There were lots of entries, but only one person will receive $250 worth of free medical uniforms. The winner of August’s Win Your Wishlist Contest is Christine H. from Ohio! Congratulations Christine. We hope that you enjoy all your new designer medical scrubs from Lydia's Uniforms and that they make you the best dressed employee at work. Now I wonder what you’ll do with all that extra money since you don’t have to buy medical scrubs.

If you didn’t win don’t fret because you can still enter the Editor @ Large contest. And the good news about that contest (besides that it’s another contest) is that there’s a winner every month. The good news for me is that I get to read all your interesting entries.

So once again, congratulations Christine and enjoy your new scrubs and good luck to the rest of you in the Editor @ Large Contest!

For today I wanted to write a quick post about the Lydia’s affiliate program. If you’re already an affiliate of Lydia’s, stop reading now, go enter the  Editor @ Large Contest and win some free scrub uniforms. If you’re not an affiliate, keep reading.

The Lydia’s Uniforms’ affiliate program is an opportunity to partner with us and earn commission by posting banners and links to Lydia’s Uniforms on your web site. We provide the banners and the links; all you have to do is post them to your site. If you already have your own web site or you write a blog (especially one about shopping, nursing, healthcare or medical scrubs) you might be a good candidate for the program. And why not earn a little extra money from the site/blog that you already put so much work into?

If you want to join, go here to sign-up. If you’re interested, but still have questions about it feel free to send me a message or leave a comment and I’ll do my best to help you along.

If you haven’t already heard: the Lydia’s Win Your Wishlist Contest is back (I love being the bearer of good news)! Just in time for fall we’re giving you the chance to score $250 of stylish uniforms.  Entering is extremely simple. Whether you’re looking for men’s nursing scrubs, medical supplies or a new lab coat, just login to your Lydia’s Uniforms account, find your favorite items and add them to your wishlist. You have until August 31st to create your wishlist and I’ll be announcing the winner the following week.

                  

To read all the official rules and details of the contest click here. And if you happen to know where I can score my own free work clothes just by browsing an online store, let me know!

For work, home or going out on the town, I love layers. I’m unsure as to whether this love of layers developed because I’m cold all the time (it seems my body is incapable of retaining heat) or it might just be part of my style. Most likely, it’s a combination of the two. Regardless of the reasons I love layers; it’s safe to say that at any given time, I’m wearing them (unless I’m shopping-trying on clothes is enough work as it is!).

So when it comes to scrub uniforms there are a few specific reasons why you can love layers.

1.) Warmth: Add a layer under or over your scrubs when you’re cold. Remove a layer from your medical uniform when you’re hot. You get the idea.
Left:Cardigan Scrub Jacket  Right:Nu Dimension Stretch Tailored Scrub Jacket 

2.) Style: When you can’t accessorize layers are the perfect way to add color and contrast to a look. Make your plain blue uniform scrubs pop with a red long sleeve tee underneath. Add a short sleeve tee in a complementary color under your hospital scrubs for a hint of color that peeks out at the neckline. Or add a plain long sleeve tee under a bold print to balance out your look.

3.) Versatile: Mix and match your layers for different looks. Layer your designer medical scrubs one day, but not the next for even more looks. Layers are a cheap way to expand your wardrobe without spending a ton of money (that must be another reason I love them!).

4.) Simple: Not in the mood for matching? Some of our scrubs do the work for you. There are mock layer tops from Katherine Heigl that look like layers but are really only one top! Or there are tops from Koi that come in sets that include a long sleeve tee and a matching scrub top for the price of one!

Sanctuary Mock Layered Scrub Top & Screen Print Mock Layered Scrub Top

     Annie Combo Scrub Top  &   Harlow Scrub Top  

So whether you’re looking for the best way to stay warm while still being stylish (like me), or you need a few new pairs of affordable nursing scrubs to freshen up your wardrobe, layers might just be the way to go this fall.

And if you happen to be in Michigan, like all of us here at Lydia’s, the time to start shopping for those layers is now because fall is on its way!

