What would you change about your scrubs?

Nurses Uniform/Gear

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Hey all~

I am doing research for a line of scrubs and would like to find out what nurses like/ dislike about their uniforms.

I am a fashion design student that recently spent some time in the hospital for cancer treatment this summer. I was so inspired by the compassion and care shown by the nurses and would like to thank you guys by providing uniform options that are comfy, stylish and help the wearer feel more 'individualized'.

What elements (pockets, elastic waistbands, tagless uniforms, etc) do you look for in a pair of scrubs?

What would you change about scrubs if you had the chance? (here's your chance)

What are the most popular colors worn by nurses? What colors/ prints do you dislike?

What instruments/ items do you carry on your person when you work? (pen, paper, hidden snack wink.gif )

What are the dress code restrictions at your place of work?

Thank you for any input. More importantly, thank you for always giving to those around you- giving your time, comforting words, upbeat vibes and patience. It means more than you know.

My pet peeve is the way that tops hang. I carry a lot of stuff in the pockets of my scrub tops (PDA, pen, sharpie, scissors, hemostat, penlight) and as a result, the back edge of the neckline pushes against the back of my neck. I'd prefer a top that hung more neutrally, so that the weight is on my shoulders, and not the back of my neck.

Zipper fly, belt loops, no elastic in the waistband. Cotton - no polyester. Pockets, pockets, pockets.

Sorry I didn't take the time to read all 8 pages of replies so this may be a repeat, BUT the absolute most useful feature I've seen on a scrub tob is a set to 2 pen pockets on the shoulder. They're 2 side-by-side, and narrow, so they'll hold your sharpy for writing on blood tube labels in one, plus a regular pen in the other. I have only ever seen this feature on MOBB brand scrubs, and it's always on the left shoulder (I'm not talking about the left breast pocket that's in front, I'm talking ON THE SLEEVE itself). I've had many many comments from other nurses who see it and think it's really handy-looking. However, since I'm left handed, I'd prefer the opton to have my pen-pockets on my right shoulder, so I could reach across, grab the pen, and use it immediately. As it is, I have to reach with my right hand, exchange it over to my left hand, to be able to write. But I never lose my pens, they never fall out because they're deep enough, and narrow enough, to hold them in place when I bend over. Check out a MOBB scrub top to see what I mean. Might be nice to have them a tiny bit wider to accomodate those fatter ball point pens, but then again I'm not sure if making them wider would cause the normal size pens and the sharpy felt tips to slide out when I bend over.

VS

Scrub tops:

-I'm 5'5 and have a tiny frame. I prefer tops that are a bit longer than average, personally. I am a size small in street clothes, but I am a size XS in scrub tops (as is true for many of my friends who are nurses). Many of us younger smaller nurses (myself included) have resorted to making our own scrub tops because most scrub tops are almost always sold out in size XS- they make very few in this size, so they are never on sale, either. And if you can find a size XS in your size, you always have to pay about $24 before shipping, and you don't have much choice in the patterns at that size, even when you buy online.

-I have a scrub top that has a bit of elastic (about 3") in the middle of the back, to make the top just a little form fitting. It's nice, because then the top isn't so baggy that it gets in the way if you have a smaller waist.

-Pockets must be rectangular with the slit at the top- if the pocket is slit on the diagonal or horizontally, everything falls out of the pockets and they are useless. Also, I like little 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" square pockets on the front of the big pocket- these are perfect for holding the alcohol wipes that otherwise are so small that they get lost in your big pockets. And inside the two big rectangular pockets, I like lots of spots to hold in your pens and such, and smaller tiered pockets in the bigger pockets are also a good idea. I actually carry a pocket holder that holds most of my stuff, so I don't have to spend so much time switching things out of my pockets at the end of each day. In my right pocket I carry the pocket holder with my scissors, hemostats (they look like another long pair of scissors), a highlighter/ pen, a sharpie, two pens, two pen lights, alcohol wipes, and needleless connectors (they replace needles for giving medicines into IV's & stuff, but are about 2" long and 1/4" wide in a plastic wrapper. In my left pocket I carry my calculator, and my report sheets and schedule for the day.

