Right now is the perfect time to invest in medical coats and warm-up jackets for your work wardrobe. Fall is just around the corner and winter is sure to follow soon after. I’m always reluctant to buy a new coat because it feels like by doing so I’m permitting the cool weather to come. Maybe you’re like me and you’ll do anything to hold off the cold as long as you can, or maybe you’re one of those people who loves the seasons and can’t wait for autumn.  Either way, whether you love it or hate, whether you buy a coat or not, the cold will come, so I guess it’s time to prepare!

To make your shopping experience a little bit easier; I visited our product room and found four warm pieces that are perfect additions to medical uniforms. I chose all solid medical coats because they’re the most versatile and go with almost any scrub uniforms. But if you’re looking for prints, there are some great ones in the Lydia’s ProSoft Collection, which you can view here. 

Now here are my favorite, solid color warm-ups:

Left: Cardigan Jacket from Cherokee Scrubs 
This warm-up is light weight and comfortable. It’s also high quality and comes in lots of different colors, making it easy to find the perfect match for your medical uniform.
Right: V-Neck Knit Jacket from Katherine Heigl’s Vancouver Collection
This warm-up is one of our most fashion forward medical coats. The defined waist and rich colors make it super stylish.

Left: Heart Fleece Jacket by White Cross
This jacket is extremely functional; it has large front pockets, fitted cuffs and it will keep you warm!
Right: Hoodie Fleece Jacket by White Cross
I originally wasn’t going to include this hoodie in this post since it’s more of a sweatshirt than a warm-up jacket, but once I felt how soft and cozy it was inside (you know the new sweatshirt feel I’m talking about!) I couldn’t resist. This top has the word “NURSE” written across the back, so if you’re proud of your profession this might be a great addition to your medical uniforms.

So get shopping, just in case the cold comes soon! And don’t forget to leave a comment if you have a favorite warm-up jacket that I didn’t mention.

Depending on the day, I’ve been known to argue that sacrificing comfort for fashion is just necessary. I’ve worn completely inappropriate shoes for mile long walks, just because they were the perfect addition to my outfit, and this has been known to happen on more than one occasion. I’m not the only one who thinks this way, the proof is everywhere: women in dresses, mid-winter, waiting to get into night clubs; brides in elaborate wedding gowns that won’t even allow them to go to the bathroom without a three man (or woman) team; girls in high heels, taking on the descent of the four flights of stairs in their apartment building. Women everywhere are willing to give up comfort for a day of looking good. It’s not rational, but it happens, and somehow I understand.

Fortunately, there is one category of clothing, where I can honestly say that comfort never needs to be compromised for fashion. That category is, of course, medical uniforms. Any part of a medical uniform, whether it’s a lab coat, nursing scrubs or a pair of shoes, I will stand behind the statement that there are comfortable and fashionable options. And if you don’t believe me, here are a few of my favorites.



Left: L.A. Rose Keyhole Neck Scrub Top in Blueberry & Dickies Sandwashed Flare Pants in Cocoa 
Right: IguanaMed Short Sleeve Scrub Tee in Winter White & Urbane Essential Pant in Steel Grey


Left: Cherokee Flex-i-bles Callie Scrub Top & Cherokee Flex-i-bles Scrub Pants in Black
Right: Dickies Black Label Mock Wrap Scrub Top in Ceil Blue & Dickies Black Label Flat Front Flare Leg Scrub Pant in White



I personally went through all of our scrubs to find the ones that I thought had the most comfortable feel. Out of all of our scrubs the Dickies Black Label are definitely the most touchable. The Cherokee Flex-i-bles are unique because they have side insets that are stretchy and allow for easy movement. I hope you like my comfy scrub picks! And if there are any scrubs I didn't mention that you think deserve to be noticed for their high level of comfort combined with fashionable style, leave a comment and share your opinions!

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!

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! 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.