Happy Friday everyone! Before we get to the news for today, I have a quick scrubs story to share with you. Last night I went to the movies (and finally saw The Dark Knight after weeks of hearing about it!). I arrived at the movie theatre and was driving through the parking lot trying to find a spot, as I did I noticed a woman and her child walking to their car and the woman was wearing uniform scrubs. Living a block away from a hospital I see people wearing scrubs everyday and don’t feel the need to share it with you, but this instance was noteworthy because she was wearing one of my favorite medical uniform tops: the Koi Harlow Top. I was excited to see an actual medical professional wearing this top because it confirmed for me that it looks just as good on a real medical professional as it does in our catalog! Luckily for this woman I was running late for the movie, otherwise she might have been bombarded with questions about her designer medical scrubs by a certain Lydia’s Uniforms' employee.

So do any of you have this medical uniform top by Koi? Do you love it or hate it? The woman I saw had it in steel/pink, but I think all of the color combos are really cute and versatile. The cocoa/sky combo in the picture above is probabaly my favorite.

And now, here’s the news from the week:

Healthcare Professionals in the News:

• House Panel OKs More Visas for Foreign Nurses, Rollover Green Card Allotments
• American Dental Education Association Awards Open To Dental Educators And Students
• Legislation Would Protect Physicians Who Volunteer To Treat Low-Income, Uninsured Patients From Liability Claims
• Lack of school nurses put kids at risk
• Visiting Nurse Service of New York Breaks with Home Health Care Advertising Traditions

Health News:

• Scientists create stem cells for 10 disorders
• CDC: Average ER Wait Time an Hour
• Fertility treatments 'no benefit'
• Dachshunds’ gene 'blindness clue'

Blogs:

• The Nursing Shortage: Political and Personal
• Will Hiring Foreign Nurses Solve the Nursing Shortage?

I love reading, but I hate getting excited to read a new book and then discovering three pages into it that it's not at all what I expected (in a bad way). So that’s what’s great about today’s post; today my post features an excerpt from a book titled Hot Nursing Careers for the 21st Century by Micheline Birger. Not only does it give you a sneak peek into the book, but there’s also a Q&A that I did with the author and the chance to read the first 20 pages of the book online!

The book consists of 111 questions and answers about virtually everything to do with nursing. After reading the intro about the author and her 36 years of experience in the field, doing everything from pediatric neurology to insurance reviews, I was a bit intrigued.

So if you’re a nurse, you’re in nursing school or you’re thinking about doing either, there’s a chance you might want to read this. Here’s an excerpt from Hot Nursing Careers for the 21st Century:

6. Suppose I don’t want to work in a hospital, what other places can I work in as a nurse?
That depends on the individual nurse and what their specific qualifications are. For example, suppose a nurse has a background in sales. He/she could be hired to market pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. Usually the employers will put them through their own training program for the particular product that they are marketing/selling.

If the nurse has a background in the written word, they may be hired for medical editing or medical journalism. A nurse may have a computer background. They could be hired as consultants in planning medical information technology. A nurse may also work with lawyers or do chart reviews for insurance companies. Once again, usually this requires solid hospital experience.

Generally, if a new nurse wants to work in an alternative setting such as a clinic or doctor’s office, the one year of solid hospital experience generally applies. Again, this is a highly individual process. Each potential employer will evaluate the specific skills of the nurse.

8. What kind of money will I make as a nurse?
That’s a good question. It depends on location, location, location. Initially, in order to entice new graduates to hospitals, hospitals offer high starting salaries for new grads. If a nurse decides to stay in a particular facility then they would receive yearly increments or cost of living increases. Places like New York City and San Francisco pay nurses more but the cost of living is much higher than other areas of the USA.

Generally speaking (and this is subject to change in a heartbeat and a sneeze in health care), the Southern States pay less. The best way to find out is to look on the Internet and do a search under Career Builders or some other job search engine. But, no matter which way you cut, dice or splice it, you can make a living as a nurse. If you want to get rich as a nurse, write a best-selling book, win the lottery or have a relative who is a savvy investment whiz show you how to leverage your hard-earned money.

