Like many other students I am trying to enjoy my last few days of summer before starting a new school year. It is back to reality when you start the task of purchasing school supplies. Everything from calculators, text books, backpacks, notebooks, etc, it all adds up fast!

I imagine medical students need even more school supplies! Some need to purchase scrubs and other medical equipment as well. This can be expensive and time consuming to shop around for the best price. That is why Lydia’s has made it extremely easy for students to find the color/size scrubs and medical supplies they are looking for, while still staying within their budget.

Lydia’s has a section made only for Budget Scrubs which includes 3 pages of everything from Tops,  and Bottoms to Lab Coats and Support Socks. These are name brand items such as the Cherokee Unisex Pant available in 30 different colors and 22 different sizes including tall, petite, and plus sizes and starts at $12.99. We also carry the Littman Select Stethoscope in a 3 colors for $42.99! We also carry fun Bling Lanyards to spice up Student IDs.

Lydia’s is a great one-stop shop for all students in the Medical, Dental, and Veterinary field. Hurry on over to Lydia’s and enjoy our Free shipping offer on orders over $99. Click here to activate: http://tinyurl.com/PWFB9912

 

*Free standard shipping on any $99 or more order. Use coupon PWFB9912 in your cart. Offer cannot be combined with any other coupon or promotions and ends 8/26/12 at midnight EST. Applied to U.S. orders only.

*OFFER EXPIRED*

This week at www.LydiasUniforms.com take $10 OFF your order of $75 or more and save on new scrubs, lab coats, nursing shoes and medical supplies.

Plus, all clearance scrubs are currently an additional 20% OFF! Prices are as low as $3.19, but hurry- color and sizes are limited for these cheap medical scrubs.

• FREE SHIPPING! For one day only ship any size order for free! Stock up on uniforms, medical supplies, nursing shoes and more. Visit www.LydiasUniforms.com now to access your Free Shipping Coupon. *Offer valid on standard shipping in the U.S. only.


• 30% Off Dickies Best-Sellers Customer favorites are now as low as $9.99. Click Here to Shop.

• 20% Off All Gift Cards Gift cards are on sale just in time for the holiday season, grab one for a co-worker, friend, family member or employee. You can't go wrong with 20% off and free shipping! View all gift cards.

So who's heading back to school this fall? Will you be a returning student or is it your first year? Either way, the new semester is approaching quickly and it's time to start gathering up all your back to school supplies. To make your shopping as easy as possible, we've taken 20% off over 125 items including lab coats, discount medical supplies, nursing shoes and more! Looking for a tote bag for all your books? We've got you covered. Need a new pair of comfy shoes for clinicals? We have over 50 pairs on sale now! So what are you waiting for? Start your shopping now and gear up to go back to school!

Click Here to View All Back to School Sale Items

Alegria states: '"Color Therapy' uses colors and affordable fashion-forward styling to enhance your mood, while its unique Rocker Outsole delivers full-body benefits by minimizing stress on muscles, joints and backs for all day energy. It is the Perfect Shoes for all ages and professions, such as nurses, doctors, chefs & cooks, servers, hosts, hair dressers, artists, etc, who walk and stand for long hours."

• Mild Rocker Outsole
• Perfect Fit Footbed
• Color Therapy
 

The Alegria Classic Shoe has received great reviews! This shoe features a rocker sole engineered to roll naturally which helps to tone leg muscles, improve posture, and reduce stress on muscles, joints, and back. Patented interlocking footbed system with arch support forms to the natural contours of your foot providing a customized fit. Also the soles are slip resistant. Everything you need in a great nursing shoe!


Here’s a review from our customer Megan from Tucson, AZ:

These shoes are made for nurses. The footbed molds to the shape of your foot for perfect support and the rocker sole takes stress off your legs when walking or standing. My back has never felt better! Not to mention, the patterns are very stylish. I will have a closet full of these shoes before long.

Treat your feet, treat yourself... to some "COLOR THERAPY" with Alegria!


*Check out our Medical Supply Store to find stethoscopes, totes, hosiery/socks, lanyards... Don't forget about out Medical Supply Store Clearance section!

Our winter catalog is in and I couldn't wait any longer to share it with you! We've introduced new brands (check out the Rampage collection for some stylish scrubs!), brought back your favorites (think Dickies and Cherokee) and filled it to the brim with scrub tops, pants, lab coats, medical supplies and nursing shoes that we know you will love!

Check your mailbox or visit our website to get a first look at the Lydia's Winter Catalog. You can browse the catalog online or shop all new styles now.

