pros and cons. Manufacturers often made a blend of 2 or more materials to get the best of each world. Cotton is well known for its breathability, durability and ability to resist static electricity. It may not be wrinkle-resistant, but there are ways you can fix this and prepare your uniform for work.
It’s a great material for summer, but if you want to make it even better, buy a blend of cotton and polyester. This combination will add moisture-wicking properties and you’ll be dry during your shift. Polyester is a synthetic material that’s wrinkle-resistant and easy to clean and maintain. It’s also stain-resistant (which is very important in this job) and won’t shrink.
Rayon is very lightweight, soft and absorbent, which makes it similar to cotton. It has amazing breathability and cooling properties. Plus, it dries quickly which makes it perfect for hot climates. It feels very smooth to the touch, and you’ll be comfortable wearing it. When washing it, make sure you do it with cold water, otherwise, it’ll shrink.
Spandex is another synthetic material that made its way into the medical scrubs’ world. Whether it’s men’s black scrubs or white women’s ones, spandex adds stretchability to each of them. It’s durable and lightweight and won’t lose its shape despite its stretchiness. This material will make your clothes comfortable and flexible like no other.
Features
Pockets on scrubs are just as important as they’re on our everyday clothes. You just can’t get enough of them. They’re very practical because there’s always something you’ll need to put away, like pens, pads, instruments, tapes etc. Chest pockets are a must. You can also get a design with side pockets. Slash pockets are not just good for placing items inside, they can be a good place to rest your arms when you get a moment.
Some scrubs have loops as well. They’re there to hold an ID card. This can be very handy because those IDs can fall from your pockets or get in the way if they’re hanging loose around your neck. Instrument loops are also useful. If the hospital allows it, you can even adorn your scrubs with some embroidery. You can do your name, so you won’t have to wear a name tag all the time.
Colours can be fun to wear. In some hospitals that’s how you distinguish between employees. However, before you buy a specific colour, make sure the medical facility doesn’t have any restrictions. If not, you can go for black male scrubs, red, women’s scrubs and even yellow, grey or green. Darker colours such as maroon or black can handle the stains well. Lighter colours will get dirtier faster. Patterns can also be fun, especially if you work with children.
How to Layer Scrubs Correctly
It’s well known that the key to dressing well for this job is to understand and know how to layer. But adding layers doesn’t mean just putting anything on and heading off to work. You’ll need to learn how to combine materials and textures. Temperatures can fluctuate a lot in medical facilities and there’s nothing you can do about it. Sometimes it’ll get unbearably hot, and sometimes it’ll be very cold.
Long sleeve undershirts are great for layering. It’s the perfect option for the winter. Choose lightweight, soft, stretchy materials that feel nice on your skin. Tank tops are also an option. They will keep you professional and stylish at the same time. Tank tops are great for the summer months or when you’re wearing light-coloured scrubs.
For under your bottoms, you also have a few options. One of them is jeggings. They’re great to keep you warm during the winter. They fit perfectly underneath loosely fitted pants. Compression pants will also work. Both men and women can wear them because they’re very comfortable and feel nice against the skin. Biker shorts will also do a good job.
They’ll hide away sweaty stains because of their moisture-wicking properties. All of these pants offer muscle and joint support without looking bulky. When you’re buying all of these undergarments, make sure you consider the colour because some medical facilities have colour limitations. Test your outfit before wearing it to work. This way you’ll know if it’s too much or if you need to add more.
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