Affordable Nursing Scrubs

Our Contest Winner Is...

Tuesday, September 7, 2010 by Liza Guikema

Congrats to Roselyn, a Registered Nurse, who works at a hospital in the step-down side of critical care. Roselyn has received a $50 gift card to Lydia's and I think she's going to have a great time shopping for a new pair of nursing scrubs. When I contacted Roselyn about her win, she replied, "I'm so excited about this! I absolutely love shopping for, buying, and wearing scrubs. I look at Lydias all the time."

Roselyn, congratulations again! And for those of you who didn't win this time, September's contest is posted here so get your entry in today.

Back to School on a Budget

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 by Mandy Lovell

It is that time of year to go back to school! Excited?! Feeling a bit overwhelmed? We know it can be hectic during the first few weeks of school. The stress of figuring out your new schedule, late nights of studying, and of course getting all of your books, medical scrubs and supplies without breaking your budget. Well Lydia's is here to help!

I have put together seven essential items you will need for school for LESS than $100.
Check out what I picked out!

1) Lydia's Red Tag V-neck Unisex Scrub Top Price: Get two for $9.98

This unisex nursing scrubs top has one divided chest pocket for pencil, set-in sleeves and a 28" length.

2) Lydia's Red Tag Unisex Drawstring Pant Price: Get two for 11.98

This unisex scrub pant has one back pocket and a matching drawcord with a 30 1/2" inseam.

3) Clinical I Stethoscope Price: $39.99

This stethoscope has a a stainless steel chestpiece and stainless steel binaurals that incorporates the most effective sound conducting metal available. It includes two sizes of soft color matched eartips that seal out extraneous noise.

4) Adult Nylon Sphygmomanometer Price: $24.99

This spygmomanometer features a durable nylon cuff with index and Range markings. Also included is heavy duty vulcanized bladder, standard inflation blub and a precision calibrated manometer gauge.

5) Pocketlite Price: $4.99

This replaceable battery penlight is an essential to keep on hand.

6) Essential Tote Bag Price: $4.99

This tote features one main section with inside pockets and is great to carry your books and supplies. It also comes in fabulous color choices!

7) Bandage Scissors Price: $2.99

These 5.5 inch bandage scissors are stainless steel and are at an ubeatable price.

So..lets see what all of this adds up to!

2 scrub tops-$9.98
2 scrub bottoms-$11.98
1 Stethoscope-$39.99
1 Sphygmomanometer-$24.99
1 Pen Light-$4.99
1 bandage scissors-$2.99
1 essential tote bag-$4.99

Grand total: $99.91

Our team at Lydia's would like to wish you the best of luck going back to school!!

Don't forget to sign up for our email promotions to receive discounts on hospital scrubs and medical supplies as well as coupons to use throughout the school year!

Monday Funday

Monday, August 9, 2010 by Liza Guikema

Another Monday Funday is here. We're kicking the week off by marking down our ever-popular Medgear Contrast Crossover Scrub Top. Today only this nursing scrubs top is just $7.99. It's available in over 15 different color combos and the style is too cute to resist (especially at this price)! Hurry, you only have 'til the end of the day to order.

Two New Collections You Won't Want to Miss!

Thursday, July 22, 2010 by Liza Guikema

This week I've had the chance to give you a sneak peek at new fall medical uniforms and I hope that everyone loves what they've seen so far. I know that I do :-)

With that being said, there are two new collections that I haven't told you about yet. It's been difficult not to mention them, but I'm excited to say that I finally have permission to spill the beans! In the new fall catalog, and online soon, we'll be presenting our very own and brand new Lydia's Pro Series and Pro Stretch uniforms and scrubs. These collections have been the talk of the office for weeks now; so much time and effort went into creating the perfect scrubs for Lydia's to call their own and everyone is more than happy with the results.

The new Pro Series and Stretch lines were strongly inspired by popular designer medical scrubs and I think you'll like what you see. We've taken features from some of your favorites to make two amazing collections of value scrubs. If the Koi Lindsey pant is a staple in your wardrobe then I recommend trying our new Starburst Pant. Love Urbane's sporty looks? Then definitely consider our new Peony top. The prices on these products cannot be beat!