And don't forget to check back, leave a comment and tell me what you think.

I hope everyone is having a very merry Christmas. As our gift to you, today only, we're offering 25% off your order of nursing scrubs, medical supplies, lab coats and more at www.LydiasUniforms.com.

Happy shopping and happy holidays!

As always, we are very excited when new employees join our Call Center. Please welcome Liz and Shawna to our Lydia's Team. They have both been working very hard to learn all about our affordable medical scrubs and discount medical supplies. Feel free to give us a call and allow Liz, Shawna and the rest of our staff to serve you for all of your uniform needs!

                      

Nurses are busy, busy, busy and helpful medical tools can be a lifesaver! Smartphones are becoming quite the norm and there are some pretty nice apps for nurses out there. Here are a few that I came across:

MedCalc: A free medical calculator. It helps you calculate a litany of different medical formulas and has some other helpful features.

Glucose-Charter: A blood glucose, insulin and medication recording tool. It will help any Diabetic patient manage their Diabetes, type 1 and 2 by recording record their insulin and medications in a diary and optionally report these to your doctor every 30 days.

Handbook of Nursing Diagnosis: Helps nurses reach an accurate diagnosis with speed and confidence by identifying collaborative problems, addressing the special needs of specific populations, and linking clinical situations to a specific diagnosis using the latest NANDA-approved list. Also includes NIC and NOC lists.

Pocket Rx Guide: Completely covers FDA’s Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations. It features complete FDA approvals since 1939, 16,466 approvals for 25,881 drug products, search drug name, search active ingredient, 5,095 FDA approved package inserts in PDF format.

First Aid: A small first aid app that gives you quick access to what needs to be done in case of incidents like bee stings, broken bones, burns, and eye injuries. More cases are going to be added in the future.

Nursing Constellation Plus: Includes enhanced clinical content and a medical dictionary
with full-color images and audio. Recommended for both practicing nurses and nursing students, the Nursing Constellation Plus provides easy access to critical information and tools at the point of care.

Eponyms: Brings a short description of more than 1,700 common and obscure medical eponyms.

BabyCenter® My Pregnancy Today: The most comprehensive daily pregnancy app – from BabyCenter, the most trusted pregnancy and parenting resource worldwide. Simply enter your baby's due date and My Pregnancy Today turns your iPhone into an expert guide for your exact day of pregnancy. Feel more prepared for your baby's birth, and get the answers you need, whenever you need them.

Don’t forget to sign up for our text alerts! You will receive an instant coupon for $5 off an order of $25 or more so you can stock up on your favorite Dickies medical scrubs, maternity scrubs, medical supplies, nursing shoes, large selection of clearance scrubs and much more!

Have you come across a helpful app you would like to share?

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!

A stethoscope is an investment to use while in school and throughout your career. The proper washing and handling extends the life and quality of your stethoscope and routinely cleaning your stethoscope will ensure optimal acoustic performance. Lighter colored ones are more susceptible to staining and looking grungy so you may want to opt for a darker color or commit to a regular cleaning regimen to keep it looking like new. The other reason to keep it clean is that 80% of stethoscopes used by doctors and nurses in hospitals are contaminated with microbes, mostly Staphylococcus.

The majority of tubing used on stethoscopes is made of PVC (polyvinylchloride) which becomes hard when exposed for long periods of time to the lipids found in human skin. Wearing the stethoscope around the neck may cause stiffening of the tubing over time. If worn around the neck, wear the stethoscope over a collar or use a stethoscope cover, away from contact with your skin.

General cleaning instructions:

• Do not immerse your stethoscope in any liquid or subject it to any sterilization process. If disinfection is required, the stethoscope may be wiped with a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution
• Keep your stethoscope away from extreme heat, cold, solvents and oils
• Ear tips may be removed from the ear tubes for thorough cleaning
• Before and after every shift, wipe down the stethoscope, starting at the earpieces (which helps prevent the spread of ear infections among the staff), continuing down the tubing, and ending around the bell and diaphragm. Take the diaphragm apart to remove dust, lint, or debris and clean it well before reassembling it.