-I like trendy or cute patterned tops. I do like the mock wrap style, though a simple v-neck style is also nice. I like fun prints- I have a top that is all bright red apples on a turquoise background, which is fun.

-I don't like the strings that tie in the back of the top. They can hang down too low, and be annoying when you sit down on them.

Pants:

-I prefer a trendy elastic waistband, like dickies. Drawstrings come undone or get loose after hours of bending and moving, and they just get in the way, which I don't have time for.

-I prefer boot cut, available in lots of bright colors.

-I like my pants a little longer than normal, like Dickies pants are. Some brands, like baby phat, are just a couple inches too short. We aren't wearing high heels in these pants, but many of the nursing shoes can be a bit tall.

To keep you warm:

-currently, I wear a matching long sleeve shirt under my scrubs, because the hospital gets pretty cool, especially at night.

-I would love to see some trendy, sleeker, and a bit more fitted scrub jackets made. Something a bit closer to a lab coat or a scrub top, but nothing that would be confused with a lab coat and make people think we are doctors. (Keep it in a print). Right now, scrub jackets are HUGE, and have these hideous 3" long elastic wristbands that are practical, but not at all attractive.

A little bit of what everyone said. Something stretchy, we move a lot. Something a little thicker with sturdy fabric and breathable. I like those Old Navy "khaki" and "old army green" cargo pants. Up here in Alaska we layer our top shirts, and some of the girls bought these nice pants that when you pour water on them it just runs off. Really great for snowy days.

That material where water just runs off of it would be great- for snowy days, for all kinds of things!

Also, thicker material would be nice, especially for lighter colored scrubs. When you can see through your coworkers scrubs and know what kind of underwear they're wearing, its TMI.

A little bit of what everyone said. Something stretchy, we move a lot. Something a little thicker with sturdy fabric and breathable. I like those Old Navy "khaki" and "old army green" cargo pants. Up here in Alaska we layer our top shirts, and some of the girls bought these nice pants that when you pour water on them it just runs off. Really great for snowy days.

That material where water just runs off of it would be great- for snowy days, for all kinds of things!

Also, thicker material would be nice, especially for lighter colored scrubs. When you can see through your coworkers scrubs and know what kind of underwear they're wearing, its TMI.

On my unit, techs wear navy, OR wears misty green, and nurses can wear anything else. Skirts and open toe/ open heel shoes are not allowed in patient care areas. In many other units I've worked on, techs wear maroon.

Specializes in CST in general surgery, LDRs, & podiatry.

ok - here's my wishlist. i work strictly in surgery so my needs are a little different from the floor nurses. i know what i did like at one hospital i worked at. snap front scrub tops - nothing is worse than getting "stuff" all over your top, and then you have to pull it over your head to get it off and put on a new one. it either drags all that "stuff" :barf01:through your hair or pulls your scrub cap off and then it's like you weren't wearing one at all - hair is still exposed. yuck

they had a sweetheart neckline and short slightly puffed sleeves well above the elbows - making scrubbing before a case much easier. the size i wear in the regular unisex scrubs - about a 3x depending on manufacturer - has sleeves that would fit a gorilla.:troll: not everyone who wears larger sizes has arms that are long enough to scratch our toes without bending over......two nice pockets on the top, below waist level, deep enough that stuff in them doesn't fall on the floor everytime we have to bend over to move something, clear the floor to move a patient, or what have you. long enough to cover the backside too would be nice. i am long waisted and short legged, so the tops are too short and the pants are generally too long. some shape to them - we end up looking like blocks and blobs in those shapeless scrub tops the other hospitals provide. the ones i like had a gentle princess seaming along the waist to make it look like we were the women we are. not that it's of earth-shattering importance, but it's a mental thing - if you know you look like crap, then your mood is down. if you know you at least look decent, and everything fits, then you go out there with a better frame of mind. like i said - i wear a 3x and these things made me look good - so it must work!

