Tag Archives: Scrubs

Underscrub Tee

5 Ways to Wear Your Underscrub Tee This Winter

In our opinion, underscrub tees might be the single most underrated clothing item of the season – for medical professionals and non-medical people alike. It’s called an underscrub because, as you probably guessed, many medical professionals do choose to wear them as an added layer of warmth or coverage under their scrub tops.

But don’t let the name pigeonhole this dynamic garment – read on for our top 5 ways to wear your underscrub!

  1. Under your scrubs (duh) as an added layer of warmth to protect you from the hospital chill or wintry weather.
  2. The flattering fit and ergonomic seam lines make this tee a great winter basic. Add a loose patterned scarf and wear your underscrub tee as a fitted basic, or even add a statement necklace.
  3. Because these tees are made of performance fabric, they are perfect for wearing during your morning jog to protect you from the chill.
  4. Combine with the scrub jacket found here – another item that is marketed for medical professionals, but is actually perfect for anyone looking for a polished fleece-type jacket made of technological performance fabric.
  5. Wear for any on-the-go activity you can think of, from camping and traveling, to running errands all day. This particular author enjoys wearing her underscrub tee just about every single time she gets on an airplane because of the comfort and quality style.

Men's Core Tee Womens Core

The Core One Underscrub Tee from Medelita comes in three colors: black, light heather grey, and heather blue. There is a short sleeved version for men and a long sleeved version for women.

 

 

performance-fabric-scrubs

Performance Fabric Scrubs Are The Best Scrubs

How do you justify spending $30-$40 more on a set of scrubs made with performance fabric versus sticking with your standard-grade scrubs that the hospital gave you?

There are actually a number of reasons to invest in a set of nursing scrubs made with high quality fabrics. Here are the top reasons to spring for a nicer set of performance scrubs the next time you’re in the market to buy yourself a new set of scrubs.

  1. The comfort level of performance fabric is as good as it gets. Most cheap scrubs are made with a shabby poly-blend fabric that is scratchy and uncomfortable. Performance fabrics make scrubs insanely soft, way more comfortable for long shifts in your scrubs.
  2. Performance fabrics are designed to work for you. The very term “performance fabric” means that the fabric has been imbued with a number of technological properties that make it easier to care for, more comfortable, and more durable for you, the wearer.
  3. The durability lasts forever. Scrubs made of performance fabrics can go through the wash hundreds of times without seeing holes or pilling in the fabric. You also won’t see the color fade. Longer-lasting scrubs means cost savings over the long term, as you can buy fewer sets of scrubs that won’t need to be replaced as often.
  4. Low maintenance care. Scrubs made with performance fabrics are often stain resistant and wrinkle releasing, meaning you don’t have to do much to keep them in good shape. Stains will come out more easily in the wash and you can usually get away with not ironing them.

Easy Care Scrubs

hospital-uniform-program

Hospitals Can Boost Physician Morale With A Better Uniform

Physician burnout rates are on the rise, and integrated health systems across the country are trying to find ways to keep their physicians, and therefore their patients, happy. One of the easiest ways a hospital can keep their staff more satisfied with their job is by offering an on-the-job perk such as a new uniform program.

Investing in the professional appearance of your physicians tells them that you have confidence in their skills. A sharp and polished appearance also gives patients more trust in their physicians. This ultimately does translate to more satisfied patients, happier doctors, and better health outcomes.

The two main considerations for a new uniform program for your brand or hospital are appearance and function.

Appearance

According to Brandtwist.com, “Employees care about how they look. An attractive uniform can greatly enhance self-esteem, which in turn improves attitude. One extremely important detail is the fit. Baggy or tight garments can make employees feel self-conscious and less confident in interacting with customers. Other important details include color, fabric, and style, which should reflect the company brand.”

Function

This consideration is especially important in a highly demanding role of a physician. Lab coats and scrubs must be able to stand up to wear and tear, and they must satisfy the demands of the job. This includes being made with highly functional performance fabrics, having plenty of pockets for storage, and a design that doesn’t limit movement.

Hospital Uniforms

Put Your Scrubs To The Test

One of the biggest complaints I hear about scrubs is the lack of coverage. When you reach for an instrument, the sleeve gapes open, so you need to wear an undershirt. When you bend down, they reveal your underwear, which is unacceptable for anyone who isn’t a plumber. When you lean over, the front of the tops open wide, again giving you need for some coverage à la undershirts.