I personally love affordable alternatives to stylish, designer looks and that's the main reason that I'm so excited about these new medical uniforms. I know that having affordable scrubs to choose from is also important to you, which is why I can't wait to hear what you think of these brand new collections! Keep an eye out for your new fall catalog or check back very soon to see these products online.

(Hospital Cafeteria) Food for Thought

Tuesday, July 20, 2010 by Erin W

So I got a sale coupon from Lydia's a few days ago and it was very timely. I think I'm going to need to order some new scrubs. Not because mine are too old or worn out, it's because they're getting a little too tight. I should probably admit that as I type this, I am eating straight out of a bag of chocolate chips.

Nine months back, I gave birth to almost an 11 pound baby boy, and my body has not been the same since! And I turned 31, which some say the older you get, the harder it is to lose. But I started to wonder if some of it has to do with the line of work I do...

If you're like me, you probably work shifts that are 12 - plus hours long. You may not get many opportunities during that time to take a break, and many times clock out "no lunch." And if you are one of the lucky ones who gets to sneak away, you might have a hospital cafeteria whose menu makes some fast food restaurants look like healthy choices. Or maybe you're one of those night shift folks, I used to be one of you. You'll pretty much do whatever it takes to stay awake, and it might require lots of caffeinated soda and chocolate candy bars.

I know some workplaces are making changes to improve the health of their employees. For example, our cafeteria no longer serves foods that are fried on Fridays. I'm not going to tell you what the staff actually thinks about it, though.

I remember a while back, an acquaintance said something about nurses needing to practice what they preach. I said, "What do you mean?" And she said, "Well, there are a lot of overweight nurses out there...don't nurses go around telling people they need to eat healthy?" She may be kind of right, but I think there are lots of reasons for this phenomenon.

I just did a simple internet search using the terms "Obesity and nursing" and got quite a few research articles from real sources. One even said that out of a sample of several thousand nurses surveyed, 54% were obese or overweight. That's pretty significant. And I do wonder what kind of message it sends to the population of people who we're teaching to be healthy.

I'm not writing about this topic to make people feel bad about themselves, because I am dealing with this problem myself! I want to hear from other nurses about some tips! What do you do to eat healthy on the job? How do you work exercise in to your routine when you're spending a good portion of your waking hours at work? You'll have to be particularly convincing, because I choose sleep over exercising after a long day on the hospital floor.

And on a personal note, what nursing scrubs have you found to be flattering for gals in my situation??

Lydias Participates in Local Golf Outing

Thursday, June 24, 2010 by Mandy Lovell

Last Friday Lydias Uniforms participated in a golf outing for Grand Valley State University located in Allendale, Michigan. Despite the early rainfall our team was able to play in a scramble with a great group of employees from the University. We would like to thank Grand Valley for allowing us to be a part of such a fun day!

Check out the custom embroidered tops that each of our employees wore to the outing. You can find similar polos here, or at our sister site, Uniform Warehouse. And don't forget, you can add your own custom logo to a polo, t-shirt or your favorite nursing scrubs.

Get in Style in Baby Phat Scrubs

Wednesday, June 16, 2010 by Liza Guikema

"Baby Phat by Kimora Lee Simmons celebrates the diversity and beauty of the career-oriented woman - particularly those in the medical industry. We are a brand dedicated to providing women with certain elements of fashion, flair, and fabulosity in their everyday wardrobe needs.”

- Kimora Lee Simmons

The Baby Phat brand is all about fashion and their commitment to style is apparent in their collection of medical uniforms. With each new catalog I've noticed a common trend from Baby Phat: eye-catching prints and attention to detail (the top to the right is a perfect example!). I think it's safe to say that if you love Baby Phat looks for everyday wear, you'll definitely want to try their nursing scrubs and lab coats. Already own a pair of Baby Phat scrubs? Leave a comment and tell me what you think!

Nursing in the News

Friday, June 4, 2010 by Liza Guikema

Happy Friday! Today I want to spread the word about our current sale prices on Red Tag scrubs. If you're looking for quality, cheap medical scrubs than you can't go wrong with these uniform basics; they're marked down to just $4.99 for a top and $5.99 for the matching pants. What do you think of these affordable pieces?

