What would you change about your scrubs?

[daisygirl_001]

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 )

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.

[melpn]

I have some scrubs with slim stretch knit panels on the sides and I love them. They have a nice shape to them and you can move very comfortably. A very nice feature.

[aerorunner80, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN]

I would like to see scrub tops and bottoms made with material that has a little stretch in it so we could wear scrubs that are more form fitting and less boxy.

I would also like to see scrubs made out of cool max material or if that is cost prohibitive, I'd like to see scrub tops with a 3 or 4 inch stripe of cool max material down each side for ventilation. It never fails that I will break out into a sweat when I am at work no matter how cool it feels in the hospital.

What I have also noticed is that it is hard to find colored tops that have pretty embrodery on them. A lot of the female nurses where I work have to wear white tops and they find them in all different kinds of styles with or without embrdery (sp?). I'd like to see the same options for more solid color tops. We have to wear blue at work. It can be any shade of blue but ceil.

[Rage, RN]

I searched far and wide for the scrubs I have and finally found Cherokee workforce scrubs. 2 cargo pockets on each side, a back pocket 2 "regular pockets in the front with a zippered fly, elastic waist band with tie. Jersey has pen pocket with a left breast pocket. Being a dood.......cleavage isn't a problem with me so the V-neck is fine.

Now what would I change, probably just a right breast pocket, a long narrow pocket with wider top piece so the stethoscope could slide down it, sized pockets for scissors, velcro on the cargo pockets.

[Ms Kylee]

Hunter green should be outlawed.....

[liebling5, MSN, RN]

Marie, THANK YOU for the thought about 36" inseams. I'm taller than regular, but hate paying extra $ for a couple more inches of fabric.

[al7139, ASN, RN]

I want them to be useful.

Here are my answers:

1.I look for fit, especially in the pants. I am a petite person, so lots of brands require alteration, since they do not have petite sizes. I also want pants that look fashionable, but are comfortable. I look for pockets in the scrub tops. I almost never use the pockets in the pants, but I have never found a top with the right pockets. As a female, I don't want a breast pocket, I will never use it.

2. I woul dchange the fit for females. Go to sizing rather than S,M,L,XL.

3. Best colors are navy, dark green, or any dark color.

4. I carry everything in my pockets. Pens, penlights, scissors, hemostats, alcohol swabs, etc.

5. Nurses wear solid colors where I work no prints unless its a holiday.

[traveller]

thank you for inviting us to make suggestions on scrub designs. every thing, just about, has already been put out there. i want to also say that i hate, hate those v necklines! i never buy scrubs because of that. i would want a neckline that hugs the neck but does not choke. the material would be long wearing but not thick. i have menopause and if the material is too thick or too cashmere-y i boil. i would like the design to be simple, like a scrub uniform is already. i carry scissors, pens, pencils, work sheet and sometimes alcohol swabs (but i try not to do that, because i end up washing them in the laundry and when the label is washed off it is silver aluminium, in case you wanted to know) on the left front top pocket. and that pocket always wears out--tears, gets a hole. on the other pocket i put kleenex, marker for tubes, extra pen, in case ink runs out on the main pen. i carry the stethoscope around my neck. i don't like darts ---too irritating on my skin. colors -- i love solid, pale, sky blue- soft pale pink, and khaki. and i have a wide hip in the back (from having children) and wide doesn't mean wide legs, ok? and for lab coats, i wonder if there is a thinner and long lasting material so they won't be so warm to wear when i have to wear one.

[Indy, LPN, LVN]

I'm on the opposite side of the inseam debate Marie..for the love of all that is good..can someone PLEASE make a set of scrub pants that are for us little ones. I stand 4ft 11in..even petites are long on me!! Tired of paying out even more $ getting them hemmed (NO I do not sew LOL)

Oh and as if the Almighty's joke on me by making me the size of the average 11 yr old girl wasn't funny enough to Him, to add insult to injury I am large chested..but I am thin. So in order to fit around the bust I need a medium but everywhere else is a XS or S..so I walk around with this huge shirt looking all frumpy.

So, I guess 2 wishes would be pants made even shorter than they are now, tops that take into consideration that being large on top doesn't mead large in the whole torso, oh and thin out the legs on the scrubs, my legs swim in scrubs.

I guess maybe a specialty line for the extremly short and thinner than average is what I'm asking for more or less. Shorter pants, not as much room in the leg, tops where the sleeves don't come to my elbow.

I love solid prints. I tend to have more blues (all different shades) than anything else.

Lots of pockets!! My clinical uniform has on small thigh pocket, on small pocket on the back..the top has one breast pocket thats useless, bend over once and everything falls out.

Pockets that have something to keep them closed would be great! Not a zipper because that would be too hard to get into all the time, just something to keep them closed and things won't fall out. Velcro maybe.

I carry pen, stethescope, penlight, a couple of small reference books, gum, scissors, tape, alcohol wipes..my pockets are filled.

You're close to being in my boat there. No one at work knows I have a small waist! Not that anyone needs to know, but it does get hidden. One of my white scrub tops makes me look pregnant (the tieback one) and the other is a medium. Due to the weight of all the crap in my pockets, the bottom rides up in back and sits on top of my butt. NEVER in my LIFE has a shirt done that before and it certainly doesn't do that outside of work. Look ma, I grew a butt! So the "squat hourglass" figure is just really hard to dress, I guess.

[Katie-in-charge51, BSN, RN]

The main thing I have been looking for is a way to have my watch on my sleeve, as I wash my hands so much my watch frequently gets wet. Or maybe a way to wear it around my forearm-anything but my wrist. I know there are hanging watches, but they always fall into whatever I am cleaning up, and you have to hold them to see them. There may not be any other way to wear a watch, but someone with more imagination than I could maybe figure it out! Thanks for asking. Katie

[DeeRose]

I don't like drawstrings, for good reason. I work in ER & by the time I get to go to the bathroom, I'm doing the "pee-pee dance" & it's a guarantee that I can't get the stupid ties untied. And, I agree LOTS & LOTS of pockets.

Also, I just had a baby & I noticed while pregnant that, even though a lot of nurses are young, healthy & fertile, we seem to be underserved in the maternity scrub selection. Heck, I had to have my scrubs specially made because no company makes red maternity scrubs. Also, most scrubs for us preggos look like they were designed in the 1950s & never updated. You know - big tents with no semblance of style or figure flattery.

Oh, one other request. Do scrubs have to be sooooo expensive?

-Deanne

[Nurse Lulu]

We are not allowed to wear patterned pants, ceil blue, or shoes that are not black, white, navy. I like colors of all sorts, two patch pockets on the tops and v-necks not cut too low (think bending over). Also like pants that are flare leg, with slits on the outside for movement, with drawstring top. Want scrubs that actually fit, not a sack. I carry pens, brains (cheat sheets), scissors, clamps, extra hair ties. What I hate- elastic pants, ugly patterns, elastic ankles, when I have to wear a tank top just so I don't flash my patients.

[Nurse Lulu]

P.S. small sizes don't always mean short and flat chested! I am 5 7 and have a D chest!!! grrrr.