19. Suppose I don’t want to work nights and week-ends when I graduate. Will I be forced to do that once I am hired as a new graduate in a hospital?
Once again, that all depends on you and what you want to do once you graduate. In general, if the hospital needs a night nurse and you need the experience then one must do what one must do in order to get where one needs to go. Look at it as a win-win situation. You get a job, you get experience and the hospital gets a night-nurse. Usually there is no way around it unless you marry the Chairman of the Board or the Head of the Department.

As if answering 111 questions for her book wasn’t enough; I asked the author a few questions of my own.

What prompted you to write Hot Nursing Careers for the 21st Century?
What prompted me to write the book was nurses themselves. I had worked a lot of travel nursing assignments nationally and the nurses that I would come into contact with were looking for alternatives to the traditional hospital setting. They were experienced but weren't quite clear about what their next step would be. They were looking for ideas. A lot of them didn't want to get their Masters and teach, they weren't interested in administration. They knew that they wanted to continue in the field but were unsure about what was available.
 
Another thing that prompted me was people who thought about nursing but didn't know the questions to ask or how to get started. Face it, the average person thinking about the field of nursing thinks of the shows ER ,General Hospital or MASH! It is/was my intention to educate, enlighten and entertain people about learning more about the nursing profession. I used to think there has to be a book out about that kind of thing that wasn't overly academic and so dry that would put me to sleep. Then I thought, well then, I guess I have to write it. It was an organic process. It just kind of unfolded. As I kept asking questions, I kept getting answers. I wish when I started out in nursing 100 years ago that I had this book.
 
What is astonishing to me is, even nurses that have been nurses for years didn't know about some of the directions and other disciplines in nursing. It was news to them! That is why I included on the cover - A Practical Guide for New or Seasoned Nurses. I also think with the general state of the economy as it stands now; people are worried about their futures and their families. Face it, without the nurse in society, medicine could not function. That is why it is specialized knowledge. People want to enter into something that pays decently and is respected in society. Also I wrote the book to help demystify all the questions that people want to ask but didn't know how to ask them.
 
What is the single most valuable tool that you've found for acquiring a nursing job?
I do believe that the single most valuable tool is being positive. Smile a lot. Answer the questions that the interviewer poses to the best of your ability. Depending on what type of nursing job do your homework about the facility itself and how you would be an asset to the organization. Other than the standards of dressing nice and being polite, be approachable and likable. Be classy.
 
 
What do you think the outlook for the nursing industry is for the future? 
Nursing/health care is one of the big growth industries for the 21st Century. We live in a specialized society and so any special/technical education will always be an asset. I do strongly emphasize that a new RN gets experience. Experience is paramount! Ask questions....do your homework. There is no substitute for a firm foundation and knowledge base.
 
 
Out of all the jobs you've had in this industry which one did you enjoy the most and why? 
Interesting question, each job that I have had in the industry has always been a learning situation. When I first got out of school in the 70's I worked in Adult Neurology and Neuro- surgery. At that time I thought it was fascinating to see how the brain controlled the body. I gained valuable experience in addition to critical thinking skills.

But to answer your question, which job did I enjoy the most and why I would say that anything that involved teaching or directing groups. I worked in one of the premier psychiatric facilities and ran groups in a Day Hospital. I loved teaching my seminars on laughter and health when I was on the West Coast. I taught nurse's aides for their certification. In all that I always had stories to give the students because I had such an abundance of experience.
 
 
If you had to give one piece of advice to someone starting a nursing career what would it be? 
Make it a priority to have fun in your life. Don't forget to laugh. Don't throw other ambitions by the wayside. Keep a well-balanced life.  Strive for excellence. Also, remember that the people that you serve are just that - just people. Treat them with respect. Treat yourself with respect. Another thing to remember is customer service. Always have good customer service skills.

Also, keep expanding your horizons.  Once one has the firm foundation of the education one has a solid basis in life.
 
In the introduction to your book, you stated you only went to nursing school because your mother wanted you to.  After 36 years in the profession, are you glad you did that?
Yes, I do believe that the knowledge I have gained throughout the years has been invaluable. More importantly is the insight one develops working with people on such an intimate level. One sees people at their worst most times, and that is where you truly learn about life.