Now here's the news from the week:

Healthcare Professionals in the News:

Health News:

Style Watch: What's IN for Summer 2010

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 by Liza Guikema

Nursing scrubs are all about style and comfort and this season is no different. Our summer collections are packed with fashion-forward looks and innovative styles that will work for you. As I flip through the pages of Lydia's latest catalog I can't help but notice a few stand-out trends that will definitely be a hit as the weather warms up.

The number one trend this season: Stand-out colors and prints! For example, these three looks can't be missed.

From left to right: Baby Phat Scrubs Fashion Neck Top, Koi Ashley Scrub Top, L.A. Rose 100% Cotton Firestar Chestnut Contrast Side Tie Scrub Top

Another trend that's perfect for the warm weather is lightweight, cotton tops featuring summertime colors and prints. Since these stylish scrubs aren't heavy or thick they're the perfect pieces for a scorching hot day.

From left to right: Koi 100% Cotton Starry Bridgette Scrub Top, White Cross 100% Cotton Pucker Up Paisley Lilac Two Pocket Scrub Top, Koi 100% Cotton Waikiki Bridgette Scrub Top

So what trends have have you noticed while browsing through our new summer catalog? Leave a comment and tell us about your favorite!

Ask Liza

Tuesday, May 18, 2010 by Liza Guikema

Send me your questions about products, sizing, styles or anything regarding your medical uniforms and I'll answer them here on the blog. Today's question is from Rose:

Q. I have over 40 of the cutest fashionable as well as traditional scrubs in a wide variety of colors. I love them all and enjoy wearing them, some have hardly been worn. Unfortunately my hospital just changed our policy that all RNs wear royal blue. I can see the logic but for me it was a tragedy because it throws a wrench in my love for getting dressed for work. What's worse is all the money I spent for these clothes where now I can't wear over 80% of them. I'm finding some of the scrubs, esp. Koi, cross over well for streetwear. A lot of them don't crossover like the Greys Anatomy junior tops (I have 8 of these!). Some tops I can sleep in. People have recommended donating, selling, or making bags out of them. All good ideas but I still wish I could just wear them so I won't feel like I've wasted so much money. If you've heard of any ideas of how other nurses with large closets have handled this problem, throw them my way. This all seems so unimportant especially since I see real problems that my poor patients deal with, but I'm really bummed out about this. Thanks!

A. Hi Rose, thanks for the question. It sounds like you're on the right track with your ideas about reusing your medical scrubs. Here are a few more suggestions:

If you intend to use these medical scrubs again in the future, (at a different job or if you expect the dress code of your current job to change again) then I think it's a great idea to hold on to them. I would look at each piece and see how it would work best in your wardrobe. If you have a pair that are incredibly comfy, try using them as exercise apparel. Scrubs are made to move, so many of them would work perfectly during a session on the treadmill. And why not take another pair and turn them into PJs? If they're clean, soft and comfortable, then go for it! As for your most fashionable pieces, like the Koi Uniforms you mentioned, incorporate them into your everyday wardrobe. Pair your stylish scrub tops with jeans and cute shoes and nobody has to know you're wearing scrubs. And lastly, take your functional medical uniforms and wear them when you work at home. Put all those pockets to good use when you're spring cleaning or working in the garden. These tops and pants are made for hard work, so why not use them when you're working off the job?

If you don't intend on wearing these scrubs to work again, pass them on or repurpose them. Many organizations, like thrift stores or relief groups will gladly accept these scrubs as donations. Get a receipt for this donation and you could claim it as a deduction on your taxes. One Lydia's customer even suggested donating them to a local theatre company.

If you can't afford to donate, you can always sell them. E-bay, consignment shops and Cragislist are a few places to start.

Still looking for ideas; get creative! An employee here at Lydia's made these amazing quilts out of print tops. I also had a customer share that she created a pillowcase for her toddler out of the cartoon prints. Pick out your favorite prints and create something new and one of a kind. Anything goes from blankets to bags or a whole new piece of clothing!

Best of luck! Let us know what you decide to do.

The Best Nurse Blogs on the Web

Thursday, May 13, 2010 by Liza Guikema

Back in March we started the Top Nurse Blog Contest, a search to find the best of the best nurse blogs on the web. We staretd with a list of 25 blogs and asked you to vote for your favorite. Since the beggining of the contest we've received almost 200 votes. Now, it's time to announce the winners!

