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 30, 2010 by Liza Guikema
Today only our Nurse Mates Lite Dove Nursing Shoes are on sale for $39.99. In my opinion this is one of our best Monday Funday offers yet. The regular price on these medical shoes is $59.99; buy today and you'll be saving $20. These nursing shoes are lightweight as well as stain and slip resistant. They're currently available in white, black or pink. If these comfy shoes sound like your style stop by today and add a pair to your Lydia's shopping cart.

Nursing in the News

Friday, August 27, 2010 by Liza Guikema

Happy Friday. Make sure to stop by www.Facebook.com/Lydias.Scrubs this weekend; I'm giving away another pair of our new Pro Series Medical Scrubs and I wouldn't want you to miss out.

Now here's the news from the week:

Health Care Professionals in the News:Health News:
Blog Posts:
  • Mandatory Nurse-to-Patient Ratios: If It's Good For Califnoria, Is It Good For All?

Monday Funday

Monday, August 23, 2010 by Liza Guikema
For one day only our Junior Fit V-Neck Scrubs Top from Grey's Anatomy Uniforms is on sale for $15.99. This top regularly goes for $22.99 so don't miss your chance to stock up now during our Monday Funday sale.

If you want to hear what othes think of this style take a look at the product reviews; our customers have nothing but positive things to say about this uniform scrub top and they have some helpful hints about sizing and fit. Here's what Phyllis from Boca Raton, Florida said in her review:

the best scrubs!

i just love the way these are so flattering. i wore them for the first time and got compliments from everyone. they give u a nice shape not the boxy look from most scrubs. and SO comfy.........i'm getting every color!

Click here to order this top now and don't forget to check back on Monday, August 30th to see our next drastic markdown.

Lydia's Picks

Wednesday, August 11, 2010 by Liza Guikema
Lydia, our VP of Merchandising, has carefully selected her top scrubs selections for the new fall season. Take a look and see what pieces inspired her with their fashion, quality, fit and comfort.



1. Lydia's Pro Stretch Jitterbug Knit Inset Crossover Scrub Top
2. Lydia's Pro Stretch Mambo Cargo Pocket Scrub Pant
3. L.A. Rose 100% Cotton Kate Contrast Side Tie Scrub Top
4. Lydia's Pro Stretch Cha Cha Framed V-Neck Scrub Top
5. Koi 100% Cotton Mariposa Fuchsia Demi Scrub Top
6. B Green by L.A. Rose Crewneck Scrub Top

Have you tried any of these medical scrubs yet? We would love to hear what you think of them!

Nursing in the News

Thursday, August 5, 2010 by Liza Guikema
Happy Friday! If you haven't signed up for Lydia's Text Messages, today is the day to do it! Over the next few weeks I'll be offering our text message subscribers exclusive opportunities to win new medical scrubs from Lydia's. So what are you waiting for?! Sign up now.

And here's the news from the week:

Healthcare Professionals in the News:

Health News:

Blog Posts:
Have something to say? Leave a comment here.

Employees Review our New Lydia's Line

Wednesday, August 4, 2010 by Mandy Lovell

We are so excited about our new Lydia's line we had to test them out for ourselves. I asked a few Lydia's employees to try them on and share what they thought of these medical scrubs. Find out what they had to say!

I tried on the new Pro Stretch Cha Cha Top in the color Aqua and the Swing Pants in Steel Grey. I love that the material is light weight and stretches with movement! I tried the scrub top in large (my normal size) and the fit was great and roomy in the chest area. The gathered back detail definitely gives the top a fitted and feminine look!

The pants were very comfortable throughout the waist, hip and thigh areas.  However, the length of these pants was a bit short on me since I usually wear a 34 inch inseam and this style is offered in a 31" inseam. Overall, I liked the look, feel and comfort of this medical uniform!
              

-Liz, Special Sales Representative





I tried on our Lydia's Pro Stretch
Jitterbug Top in Pink Blush/Navy. The top was great! It was soft and comfortable. The stretch knit side panels give you so much movement. Being large chested I was a little scared that it wouldn't fit in that area and I was surprised to have so much room.
 
I also tried our Lydia's Pro Stretch
Mambo Pant in Navy. These pants had a lot of movement to them as well. Being short (barley reaching 5'2) these pants were a little long on me. I flipped the waistband over for a perfect length. I also love all of the pockets that these pants have. I believe that the Jitterbug Top and Mambo Pant tend to run slightly large.      
 
-Lori, Call Center Team Leader





I am in love with the new Pro Stretch scrubs!  I tried on the
Tango Top in Chocolate/Pink Blush and the Salsa Pants in Chocolate.  I tried on the size that I would normally wear and they fit just right.  I am 5’4” and the length on the pants was close to being too long, but as long as I wore the New Nurse Mates Bryar or the Dansko Professional Clog that have a little bit of height to them it was a perfect length. The material is very rich looking because it has sheen to it.  They are comfortable to wear, the stretch allows for movement without feeling confined.   So, if I were required to wear scrubs for a uniform these are definitely what I would pick. 
         

 -Regina, Special Sales Manager


We would love to hear what you have to say about our new Lydia's line. Feel free to leave a comment here!