When I watch the TV journalists conduct interviews about anything to do with health care I laugh. It all sounds so Madison Ave. Real healing, the kind that transforms life is a personal journey of insight/acceptance and self-love. I'm not talking a narcissistic love but a true acceptance of ones failures. Failures as well as successes. And more importantly the ability to forgive oneself or others. One must learn to take personal responsibility for their health/life.

So, to answer your question, yes. In today's oversaturated conflicting information boom I am glad that I have the knowledge about health care and what I can do to keep myself sane and healthy on an ongoing basis

So if you would like to read more, the first 20 pages of this book are available here. These pages really give you an idea of whether or not you want to continue reading the book. They contain an introduction about the author, a list of all 111 questions included in the book, and the first 27 questions and answers.

If you have any other book recommendations for nurses or nurses to be, leave a comment and share your suggestions.

I’ve been working at Lydia’s for a little over four months now. Even after such a short period of time I feel like I’m basically an expert on medical scrubs. From Barco Nursing Uniforms to Cherokee Scrubs, my brain is bursting with information about Lydia’s. So considering all I know about scrubs and about Lydia’s Professional Uniforms, I can only begin to imagine what kind of information is in the mind of a long term Lydia’s employee.

For today, we’ll hear from one of those long term employees. I didn’t quiz him about the knowledge he has on scrubs (I’ll save that for another time), but I did find out how he wound up working at Lydia’s and why he’s stayed here for the past eight years.

Read on. 

I’m a Lucky Person by Francisco Saenz

Yesterday it was eight years of me being an employee of Professional Uniforms.  On that day I always look back and realize how fortunate I am to be here. 

I used to live in Denver, Colorado. There I worked for a company that sold science fiction toys, and let me tell you, there was no better day than product training day.  On product training day you went into a room full of toys and well, you had to play with our new product line.  It was awesome!

But as years went by and the national economy took a downturn, sales decreased and I decided to look for other employment opportunities.  One day I received a call from my current boss here at Professional Uniforms, he called and said, “Hi I’m Jim with Professional Uniforms, I’m calling you from Grand Rapids, Michigan”.  At that time many thoughts went through my head but mainly…  Where is Michigan?  So we talked for awhile and while he was telling me about his product line, his catalog, etc. I was searching the Internet trying to find Grand Rapids on a map. I agreed to meet with him in person, so a few days later I came to Michigan and we talked for nearly 6 hours.  I met his family (they all work here) and we all shared our views about the industry and the importance of quality customer service.  I was so impressed with this company that as soon as I went back to Denver I sold my house and moved to Michigan (July 2000).  Since then, I can honestly say that the fast pace we experience here at Professional Uniforms sure beats playing with any of the coolest toys we ever had in Denver.  It has truly been a blessing to be able to serve customers whose jobs are so necessary and so important.  Thank you for keeping me here all these years, and thank you to Jim. As always, I look forward to serving you soon.

This weekend I was thinking about how I should start doing volunteer work. I’ve volunteered in the past, but recently my life has been extremely busy and volunteering was pushed to the back of my mind. Now my life is a little less hectic and I would love to start again.

While I was thinking about all of this it made me consider how many volunteer opportunities there are for medical professionals.  Of course anyone can volunteer, but it’s awesome if you have a specialized skill like nursing that you can use.So for today I looked through some sites and compiled a list of places that you can check out if you want to volunteer.

So if you wear medical scrubs and you have some time to spare, check out these sites:

International Health Volunteers
This site connect health care professionals who are looking to volunteer with organizations that are focused on improving health care, disaster relief or medical education in domestic and international locations. One opportunity that is currently listed at this site is for volunteer radiologists at Mount Kilimanjaro

Doctors Without Borders
This organization seeks physicians and other medical professionals to provide international care.

Nurse Job Shop
This site provides job listings for nurses and also has listings for volunteer opportunities. It provides links to organizations that offer domestic and international positions for volunteers.

If there are other organizations that you’re involved with or opportunities that you are aware of, feel free to leave a comment and share it with all of our readers.

And if you want to read about how some of our employees here at Lydia's give back, check out this blog post.

P.S. Don’t forget to check out the stylish uniforms featured on our homepage. They’re all extremely fashionable and they made me realize that it’s a good thing I don’t wear scrubs because I would never be able to decide which ones to buy!