The Top Nurse Blog is: A Nurse Practitioner's View! This blog is filled with interesting and informative content and our readers picked it as the number one Nurse Blog on the web. Congrats to Stephen, a Nurse Practitioner in New York and the writer of a A Nurse Practiioner's View!

Also in the top five we're: Student Nurse Laura, Madness: Tales of an Emergency Room Nurse, Nursing Comments and RehabRN. Congratulations!

Each of these bloggers will be receiving a $50 gift card to Lydia's Uniforms. Keep up the amazing work and enjoy your new nursing scrubs :-)

Nurses Week 2010: Join in the Celebration with Lydia's Uniforms!

Thursday, May 6, 2010 by Liza Guikema

We're going all out for Nurses Week 2010 and I don't want you to miss out on any of the fun. We have special promotions, contests and giveaways that will be going on all week long. Take a look at what's in store:

WIN

FREE

FUN

Tag your nurse friends with a Nurse Badge on Facebook
Read profiles of nurses just like you, here on the Lydia's Blog
Stay tuned for the winner of our Top Nurse Blog Contest

From all of us at Lydia's Uniforms, Happy Nurses Week!

Getting Creative with Print Scrubs

Wednesday, April 21, 2010 by Liza Guikema

Recognize the prints in the quilts below? I bet you do; they're from some of our popular print scrub tops. One of our very creative employees, Gail, re-worked medical scrubs and created these two gorgeous quilts.

The first quilt was made by Gail as a gift for our E-Commerce Manager, Rachel, who has a baby on the way. It's so fun and colorful, perfect for a baby boy or girl.

The second quilt was made for an employee, Heidi, who will be raffling it off to raise money for Relay for Life (this will be her second year participating in this great event!).

So what do you think of these scrubs turned quilts? Do you love them as much as I do? Have any of you used your nursing scrubs for a project like this before? Leave a comment and tell us about it if you have!

Fashion Details Make All the Difference

Thursday, April 15, 2010 by Liza Guikema

Last week I introduced you to Do No Harm Scrubs. I shared a few details about what makes this new brand of green scrubs so functional and unique (anti-microbial and moisture wicking features just to name a few). Today I want to look at these nursing scrubs from a different point of view and talk about what makes them so fashionable. In my opinion, it's the little details that make all the difference, take a look:

So what details do you love-tie back tops that fit great or fun buttons that add a touch of fashion? Tell us about your favorite stylish scrubs here.

Our Contest Winner Is...

Tuesday, April 6, 2010 by Liza Guikema

My congrats go out to Kristen Good, a Certified Pediatric RN at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Kristen was the winner of our Editor @ Large contest for March and she has won a $50 gift card to Lydia's. Kristen wears medical uniforms everytime she works and she loves Grey's Anatomy Scrubs. She also likes, "any scrubs with bright bold colors and cute styles." I hope that she can use her gift certificate to find a new pair of nursing scrubs that fit and look great!

For last month's contest we asked the question: What field of nursing/healthcare do you work in? What are your favorite and least favorite aspects of this field? Here is Kristen's winning response:

"I have been an RN for three years have been working on a

Pediatric Acute Care Younger Children and Infant Medical floor. Everyone always comments how "hard it must be" to work with children when they find out I am a Pediatric RN. The truth is, the rewards of the job totally outweigh all the hard times. My patients may be small, cute and very fragile, but they are resilient. They bounce back quickly, forgive easily and have the best smiles and giggles. On good days I get to sing songs, draw, color and play peek-a-boo. Of course, there are other days that I have to stick them for blood multiple times, watch parents receive a devastating diagnosis, comfort grieving families and send children to the ICU. There are also days where I get thrown up on, pooped on and yelled at by angry parents. There are parents who aren't very involved with their child's care and there are others who purposely hurt their child. There are many ups and downs, but my little patients are worth it! I love what I do and wouldn't trade my job for the world."

Want to win your own gift card to Lydia's? Enter this month's contest here.

Product Review: L.A. Rose Botanical Jubilee Contrast Side Scrub Top

Tuesday, March 23, 2010 by Liza Guikema

This nurse scrubs top is so fun and stylish for spring. When I saw the five star review left by Audra, I couldn't resist sharing it with you.

this style is my favorite. elastic around the whole empire waist to keep it in place unlike other empire tops that sag or ride up. i have washed this top many times. no iron looks perfect. i also have this in brown and get comps everytime i wear it
- Audra, Orange County NY

What do you think of this L.A Rose top? Write your own review here or leave a comment.

