As a new nurse, you know there will be things you need to adapt to. One thing you may not expect, however, is how difficult it can be to buy scrubs. There are more varieties available than most people realize. If you are a new nurse who is about to buy scrubs, here are some tips to help guide you.
1. Stay away from the bright, crazy colors at first.
Some hospitals have stricter regulations for the colors you can wear than others. For instance, at one hospital, it might be perfectly okay to wear neon pink scrubs with strawberries on them. At another hospital, it may be expected that you wear more traditional colors, like navy or pale green. As a new nurse, though, you probably don't want to stand out any more than necessary. It is always best to err on the side of caution and choose scrubs in a conservative color. Once you get to know your workplace a bit better, you can buy more adventurous scrubs if this is something you're interested in.
2. Look for lots of pockets.
You might assume all scrubs come with pockets, but this is not true. Some have small pockets only. Some don't have pockets. Others have big pockets on the hips, backside, and on the shirt. The more pockets, the better. No nurse ever found themselves wishing they had less room to stash their essentials.
3. Spend more on good brands.
You can find cheap scrubs for $10 a pair, and as a new nurse who doesn't have a lot of income, you may be tempted to buy them. But here's the thing: if you buy $10 scrubs, you'll be replacing them every couple of weeks. You get what you pay for. It's worth paying a little more for scrubs that will last longer and not just start fraying apart in the wash. You want to look professional, and that's tough to do in scrubs that are pilling or those that have seams coming unraveled.
4. Don't size up.
You might assume that since you'll be wearing your scrubs all day and they are elastic, you are better off buying a size up rather than risking them being a little tight. But scrub manufacturers already account for the fact that most wearers want them a bit loose. If you buy your normal size, they should fit comfortably. Buying a size up will probably leave you with scrubs that look baggy and unprofessional.
If you follow the tips above, you should have better luck finding medical scrubs. Best of luck in your new profession.