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you enjoyed reading about everything from spacious nurse uniforms to designer medical scrubs this week.  I love how there are so many new things for me to write about now that the stylish scrubs for fall have arrived. Who knows what I’ll find to write about next week.

Now, taking a break from medical uniforms (just for a minute), here are some news stories from the week that you might find interesting:

Healthcare Professionals in the News:

• New nurses need criminal record check
• Dental Care Shortages, Reimbursements Need To Be Addressed In Health Policy Debate, Experts Say
• GenVec receives funding for foot-and-mouth vaccine program
• Most Generalists Reluctant To Provide Primary Care For Young Adults With Chronic Illness
• Doctors’ opposition to home nursing riles midwives, moms
• As Doctors Cater to Looks, Skin Patients Wait

Health News:

• Experimental Alzheimer’s drug shows early promise
• Pre-pregnancy diabetes tied to more birth defects
• Artificial pancreas just years away, experts say
• Does Bush proposal threaten access to the pill?
• L.A.: No new fast-food outlets in poor area

Opinion Piece:

• PRICE: Transforming health care

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, and if you’re planning on purchasing any apparel scrubs, lab coats or medical supplies in the next few days I suggest you keep an eye on your e-mail for an opportunity to save a little cash when you do.

Happy Friday everyone! Another busy week filled with stylish medical scrubs and discount medical uniforms has passed by again. We’ve been busy working on all sorts of different projects here at Lydia’s. One thing we did this week is add the Share This button to the blog. If you haven’t already seen it, it’s that green button at the bottom of each post. Here’s an example of how you could use it: Say there’s a blog post featuring affordable women’s uniforms. You decide that these scrubs are a great deal and you want to tell your best friend from work about the deal.  This button makes it simple, just click on it and you can share the post through e-mail or social networking sites. Now you and your co-worker both know about the great deal on affordable women’s uniforms. Test it out when you have a spare minute.

Now here’s the news from the week:

Healthcare Professionals in the News:

• Association Of Academic Health Centers Calls For National Plan To Recruit, Retain Health Care Workers
• Drexel University College Of Nursing Receives $1.4 MM Federal Grant To Spread Nursing Technology Expertise Nationally, USA
• School Nurse Shortages Prompt Teachers, Staff To Substitute

Health News:

• Oxygen therapies may relieve headache pain
• Asthma risk from too many nuts in pregnancy
• AP: Food industry bitten by its lobbying success
• HIV Patients Living Longer

Blogs:

• A “real” nursing job
  

I also came across this opportunity:

• Know a nurse that deserves to be honored? Nominate her to be featured in the New York Times Magazine. You have ‘til August 1st!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone. And if you’re subscribed to Lydia’s Uniform’s e-mail list, keep your eyes open for a great deal that will be coming your way tomorrow!

Everyday our office here at Lydia's Uniforms is full of cute apparel, and I’m not just talking about the stylish uniforms. The five other members of my department have great taste and it always shows in their clothing. I inquired into these fashionable minds to see what they love about the new scrubs for fall and they told me which stylish uniforms are their favorites.

Leesa:
My favorite product is the new Flex-i-bles print jacket.  The colors in the print are my favorite combination for this fall - simply spectacular!  Flex-i-bles has always been one of my favorite lines because of the knit spandex, roll down waistband on the pants.  The jacket has this same coordinating knit spandex inserted into the sides.  Ooohh...so comfy!

Lindsey:
I really like the new Koi Vanessa Prints. The scrubs have retro patterns with really trendy styling. I don’t think they look like scrub tops at all!

Rachel:
I like the new Bamboo line by Iguana Med. It’s super soft and very light, plus they’ve taken the sporty styling to a new level by adding some feminine details (i.e. gathered seams, colors match what’s hot for fall).

Amanda:
I would have to say Katherine Heigl Woodstock is my new favorite collection.  The colors are bright and pretty, and I love the hippie vibe that you get from these scrubs!

Nicole:
The Swirls and Whirls Contrast Sash Mock Wrap Scrub Top by Dickies is my favorite. I love the style with the tie back and especially love the color combination of aqua blue, off white and chocolate brown.  This top will go great with the Back Elastic Cargo Scrub Pants in Chocolate, which are an everyday favorite. 

