Change with scrub design...

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello everyone! I am currently an Industrial Design student at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. My senior project is dealing with nursing scrubs. I am in the research phase and any information would be greatly appreciated. I am looking into designing new scrubs for floor nurses. I chose floor nurses because I feel they are going from room to room with numerous untensils including pens, highlighters, scissors, tape phone/pager...etc. With all of this 'stuff' it is hard to stay organized.

Do you feel there is a better design for the current scrubs? What do you feel are issues I should take into consideration?

I feel I should look into affordability, comfort, and organization as my main focus? Does this sound right to you?

SO IF YOU COULD DESIGN YOUR OWN SCRUBS, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?

Thank you for any feedback! I look forward to hearing from you!

-Justin

Thanks for all of the input. Do any of you carry paper or a notebook? Is there a change in the current scrub design that could help out with this?

Let me know whatever change is on your mind.

Thanks again,

design_student

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I am wondering on average how many scrubs each of you own. And on average how much do each cost.

Thanks for your input,

design_student

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

I have 3 pairs of white pants and at least 15 tops. I have a top for each of the holidays.

When I was a student and working as a CNA I had only two uniforms (both were white). Washed one, wore one.

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i have about 4-5 bottoms, and about 15+ tops (since i make my own)

the bottoms i spent about 10-$12.00 and tops about 3-$4.00 (for fabric)

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How about a jumpsuit like a mechanic wears? Great for all the contortions we have to do! haha, I can see it, lots of pockets of course and all the crazy patterns, teddy bears, hearts, whatever.......jes kidding, but good luck, maybe you'll start a new business........

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Is higher priced scrubs any better then lower priced scrubs?

If so, what is the defference?

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Specializes in IMCU/Telemetry.
2 things to add...

1. belt loops...yes, I could wear medical pants, but they don;t come in colors I need to have. It would be nice to put stuff in my pockets without worrying if I looked like a plumber when performing patient care.

Oh that vertical smile, gets you every time. :chuckle

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How about a jumpsuit like a mechanic wears? Great for all the contortions we have to do! haha, I can see it, lots of pockets of course and all the crazy patterns, teddy bears, hearts, whatever.......jes kidding, but good luck, maybe you'll start a new business........

Crest and Cherokee USED to make jumpsuits that were very nice and looked neat and professional - baseball-style top, fitted waist, patch pockets on the legs, but I guess they did not sell very well, because they no longer offer them. Too bad. I would buy them over the other junk that is currently available in a heartbeat.

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Id like to see a different neck line. I cant wear the v- neck line for scrubs with the bending down I do. Im either warm with layering or see too much. So I dont wear them. I also agree with professional colors/patterns so that I dont feel like Im a neon sign or wearing pajamas.

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Specializes in M/S, OB, Ortho, ICU, Diabetes, QA/PI.

all of the above sounds great

need to be careful with V-necks - I'm too hot-blooded to wear anything else but a bra under a scrub top - opportunities to look down my shirt and see what I got goin' on have been plenty over the years, no matter what size I buy.......

I personally would like to have companies stop making "low-rider" scrub pants - just because that's what is fashionable in the real world doesn't make it appropriate on the floor - nurses move and bend too much - I've been seeing way too many nurses' above the butt tatoos lately.............

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Hospice.

I'm not a nurse yet, but am a former phlebotomist and wore scrubs for work every day.

I agree with the spandex (as long as it's not 100% spandex! Gag!) and the need for more sophisticated prints and color choices. I am not a big fan of most of the prints that are available.

I don't like the boxy fit of most scrub tops. A cut that makes it look like I have a waistline would be nice, and I would prefer that the shoulder seam sit on my shoulder rather than halfway down my upper arm. And plenty of pockets that are deep, but no pockets on the chest, please. I don't really want to emphasize that part of my anatomy.

And I know you didn't ask about scrub pants specifically, but I would pay through the nose for a pair of tall pants that are actually tall! Tall pants at the Gap and J Crew have an inseam of at least 34", but the longest one I can find in a scrub pant is about 32", which means I either have to wear floodpants, or must pull them down at the waist and have a low crotch that looks like I have a full diaper in there! And most of the tall pants are offered in a style I would not wear. I don't like those tapered legs or the elastic waists. I prefer a flare or boorcut leg with a lower (not super low) drawstring waist.

And it would be nice to find pants with a crotch seam that is not so rough that it causes constant chafing between my thighs.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

fabric workshop and museum of philadelphia in association with the center for the study of the history of nursing in philadelphia had area design students work on this issue in 2003-2004.

see these links:

from penn: rn: the past, present and future of nurses uniforms

fabric workshop and museum : past exhibition : rn

october 3, 2003 - february 14, 2004

center for nursing advocacy commentary: rn: the past, present and future of the nurses' uniform

ps: this would never work for me as a volutuous venus type--i carry an ems style nursing bag that has all my homecare loot in it. :chuckle

pants with long pockets more helpful. if doing hospital nursing, would probably have adopted fanny pack. have been known to look like this as had a patient once admitted to homecare on thursday status post flap graft with healed decubs and tube fed, only to see her on monday to find eleven decubs and battle to document and dress them before 911 called.

rn_4.jpg

mark dion and j. morgan puett in collaboration with the fabric workshop and museum, post-apocalyptic nurse, 2003. photo: jorge colombo

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