Top Nurse Blogs: Cast Your Vote!

Friday, March 19, 2010 by Liza Guikema

Here at Lydia's, blogging is very near and dear to us. I love using this blog as a way to reach out and tell you about the latest uniform fashions, give you the scoop about nursing scrubs on sale or just fill you in on what's taking place here in the office.

But today's post isn't about Lydia's blog, it's about nurse blogs. We've scoured the internet and found some of the top nurse blogs and we want you to vote on your favorite. We'll announce the best of the best during Nurse's Week in May and award the top 10 with badges that they can display on their blogs and the top five bloggers will each receive a $50 gift card to Lydia's!

Here is the list of our top 25; use the form below to place your vote. Have a blog you love (maybe even your own) that you don't see on the list? Feel free to vote for Other and write it in.

Want your blog to win? Spread the word! Post a link and make sure all of your blog followers come cast their vote. And don't forget to use the ShareThis button get your Facebook and Twitter friends involved as well. Or feel free to leave a comment telling us why you voted for the blog you did (or to campaign for your very own blog).

Ok- time to cast your votes! Let's get this contest started!

Drop Ship Medical Uniforms

Thursday, March 18, 2010 by Melissa Q. (Web Team Supervisor)

One of the topics that frequently comes up in our Customer Service Department is drop ship items. So here are the answers to a few frequently asked questions on the topic.

Why do some items ship separately? What does drop ship mean?
Drop ship items are shipped to you directly from the manufacturer. They are not shipped from the Lydia's Warehouse. By offering drop ship items we are able to offer a much larger selection of discount uniforms, men's nursing uniforms and women's scrubs.

How can I tell if it is a drop ship item?
Once you add the item to your cart, this message will appear: This item will ship from the manufacturer and may take additional days for delivery.

Stop by our Customer Service page for additional details or feel free to leave a comment with any questions you might have.

P.S. We have a lot of fun prints and colors that are now available. Browse our selection of affordable scrubs and gear up for spring!

Nursing in the News

Friday, March 5, 2010 by Liza Guikema

Happy Friday! I want to remind everyone to leave a product review on any nurse scrubs, lab coats or other medical uniforms that you've purchased from Lydia's. Your opinion is helpful to us and other customers- plus we love hearing from you.

Now here's the news from

Healthcare Professionals in the News:

Health News:

Blog Posts:

Have something to say? Leave a comment here.

Our Customer Service Team Reviews our Newest Products!

Friday, February 26, 2010 by Mandy Lovell

Our Call Center has been reviewing our new Spring products to answer all the questions you may have. I asked each Customer Service Representative to tell me what their favorite products were for springtime. Find out what they had to say!

The Urbane stretch two pocket crossover top is my favorite. I especially like the colors java/seaspray and passion fruit/silver. I love the new colors! –Carol

My favorite is the Demi top made by Koi Uniforms. The Marker print is so cute. I really like the red and black contrast and I also like the neckline. –Heather

The new knit panel ladies lab coat is the best! This coat gives you more room to move and is extremely comfortable. –Pat

I like the new crossover print tops by Lydia’s. These fun tops are great for Spring and are very affordable scrubs!-Lori

I love the new Urbane stretch two pocket crossover top. It’s a great improvement on the original style with a bit of lycra added in the fabric for some stretch. The top also has great new colors. –Kristen

My Favorite would be the Koi Demi top in the print Marker with the pants to match. I love flowers and the colors say “springtime!” They are SO bright and pretty, yet simple. –Latisha

The ruffle top on pg 40 in the Coral Bling Plaid print. Plaid patterns are very much in style this season and you can wear this top with different color pants. –Alicia

The Demi top 134K in the prints Flying High & Marker by Koi uniforms. I just love the large prints. And the colors are nice and bright. –Brynn

The new 134K Demi Koi top is my favorite. It’s so versatile you can wear it anywhere.
-Denise

Well, it certainly sounds like the Koi Demi top is the winner for best spring top in our newest catalog. But don’t forget to check out our other selections at www.lydiasuniforms.com and tell us what your favorite look for spring is.