Tips:

• Remove ink stains – peroxide
• Armor All your stethoscope to remove scuffs
• Keep the box/packaging it comes in when storing it in your backpack or work tote keep.
• You don't want to use anything abrasive to clean a stethoscope because it will end up looking worse. Wiping it with a disinfectant will get the marks off as well as anything.
• After trying on your scrubs, wash them before wearing them. This will prevent any dye rubbing off on your tubing when wearing it around your neck or storing it in your pocket.
• You want to be careful when you clean the tubing on your stethoscope. Too many applications of alcohol or Cavicide will cause it to stiffen and crack. Every once use a tire dressing. It's meant to keep rubber tires supple and lubricated and it works just dandy on stethoscope tubing too. Just make sure you buff off the excess.
• Use disposable covers. Available in various styles, the most useful covers are designed for single use. They're made of thin plastic, which prevents crackling sounds. Most covers protect the bell and diaphragm and the tubing leading to the stethoscope's bifurcation. Ask your infection control coordinator about these covers.

Leave a comment and share your tips for cleaning and caring for a stethoscope. Need a new stethocope? Shop our stethoscopes and medical supplies here.

Working at the retail store I hear a lot of compliments when a medical uniform has pockets!  They are a small convenience that makes a big difference to nurses on the go.  In store and online we offer many medical scrubs that have side pockets, cargo pockets and smaller pockets that are made for pens or pen lights for easy access.

Cargo pockets are a big topic. Cargo pockets make you look like you are ready for anything and are large enough so you are able to grab your tools fast.

Reversible pocket tops are also handy! When you have to change into your scrubs in a hurry you don't have to stop to check if they are inside out. When wearing reversible top, items in the inside pocket won't fall out when you lean over.

Here are a couple of our favorite scrub pants that don't skimp on pockets.








So what medical supplies are in your pockets? Do you have alcohol wipes, scissors, tape, gloves, pens, I.D./wallet, pen lights, notepad, PDA, hand sanitizer, tape measure, pocket otoscope, lotion, thermometer, eye wear, EKG caliper, Chap Stick, protein bar, cell, different colored pens. Or do you prefer to keep it light with just a few necessities?

Happy Friday everyone! Have a fun and safe Halloween and stop by the blog tomorrow to see Lydia's employees all dressed up!

Now here's the news from the week:

Healthcare Professionals in the News:

• American Nurses Association Urges Registered Nurses To Get The H1N1 Vaccine 

Health News:

• Best and Worst States for Sleep
• Statin drugs may lower death from flu: study
• Flu Shots for Moms-to-Be Benefit Babies
• Obama to life HIV/AIDS travel ban

Blog Posts:

• Medical Supply Madness: Should we Standardize?

Have something to say? Leave a comment here.

Happy Friday everyone! Enjoy your weekend and don's miss out on $3 shipping at Lydia's. Use this opportunity to stock up on spooky scrubs for Halloween or pink ribbon scrubs for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Now here's the news from the week:

Healthcare Professionals in the News:

• Nurse Practitioner Faith Coleman Named a CNN Hero
• When the Doctor is Distressed

Health News:

• How health care overhaul could change Medicare
• Over 65? Take lots of vitamin D to prevent a fall
• Infant heart defects linked to overweight moms
• Low-Cost Drugs Prevent Heart Attack, Stroke

Blog Posts:

• Pause and Communicate

Have something to say? Leave a comment here.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month-a month that is dedicated to promoting the fight against breast cancer and raising awareness around the globe.  National Breast Cancer Awareness Month has been recognized since 1985 and has steadily grown since then. Each year I'm impressed with the efforts made by my fellow students, co-workers and friends to support this cause and I know that as we move into October I'll see my co-workers here at Lydia's making their own contributions to promote awareness.

To help you show your support, we’ve stocked our online store with breast cancer awareness nursing scrubs and medical supplies from Baby Phat, Cherokee and Dickies. If you place your order now you’ll have your new medical scrubs by the beginning of October and you can wear them throughout the month (and of course there’s nothing wrong with wearing them year round).

In addition to wearing pink, is there anything that you’re doing in October to support National Breast Cancer Awareness Month? If so, leave a comment and tell me about it. Or if you have pictures of you and your co-workers wearing your pink scrubs or working to raise awareness send them in, I would love to share them on the blog.

Happy Friday everyone. It was a busy (and fun) week here at Lydia’s. We worked hard to bring you the latest fall products (check out the 140 new items online), we had a cookout and we also celebrated the 10 and 15 year anniversaries of a few Lydia’s employees; overall it was a good week. I hope you had a good week as well and that you enjoy all of our new medical scrubs, lab coats and medical supplies.