Here’s a challenge for you: get some scrubs that don’t do that. Get some scrubs that fit you well. How can you tell if your scrubs will give you the function you need?

Do some yoga in your scrubs.

Even if you’re not a yogi yourself, test out some simple yoga poses while wearing your scrubs to see how they fit when you have contorted your body into wacky positions.

So what are you waiting for? Put on your new set of scrubs and try out these four poses so you can see if they stand up to the test of fitting you while you work.

  1. Tree pose

Tree pose

2. Mountain pose

Mountain pose

3. Downward dog

Downward facing dog

4. Warrior pose

Warrior 2 pose

fall-wardrobe

Neutrals For Your Best Professional Winter Look

It’s still 85 degrees in southern California, so I haven’t yet tucked away my summer florals, but I have been on the lookout for some new neutrals to add to my wardrobe for the fall and winter seasons. Neutral clothing is always a good thing to keep in your wardrobe because it goes with everything, no matter the season. However, it is particularly appropriate for the cooler months.

Medical scrubs come in so many colors and fun prints. But this winter you should consider adding some neutral scrub colors to your professional uniform. The good news is that you can find scrubs almost anywhere in nice neutral colors like black or dark navy.

Here are some of my favorite scrubs in black and navy.

Stylish Black Scrubs for Women

Womens Stylish Lab Coat and Navy Scrubs

Navy Mens Scrubs

Nursing Lab Coat

Finally, Scrubs That Won’t Shrink In The Wash

I am definitely not a laundry pro. I usually launder my “hand-wash only” garments on delicate, and I’ve never been one to separate my colors (except for whites). I’m not even sure what the difference between cold water and hot water is when it comes to how it affects washing my clothes.

As such, it might not be that surprising to learn that I’ve shrunk many pieces of clothing in my years. It’s always a tragedy, and cotton clothes are especially vulnerable to this mishap. Cotton may be soft, but it’s a bit high maintenance if you ask me.

That’s why I’ve started looking for pre-shrunk clothes when I go shopping. There’s less ways for me to mess up brand new clothing, and this brand makes a great line of scrubs that come in super soft fabric and are pre-shrunk. Their fabric and design means that there is actually less than 1% shrinkage and no pilling even after 100 washes (pilling: another thorn in my side).

So if you’re in the market for a new pair of scrubs, try a set that is made pre-shrunk so that they are turned into baby clothing after one wash.

Pre Shrunk Scrubs

Pre Shrunk Scrubs by Medelita

Cheap Scrubs Aren't Cheap

Why Pay More For Medical Scrubs?

In an endless sea of options for scrubs, you’re going to see a very large variation in price. Some scrubs are as cheap as $18 for a set of unisex pants and top, others can be twice that amount for just a top or pair of scrubs pants.

To the thrifty shopper (which I know you all are!), the choice seems obvious: go for the cheaper ones. Maybe not the cheapest of the cheap, but you might be thinking something along the lines of “as long as they get the job done, why waste my money on a fancy pair of scrubs that does basically the same thing?”

Well, quite frankly, the answer is that they don’t do the same thing. Here’s why it’s worth it to shell out a little extra cash for a nicer set of nursing scrubs.

The fit and styles

Cheap scrubs are just that: cheap. This includes how they are designed, and you’ll often see that inexpensive scrubs are made in unisex sizes, which is ridiculous considering that men and women are proportioned very differently.

Even if there are different options for men and women, the fact is that if scrubs are cheap then the manufacturer probably didn’t put very much time and effort into creating a fit that is actually flattering and gives you coverage.

Comfort

The number one most important question you have to ask yourself before you buy any set of scrubs is this: will I be comfortable in these scrubs for a 12+ hour shift?

Again, with cheap scrubs the answer is, probably not. Think flimsy cheap fabrics, scratchy tags and seams, and a subpar fit that gapes open during the most inappropriate times (such as when bending over to pick something up).

Performance fabrics are HUGE

The biggest reason to pay a little more for nice scrubs is the fabrics. Quality starts with the raw materials, and you can bet your bottom dollar that cheap scrubs are made with cheap fabric. Cotton is better than polyester, but ideally you should look for scrubs made with performance fabrics that actually provide some benefit for you, as the wearer.

It may seem ridiculous, but anything made with performance fabrics is going to be way more comfortable, less likely to shrink in the wash, and not rip or tear. Moisture wicking technologies are pretty impressive these days, and if you don’t think that matters then try to think back to the last high-pressure situation you were in and whether or not you were sweating bullets.