as for pants, i like the boxer waist style that cherokee does on one of their styles. it's big enough not to roll over, it stays put, and the drawstring ones tend to be rather constricting when you're kneeling down to clean debris off the or floor. the drawstring styles tend to be very "square" which is everything i'm not. a slight boot cut would be nice too - flattering to almost everyone, but nothing too big or they'd get in the way swinging around. i tend not to use pockets in the pants most of the time - but that's because there's not a thing convenient about them. something besides patch pockets might be nice though.

and, this is for all us big girls out there - please provide a wide variety of sizes and inseams so we can look as put together as our slimmer sisters, ok? don't relegate us to styles that are blocky and plain, while the rest get more flattering duds, please? it'd truly be a first in the industry i think - and you'd have more business than you can handle! there are lots of us out there that wear above a size 14-16 - don't forget us. we have money to spend too, and want to look good too. and we can with the right designs and proportions.

thanks for asking - :thankya:and best wishes on your endeavor! i'll be watching to see how you do! and if you have the right stuff, i'll be first in line to buy!

shari

I love to wear drawstring flared scrub pants and print tops. The tops have, have, have to have the two pockets on the front to stash all my stuff. I would like it if there were more prints to choose from, I always find ones with flowers and I like more unique designs.

I have been in healthcare for about 2 1/2 years now and of course I own lots of scrubs from several different companies. I love all the ideas I have been reading. Bigger pockets, better waist lines, etc, etc. One thing I would love to see in scrubs for winter time is a little heavier material. I work overnights and yes I have the bad smoking habit that until I finally quit I have to go outside and it gets mighty cold the wind going right through my pants. :monkeydance: Makes me feel like this monkey dancing around to stay warm. LOL Anyway, that would be my wish.

Hugs to you all,

Shawna

Specializes in CST in general surgery, LDRs, & podiatry.

i think i forgot to mention one thing - in fact, i'm sure i did. our corporate parent company has made dress code changes in all three hospitals under the corporate "umbrella." we are all relegated to wearing specific solid colors, depending on what we do. for instance, we (cst's) and ob staff wear ceil blue (provided by the hospital), rns wear royal blue and/or white; lpn's i believe wear a tan/khaki color; the unit techs/psa's wear burgundy; unit secretaries wear black and white; radiology dept wears navy blue, and so on. only peds staff is allowed to wear print tops. and from what i have been reading and hearing about lately, this trend is extending far and wide. so, it would probably be a good idea to stock a wide variety of solid colors, as well as prints for those who aren't hidebound by the whims of corporate rule.

Specializes in L&D, High Risk OB, OR, Med-Surg, PHN.

]:idea: :lol2: I love the feel of the material of the scrubs made by Nu dimension they don't wear out in the inside of the legs as fast. Scrubs that also stretch as the day goes by.

Lisa ;)

Has anyone mentioned pockets? ;) Pants- Line the pockets with tricot so scissors, pens, etc. don't tear through them. Cargo pockets on both legs. Slash pockets on the sides too. Drawstring with elastic in the back. Tops- Forget the breast pocket because everything falls out of it when you lean over anyway. Maybe a drawstring or a little elastic in the back for a bit of shape. Offer two lengths; one that hits near the bottom of the behind and one just at the top of the hipbone. V-neck that doesn't show the goods when you put your badge on and lean over. Patch pockets. -Thanks for asking. Hope you are doing well.

No "girlyman" scrubs as "Arnold" my governor would state . Alot of catalogue scrub companies only offer generic uniforms for both sexes.

Maybe I should order scrubs similar to flight RN's or ambulance crews. These offer alot of pockets and instrument holders.

Thanks

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