Now here’s the news from the week:

Healthcare Professionals in the News:

• Shortage of doctors could damage healthcare reform
• New York State Senate Passes Nursing Care Quality Protection Act
• The 'problem with nurses' is a problem with healthcare
• Docs, nurses use and recommend diet supplements
• Nurses Call On Rep. Miller To Support Amendment Allowing States To Enact Single-Payer Health Reform

Health News:

• New Hope for Fixing Broken Hearts
• Poll Still Finds Public Support for Health-Care Reform
• Parental Stress Boosts Kids’ Asthma Risk
• Kids’ lower IQ scores linked to prenatal pollution
• FDA Urges Consumers Not to Purchase or Use Certain Gel-Filled Teethers
•  

Have something to say? Leave a comment here.

UDPATE: THIS OFFER HAS EXPIRED

Stock up on scrubs while the shipping is free! We're currently offering free shipping on all orders over $50. That means there's no reason not to buy the new lab coat, nursing scrubs or medical supplies that you need. This offer only lasts a few more days, so make sure to take advantage of it while you can.

Need some help deciding what to buy? I highly recommend checking out our newest products which include some fun basics and prints by Cherokee. I would also suggest shopping the Lydia's Pro-Series line which is currently on sale.

Happy shopping!

Have something to say? Leave a comment here.

We’re all about scrubs here at Lydia’s, but uniforms aren’t the only thing we sell; we also carry a huge selection of accessories and useful medical supplies. Some of the most popular items in our medical supply store are our stethoscopes. And we don’t just sell one or two stethoscopes; we sell a variety, so that you can get your favorite brand, model and even color!

With so many stethoscopes to choose from, it can be difficult for new medical professionals to select the right one. That’s where you come in. Do you have experience with stethoscopes from using yours day after day? If so, we want to hear which one you use, as well as your personal evaluation of it (what’s great about, what isn’t, etc.). I’ll choose one customer and post their evaluation on the blog. If you’re interested, send me a message and I'll get back to you with more info. And if we select you to evaluate your stethoscope we’ll show you our appreciation with a little something from Lydia’s. Be in touch soon and check back often to see what one of our readers has to say about the pros and cons of their stethoscope.

P.S. Did you know you can send a Lydia’s stethoscope on Facebook? Send one to all your friends here!

Happy Friday everyone! Today I want to announce that Julie Pare is the winner of last month’s Editor @ Large Contest. Julie, an LPN on a Pediatric floor, loves her Koi scrubs and here’s what she had to say about them:

 

 “As a petite sized nurse, it has always been difficult to find scrubs that fit. I have tried many brands that are too long, too short. Or, if the length is right, they are too small or too big in the waist. That was before I found KOI scrubs by Kathy Peterson! These scrubs are perfect for me! Not only are they sized right, but they are stylish and functional, too! As a float pool nurse, I may be on the medical floor one day and in the emergency room the next, but I don't have to worry about whether my scrubs are going to keep up with me. There are roomy pockets, durable fabrics, and shapes that flatter. These scrubs hold up to a hard job—the colors don't fade and they are so easy to clean! No more paying for alterations here, KOI is the only brand I hang in my closet now! Thank you Kathy Peterson for being such a great designer and thank you Lydia's for carrying such a great brand!”  

 

For her winning comment, Julie will receive a $50 gift certificate for new medical uniforms and she says she can’t wait to wear her new scrubs to work and show them off.

 

If you want to win your own $50 gift certificate take a minute to enter this month’s Editor @ Large Contest. And don’t forget to check out the news from this week:

 

Healthcare Professionals in the News:

• Is Drug-Company Money Tainting Medical Education
• Docs seek gag orders to stop patients' reviews
• State Senate Introduces Bill To Protect Pennsylvania's Patients And Nurses
• Coalition Targeting Nursing Shortage Will Take Aim At Education, Funding

 

Health News:

• Better together: Food combos amp the nutrition
• Baby bottle companies to stop using BPA
• At Summit, Obama Urges Solutions for Rising Cost of Health Care
• Lead levels in kids drop significantly
  
• Wine May Cut Risk of Esophageal Cancer

Blog Posts:

• Are You the Bearer of Bad News?
• Low Cost Medicine

Are you one of those people who are obsessed with Facebook gifts? If so, we’ve got something just for you. Yesterday we made a new Facebook application specifically for all of you who wear scrubs, use medical supplies and can’t get enough of Facebook gifts; we created a Send a Lydia’s Stethoscope application. It’s simple to use, just choose the stethoscope you want to send, pick who you’re sending it to and that’s it! It’s a fun way to show some love to your healthcare friends on Facebook, while also showing pride in your profession. So go check it out and see what you think. If you love it, let us know by becoming a fan. Or leave a comment here and share your opinion.