| For the past century and a half, the nursing uniform | | | | costly and unstylish (perhaps to inculcate a sense of |
| has been the norm in professional medical apparel. | | | | selflessness and seriousness of purpose into aspiring |
| Typically, early scrub uniforms were stiff and no | | | | nurses). Like old-fashioned nurses' uniforms, nursing |
| nonsense dresses in solid white with white shoes and | | | | school uniforms are pretty much the same all over the |
| starched, white caps. Nurses in big city hospitals as | | | | country, which means that if a nursing student changes |
| well as country nurses making the rounds with doctors | | | | schools the only dress change required is the name |
| all conformed to the same basic fashion: white, white, | | | | tag. This homogenized apparel is designed to make |
| and more white, with very few style variations. | | | | new nurses feel a sense of esprit de corps and |
| Fortunately, those days are long since past, and | | | | professionalism. Moreover it has the advantage of |
| today's nurses can breathe a collective sigh of relief. | | | | providing graduating nurses with a high quality nursing |
| But it is interesting to examine the reasons why this | | | | uniform which can still be used when they enter the |
| change occurred, and what new options are available. | | | | marketplace. But for most nurses this drab conformity |
| Part of the reason for the changeover in the look of | | | | soon becomes boring. |
| nursing uniforms was simply the fashion industry | | | | Nowadays nursing professionals are fortunate to have |
| intruding into the medical industry, but there are other | | | | at their fingertips a wide variety of scrubs online at |
| reasons as well. One is psychological. People who are | | | | discount prices, for unusual sizes, and in customized |
| sick don't need constant reminders of their sickness - | | | | designs and patterns. Modern-day scrubs ensembles |
| they need positive, uplifting, surroundings and support | | | | include top pant scrubs, jackets, warm-ups, unisex |
| personnel. This is particularly true in children's wards, | | | | coats, dresses, Oxford-shirts, tunics, maternity smocks, |
| where a strict code of dress has been largely | | | | and jacket lab wear. Today's endless variety of scrub |
| eliminated in favor of bright, cheerful colors. The | | | | uniforms styles exhibit impeccable tailoring and fine |
| hospital is a strange and threatening world to sick | | | | attention to details and they all have superior |
| children. They need the reassurance of an informal | | | | stain-resistance and color retention to allow for |
| and relaxed atmosphere, surrounded by people who | | | | frequent washing. Fabrics are wrinkle resistant to |
| appear normal rather than regimented. And in areas | | | | permit active, frequent movement. Although white |
| other than pediatrics, there has been a general | | | | scrubs are available on the market, there isn't much |
| agreement that medical professionals can best serve | | | | demand for them. Not only is white drab, but also it's |
| patients by appearing to be natural and approachable | | | | difficult to keep clean, and is hopeless once it is stained |
| rather than stiffly formal. | | | | (and spaghetti sauce or mustard can stain just as |
| What form should modern nursing uniforms and scrubs | | | | deeply as blood). The wide variety of color patterns |
| take? Functional, simple, yet as stylish as the person | | | | and floral prints available are as illimitable as your |
| wearing them. When nurses are still studying-to-be, | | | | imagination - so you can let your fancy soar and still |
| most of the uniforms used in nursing schools are | | | | appear as professional and competent as you are. |