You’re actually not saving any money.

After all is said and done, you’re not actually saving yourself any money when you buy cheaply made scrubs. Though you might be spending half as much at the time of purchase, you get what you pay for and poor-quality scrubs are just that: poor quality. There is a pretty high likelihood that your cheap scrubs will only last through a few washes in the laundry before they get stained, shrink, or start to rip apart at the seams.

You do the math. Paying $18 every month to replace your cheap scrubs is actually almost three times more expensive than paying $80 one time for scrubs that will last a year or more.

What to Wear Medical Mission

What To Wear On A Medical Mission

Each year billions of dollars are spent on medical missions that send medical professionals – from medical students, residents, nurses, PAs, to orthodontists and dentists – to provide much-needed healthcare in regions where local communities have limited access to medical services. These far flung destinations include places such as Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa, and have the aim to help underserved populations both short and long term.

If you are planning such a trip, or are part of a medical mission, you’ll want to make sure that you and the rest of your team are outfitted appropriately in a way that helps you perform your best, while remaining cost effective.

Here’s what to look for when deciding what your team should wear on your medical mission:

  1. Weather adaptive. Many of these regions have unpredictable yet extreme climates, so find a scrubs brand that uses performance fabric to keep you and your team cool in hot climates, warm in cold climates, and dry in humid climates. Chances are you’ll experience some combination of all three!
  2. Comfortable. Have you ever had to take a test or give a presentation when you’re wearing a shirt with an itchy tag or that keeps riding up? Appearance may not be a huge priority on a medical mission, but your team will perform its best when they are the most comfortable and aren’t distracted by ill-fitting, scratchy scrubs.
  3. Low maintenance. Look for performance fabrics that wick moisture, are wrinkle free, and that release stains easily. Once you get to your destination, you aren’t going to want to worry about wrinkled scrubs and sweat stains!
  4. Durable. To keep costs down you might be inclined to spend as little as possible on your medical apparel, but that might end up costing you more in the long run. If you spend $10 on a pair of scrubs pants that start to rip apart after 5 washes, you’re not really saving anything by buying those instead of investing a little on a pair of scrub pants that might cost $40 but will last for hundreds of washes.
  5. Consider underscrubs. Depending on the climate, it might be wise to include comfortable “underscrubs” – performance shirts that can be worn comfortably under a scrubs top – in your medical mission uniform.
Scrubs For Comfortable Travel Attire

Scrubs On A Plane

One of my 2016 New Year’s resolutions was to travel more, and I’m happy to say that I certainly have. Traveling is one of the most eye-opening and amazing experiences a person can have, and I absolutely love it – but every single time I undergo the 12+ hour flights and insanely long passport control lines, I find myself wondering “Is it worth this insanity??”

Of course this sentiment doesn’t last long. It usually dissipates as soon as I leave the airport, but even if you’re just taking a one or two hour flight somewhere, the process of traveling is exhausting. It’s dehydrating, gives you jet lag, and unless you’re flying first class, it’s basically impossible to get comfortable in those frumpy seats.

To solve the “comfort” dilemma of traveling, I recently wore my softest scrubs pants in lieu of jeans or leggings (if I bend my legs for any extended period of time, they ALWAYS cut off my legs circulation). I didn’t go so far as to wear a matching scrubs top because I’m not a doctor, and I didn’t want people mistakenly asking me for medical advice or in case of a medical emergency, but a simple white tee shirt goes with everything.

I also didn’t have to worry about getting strange looks because these scrubs pants basically fit like a loose pair of comfy pants, rather than looking like the glorified pajamas you so often see in hospitals. Moral of the story? I highly recommend traveling in soft and comfortable scrubs. It will make your travel SO much easier!!

Scrubs In Different Languages

How To Say “Scrubs” In Different Languages

Scrubs: A protective garment designed to be worn by the doctor, nurse, and others in the operating room.

The English word “scrub” has plenty of meanings, from cleaning something by “scrubbing” it, or a type of small shrubbery, or even as a word used to describe an undesirable man. How do you say it in other languages?

Spanish: Pijama médico or Ropa de quirófano

French: blouse stérile

German: Arztkittel

Arabic: كَال تَنَظُّف ( التَّنظيف بالفرك) (

Portuguese: bata de hospital

Italian: scrubs medici

Chinese: 制服