Personally, it’s hard for me to choose a favorite. There is definitely something to love about each of the choices above, whether it’s the fashion forward style (Katherine Heigl’s Woodstock line!) or an extra touch of comfort (Cherokee Flex-i-bles!). I think that in addition to all of the stylish uniforms shown above, the new Landau Medical scrubs are some of my favorites. This style top is flattering on different body types and I adore the bright prints and patterns.

So now that you've seen the designer medical scrubs that we love, which new scrub uniforms do you like best? Do you agree with one of us or is there a fabulous new item that we didn’t mention? Share your opinion; we would love to hear it!

Today I want to tell you about some of my favorite new styles from the fall collection of scrub uniforms.  It was hard to choose what to talk about with so many new designer medical scrubs available. After some thought, I decided on a few one-of-a-kind new looks from Iguana Med. Everyone in the office, including me, seems to love these new pieces. A few weeks ago they were on a clothing rack of scrubs near my desk; everyone who walked by took notice of them. I think the combination of their soft feel and unique yet traditional styling made them stand out among all the scrub uniforms.

What makes these medical scrubs unique is that they’re all made partially from bamboo. I remember hearing about bamboo clothing awhile ago, but before these medical clothing uniforms arrived at Lydia’s Uniforms I had never actually seen any articles that were made from it. I’m glad I finally did because I absolutely love it.

So you might be wondering why bamboo for medical scrubs? Well, some research informed me that in addition to its soft feeling and high quality there are many reasons that bamboo fabric is an awesome new alternative. Some of my favorite reasons are: it requires a relatively low amount of energy and water to grow, it can be grown without pesticides and it is sustainable to harvest because of its fast growth. Sounds good to me!

These scrubs are  really similar to many of the cotton surgical scrubs that we carry, but the mixture of bamboo and cotton gives them a different feel. The medical uniforms have a very high end look, but they're also soft and lightweight which makes them seem extremely comfortable. I also appreciate the crew neck on this scrub top. It’s a bit different from the v-neck that many scrub uniforms have, but still has the look of traditional and professional scrubs.

Iguana Med also offers these two tees. They're great because in addition to being super soft they're also slightly stretchy and breathable. If I happen to purchase new workout wear anytime soon, and I just might have to, this short sleeve top will definitely be on my list of must-haves. Either top would probably work great under your favorite cotton surgical scrubs or by itself with a pair of scrub pants.

So if you happen to try out these new medical scrubs, leave a comment and let everyone know what you think! How do they compare to your other designer medical scrubs? And if I end up purchasing one of the shirts I’ll be sure to tell you how they hold up during a tiresome workout.

If you’re anything like me (and I know I’m not alone here) you might have a mild addiction to social networking sites. Who knows how clean my house would be or how many books I could have read if they didn’t exist, but regardless, I still love them. If this sounds familiar, you’ll be happy to know that Lydia’s Uniforms has found its way onto MySpace, Facebook and Twitter. So why not increase your friends list (and ours!) and add us on whatever site you like best, or all three if you want. Need more convincing? Here’s my logic:

There are all sorts of benefits that come with being connected to Lydia’s Uniforms through these sites. For example, through Twitter you can find out via text message or IM the moment that we’re running a sale on a specific brand or style. Being one of the first to know, you have the opportunity to shop the sale immediately before sizes and colors disappear. We also constantly update our MySpace and Facebook friends on sales, promotions and contests and sometimes even have offers exclusively for our friends. Right now our MySpace and Facebook friends have the opportunity to receive a free messenger bag in the mail (there’s still a chance to get in on this offer if you friend us now!), just by explaining why they love Lydia’s.

So if you’re constantly visiting Facebook, MySpace or Twitter (like me), add Lydia’s as a friend and stay in the know on the latest in medical uniforms, medical supplies and more! And if these social networks aren’t for you, keep reading the blog because I’m not going anywhere.

Lydia's on Facebook
Lydia's on MySpace
Lydia's on Twitter

P.S. Check back tomorrow to see the web team’s favorite new scrubs for fall!