Hot Off the Press

Tuesday, July 27, 2010 by Liza Guikema
Our Fall Catalog is hot off the press and you'll find all sorts of amazing values inside. A few highlights of this catalog include: And of course, you can't go wrong with new medical scrubs from Medgear, Koi Uniforms, Cherokee, Barco Uniforms or L.A. Rose. 

So go check your mailbox, see if your new Lydia's catalog is waiting for you!

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??

Do You "Like" Lydia's??

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 by Liza Guikema
We really like our customers and we want you to like us too! If you haven't found Lydia's on Facebook yet, stop by today. I frequently post coupons, product updates and contests (for Facebook fans only) and I wouldn't want you to miss out on a chance to save some cash or score free medical scrubs.

P.S. Our next Facebook Contest is coming up later today, find us now!

Love them

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 by Guest Blogger
Absolutely love the Cherokee scrubs and the great price from Lydia's. They always have sales and the quality of their uniforms is 100%. I would recommend Lydia's to anyone.



Photo Submitted by Angela S.

Our Contest Winner Is...

Wednesday, July 7, 2010 by Liza Guikema
My congratulations to Jenny W., the June winner of our monthly Editor @ Large Contest. For June's contest I asked readers to share their experiences at their first job in the field of health care and here is Jenny's winning comment:

My first job as a newly graduated physical therapist was at a skilled nursing facility. I was full of exuberance and fresh new ideas to rehabilitate the people that came to me. Little did I realize that only 40% of my success was based on what I knew about physical rehab. The other 60% was mental, emotional. Most of these injured, sick people didn't care how much I knew until they knew how much I cared. In other words, once they knew I cared about them as a person and what they were going through, then they were able to participate to the best of their ability in the physical aspect. This lesson has stuck with me for 14 years now and I hope other therapists will keep this in mind as well.

When I emailed Jenny to congratulate her on the win I also asked about her favorite medical scrubs. She replied, "I have so many scrubs I love! I especially love bright colors and fresh styles. Most of my tops are tie back or mock wrap because I like to have a little shape. I also love variety and like I said BRIGHT colors!" I hope Jenny can use her prize, a $50 gift card to Lydia's, to buy some brand new, BRIGHT medical uniforms!

And to those of you who didn't win, try again this month! Enter July's Editor @ Large Contest here or Snap a Photo to Win New Scrubs here. Best of luck :-)


Nursing in the News

Friday, July 2, 2010 by Liza Guikema
Happy Friday. Get out your red, white and blue medical scrubs because the Fourth of July is almost here. And don't forget to stop by www.LydiasUniforms.com over the holiday weekend to take advantage of our latest coupon (hint: you could save up to $15!).

Now here's the news from the week:

Healthcare Professionals in the News:
Health News:
Blog Posts:

Low Sale Prices on 5 Star Scrubs

Wednesday, June 30, 2010 by Liza Guikema

Our Jockey medical uniforms are currently marked way down and since this brand has received such positive reviews I thought you might be interested in shopping these looks while the prices are low.

Here are a few things to know about these scrubs before you get your very own pair. Jockey medical uniforms are incredibly comfy (just ask Caresse who tried them out during a Lydia's photo shoot). The knit fabric blend is soft to the touch and a little bit of stretch allows for easy movement. The colors are fun and vibrant-lagoon blue and plumberry are my two faves! And lastly, the prices are now only $12.99 to $14.99, so you can't go wrong.

Shop our collection of Jockey Medical Uniforms here. Already have a pair or two? Leave a comment and let me know what you think of these designer scrubs.



Monday Fundays

Monday, June 21, 2010 by Liza Guikema
I have good news! Lydia's is giving you a reason to get excited about Mondays (that's right, Mondays), with our new Monday Fundays.  We kick off each week by drastically marking down one of our most popular products and you have one day to take advantage of the offer. We post these markdowns on our homepage bright and early, but if you're like me and need a reminder then sign up for our Monday Funday emails for a weekly notification of what's on sale and for how much.

Today's Monday Fundays offer is Lydia's Pro Series Mid-Rise Flare Pants for just $9.99. So go ahead, have fun and stock up on these cheap medical scrubs in all your favorite colors.

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:


Snap a Photo, Win New Scrubs

Friday, May 21, 2010 by Liza Guikema
Submit your photo here and your next pair of scrubs could be on us!

We love when you send in photos of yourself or your team in medwear from Lydia's; we love it so much that we're offering you a chance to win free scrubs when you submit your photo to the blog.

There's still time to get your photos in this month and at the beginning of next month we'll randomly select a winner to receive a new pair of medical scrubs from Lydia's!
 
Good luck! I'm excited to see your pictures :-)

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.


Nursing in the News

Friday, May 14, 2010 by Liza Guikema
Happy Friday! Hope everyone had a wonderful Nurses Week. We had so much fun with all the contests, giveaways and activities that we had going on here at Lydia's. And don't forget, there's still time to enter the special Nurses Week edition of our Editor at Large Contest. Good luck!

Now here's the news from the week:

Healthcare Professionals in the News:

Health News:Blog Posts: