5 Things Medical Professionals Need To Consider When Purchasing Scrubs

Whether you're a new grad or a veteran in the medical field, we all face the inevitable: buying a new pair of scrubs. With the evolving look of scrubs, it can be quite overwhelming to choose a good pair. Remember, this is your hard-earned (and I do mean HARD-EARNED) money. Don't just throw it away on a cheap pair of scrubs. Consider these 5 things when you're at the scrub store or shopping online:

1. Fabric?

Fabric equals comfort. Most scrubs are made out of a cotton/polyester blend. This blend has been the staple for medical scrubs. This gave the medical professionals the comfort and?durability they needed to last countless 12-hour shifts.?Now, newer fabrics sport a polyester/rayon blend, giving scrubs the soft,?velvety feel, but with durability and anti-wrinkle properties due to the weight of the fabric. This presents a more polished and professional look. Don't get me wrong, some cotton/polyester blends feel great and also give a professional look. It all boils down to personal preference.

2. Fit

Fit equals ease of motion. Unisex scrubs have a box-like look to them, giving the medical professional a lot of room to move, but also giving them a?less professional look. Manufacturers are starting to chip away at the box-like unisex scrubs and are beginning to cater to the needs of men and women. For women, there are scrubs with a wrap top, mock-wrap top, skinny cargo pants, etc. For men, there are more form-fitting scrubs, making the baggy pants look a thing of the '90s.?Regardless of what style you end up buying, make sure they fit correctly. If shopping online, remember to consult the size chart before you buy it. Also, it's a good idea to take measurements of the scrubs that fit you well.

3. Pockets

Pockets equal storage. The more you can carry on yourself, the less time you need to walk over to the supply closet. From saline flushes to scissors, medical professionals need to store their tools for easy access. Some of the newer scrubs have cargo pockets designed for your cell phone, while others have pockets with slots for pens, scissors, or a penlight. The key here is the way you can access your tools from your pockets. Do you need to secure an item (i.e. stethoscope) in a cargo pocket? Consider a button or Velcro closure. Do you need access to your pulse oximeter frequently? Consider an open pocket. Look for scrubs that will fit your needs in whatever department you work in. If you float to different departments, consider the tools you will need and the number and types of pockets that you'll need to store them in. That way, you'll need to only buy one style of scrubs with the appropriate amount of pockets regardless of which department you'll work in.

4.?Waistband

Waistband equals support. This is not a typical thing to consider, but it is one that is overlooked. Scrubs used to have only side pockets and a tie to cinch up your pants. These can still be seen in the Operating Room or from medical uniform rental companies. The latest scrub designs feature a button-snap, button-loop, tie, or a combination of both. They also have garter waistbands to improve waist flexion movements or when your facility is celebrating staff birthdays and there is A LOT?of food. (Don't pretend like you don't know what I'm talking about.) The key here is if you are the type of person who loads up their cargo pockets and side pockets, you'll need a good waistband to hold your pants up and to give you the support you need to make waist movements. There's nothing more embarrassing than having your pockets full of gear and while you're responding to a code blue, your pants start to fall down, or worse, you're doing chest compressions and your pants?start to fall down, or even worse, your co-worker has to pull your pants up while you're doing chest compressions. Don't put yourself in that situation, please.

5. Features

Features equal function. Not many scrubs have extra features in them. They all have pockets, different colors, different necklines, etc. but there are features in certain scrubs that stand out from the ordinary.

• Antimicrobial properties. Not many people realize that scrubs can transfer bacteria from one place to another. This is called soft-surface contamination. What's worse is when you meet up with friends and you don't have time to change out of your scrubs. You have a high probability that you will?spread some type or form of bacteria to the public. Certain manufacturers have infused antimicrobial chemicals?within the fabrics of their scrubs to kill a certain percentage of various bacteria. This also gives you an added layer of protection when dealing with patients in isolation.
• Fluid barrier protection. We've all had some sort of fluid spill on our scrubs and that $60 pair of scrubs is now thrown in the trash. Maybe you should've bought some scrubs with fluid barrier protection. If you did, those fluids would've slipped right off or would've been easily wiped off. There would be no fluid absorbed within the fabric, and your less than $60 pair of scrubs would still be usable.
• Anti-wrinkle properties. If you are like me and hate ironing, this is a must-have. Usually, fabrics with a polyester/rayon blend have this built into them because it gives a bit of weight to the fabric, causing gravity to straighten out your scrubs. It will give you a professional look and will save you time from ironing or steaming your scrubs.

Buying scrubs is inevitable, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming. By taking your time trying on the various styles, fabrics, fit, and feel, you'll start to have a favorite brand(s) that make you feel great while working an 8 or 12-hour shift, and on some days, that's all you'll need to make it through the shift.