Happy Friday everyone! It’s been a busy week here at Lydia’s Uniforms with all the new fall looks debuting online and the release of the fall catalog (I think everyone’s excited for the weekend!). Fortunately, now you have a huge variety of new uniform scrubs (including designer medical scrubs from some of your favorite brands), medical coats, and shoes to choose from. Enjoy!

It seems that it’s also been a busy week in the news. If you have a free minute, catch up on any of the stories you might have missed this week.
 
Doctors and Nurses in the News:

• Eight Outstanding Nurses Recognized for Dedication to Maternal and Infant Health
• Congress rejects veto of bill to halt Medicare payment cuts
• Veterinarian saves shark that swallowed hook
• Senate Rejects Patient-Nurse Ratio
• How CNN's Dr. Gupta treats his carsickness

Health News:

• While the U.S. Spends Heavily on Healthcare, a Study Faults the Quality
• FDA gives all-clear on tomatoes, not peppers
• Drugs to Build Bones May Weaken Them
• California fines two health plans $13 million

Blogs:

• More Glum News for AIDS Vaccines
• Slow Transformation
• Birthing turf wars

P.S. Don’t forget to shop the new designer medical scrubs from Koi. The style of the Audrey Top is extremely flattering and I love the new prints! What do you think?

               
 

Sometimes you can’t help but get a little dirty at work and for certain professions in the medical field; it’s just part of the job. My job isn’t all that dirty; so I can only imagine the complications of keeping a white lab coat white, or what it takes to keep your favorite well worn hospital scrubs looking clean and professional. But what I imagine is that it’s probably not easy.

So since you probably don’t want to buy a new lab coat every time you get a stain, and since I can’t do your laundry for you, I’m going to do the next best thing; I’m going to give you tips on how to remove some tough stains from your medical scrubs. For those of you who have been wearing medical scrubs for a long time, you probably know all these tricks and more, but for those of you who are new to hospital uniforms, lab coats or scrubs; read on.

I decided to focus on a three stains that are fairly common in general and even more widespread in the medical profession: iodine, blood and ink. I’ve used all the stain removal methods below and I can definitely say that they’re effective.

Iodine Stains
1. The first thing to know about iodine stains is that you should not wash them out with any detergent containing oxygen bleach or chlorine. These can set in the stain, which will make it even more difficult to remove.
2. Use a detergent without either of these ingredients and rub it directly on the stain.
3. Wash as usual.
4. If the stain persists, mix one tablespoon of sodium thiosulfate with warm water.
5. Blot the stain.
6. Wash again.

Blood & Ink Stains
1. If the stain has dried, first soak in water for 10-20 minutes.
2. Apply hydrogen peroxide to the stain. When it reacts with the blood or ink it will begin to bubble.
3. Let it sit for a few minutes.
4. Rub away the stain.
5. Rinse with cold water.
6. Repeat as necessary.
7. Wash as usual.

I hope that these tips help you keep your lab coats and scrubs from Lydia's looking clean, new and professional. If you have additional tips on how to keep scrubs in their best shape, leave a comment and share them with everyone! Or if you have any questions about keeping your medical uniform as clean as you can, feel free to ask.

There are certain stores that I love. I check the web sites of these stores frequently, impatiently waiting for new looks or products to arrive. I get excited when new products show up and even more excited if it happens to be something I need or want.  If you love to buy medical uniforms and if you’re anything like me you probably do this at LydiasUniforms.com. So for those of you who are always on the lookout for new stylish uniforms, I thought you might appreciate an update on the new medical uniforms that were just added to the web site today. All the new pieces are Cherokee scrubs. The new scrubs include three styles in a brand new color as well as six new prints!

The new color is surgical green. Some of the most popular scrubs in the Cherokee Authentic Workwear line are now available in this color including: the flare leg scrub pants, crew neck warm-ups and two pocket scrub tops. So if you love green (like me!) or if you’re required to wear this color for work, now you can get it from the brand that was voted most popular online, Cherokee.

And for those of you who prefer prints there are new Cherokee scrubs featuring fun and colorful designs. I think I like the new Venus print best because it incorporates some of my favorite colors. I also really like the Daisy Game print. What do you think?

           

Clockwise from top left corner: Wild Blossoms Two Pocket Scrub Top, Venus Two Pocket Scrub Top, The Daisy Game Two Pocket Scrub Top, Clover Dance Two Pocket Scrub Top, Tattoo Cute Two Pocket Scrub Top, Bugs and Kisses Two Pocket Scrub Top

So if you’re a fan of Cherokee Medical Scrubs, be sure to check out the new styles that are available and see if there are any new medical uniforms that you want or need. Or if you’ve never worn Cherokee scrubs before, now would be the perfect time to find out why they’re a customer favorite. And don’t worry; it won’t be long before all the new stylish uniforms are available for fall. I’ll keep you updated!

Since I won’t be here tomorrow, today is a lot like Friday. Hopefully, today is a lot like Friday for many of you as well because there’s nothing like a long weekend once in awhile. Since it’s the end of the week I’m doing what I normally do on Friday and giving you a recap of the week’s news. Below are stories from this week, ranging from topics of healthcare to tips for new EM grads. So read on!

News Stories: Doctors and Nurses in the News:

• Home Care Nurses Drive More Miles For Their Job Each Week Than The Average UPS Driver, USA
• Barcode Systems to Reduce Hospital Drug Errors Not Foolproof
• MSU Great Falls Ranked #1 For Nursing Program
• New test may help doctors track tumors in ‘real time’
• Medicare fees to doctors to fall starting Tuesday

News Stories: Health News

• Mosquito threat multiplies after Midwest floods
• Helping kids get well one car ride at a time
• Oldest women hit hard by dementia

Blogs:

• Practice Tips for New EM Grads

Once again, whether you’re wearing medical scrubs or staying home and leaving the medical scrub uniforms in the closet; have a happy holiday weekend! But if you do wear your medical uniform, don’t forget to wear your red, white and blue.

I’m just one of many employees here at Lydia’s Uniforms. Since you get to hear what I have to say about nursing scrubs and medical clothing uniforms on a regular basis I thought you might be interested in hearing from some of our other employees via the blog. So today I’ll be sharing with you write ups from two different employees, Mandy and Char. They each wrote about the time they've spend working at Lydia’s, discussing what they do here and why the love it. I was intrigued by their write ups because as an employee it’s encouraging to hear about other employees’ positive experiences. Hopefully you’ll find what they have to say interesting as well. After all, you might just end up talking to one of them if you ever buy medical uniforms over the phone. If you have a question about your new nursing scrubs from Lydia’s, they might be on the other end of the line when you call and ask.  So if you've ever wondered: What it's like at Lydia's? Read what they have to say.

Mandy: Team Leader in Customer Service

I have been an employee of Lydia’s Professional Uniforms for over five years. I cannot express enough gratitude toward this family owned company. I started my first year with this company in the Returns Department processing orders and enjoyed working in an environment where all of my co-workers and supervisors were extremely helpful and courteous. At that point I knew they treated the employees just as they do every customer.

I then received the opportunity to move to the call center where all the orders are placed. I remember being so excited to work with customers first hand and help each person find uniforms that they would be comfortable in and fit their body type.

Lydia’s gave me new opportunities and also worked around my schedule of being a full-time college student. Lydia’s not only was supportive through my college career but they are also looking out for our customers too! Did you know they offer a Nursing Scholarship program? Having been in school myself I know how much that can help out. I really appreciate everything that Lydia’s has done for me over the past five years and am happy to work for a company that takes pride in their work everyday.

Char: Special Accounts Representative

Sometimes I wonder where 20 years have gone. I have been with Lydia’s for the better part of 16 years. I did try other things, but it’s like coming home. I can truly say that 90% of my work has been fun. The company I work for has always had my back, in good times and bad.

A lot of things have changed in 20 years, but I am still proud of the integrity of Lydia’s. They really do care about the customers and the staff that serves them. As a customer you can feel confident that you’re dealing with an honest company. Like any company, we sometimes make mistakes, but we have been trained to do whatever we can to keep you as a long time customer. As a long time staff member I know that Lydia’s will treat you right.

I have customers from all over the country that brighten my day, make me crazy and make me laugh; I owe this to a unique company. Thank you Uniform Warehouse and Lydia’s Uniforms.