Nursing in the News

Friday, September 3, 2010 by Liza Guikema
Happy Friday. I hope everyone has a fun and safe Labor Day Weekend!

Now here's the news from the week:

Healthcare Professionals in the News:
Health News:
Blog Posts

Get Comfort and Style from Flex-Stretch Scrubs

Friday, September 3, 2010 by Liza Guikema
Last week I had the chance to stop by a Lydia's photo shoot- I love going behind the scenes! The models looked amazing in their scrubs from Lydia's and of course I had to ask them what looks they liked best. I talked with Rebecca and found out that she's a huge fan of the Flex-Stretch Scrubs.

Rebecca modeling a Flex-Stretch medical uniform ----->

My favorite outfit was the Flex-Stretch by Cherokee Flexibles. This top has a very stylish neckline that isn’t cut too low. The side panels were a great feature that added comfort and flexibility to move easier. And the pockets were very roomy, making it ideal for nurses on the go!

The scrubs pants are unbelievably comfortable. Everything from the waistband of the pants to the fabric made it feel like anything but a uniform! The elastic waistband was very nice and provided extra support. The flare leg style made it very fashionable and many pockets made it perfect for storing accessories. These are definitely pants that I would purchase for casual wear since they were so comfortable. The color I wore was Cinnabar. It is a great fall color and looks great on!
-Rebecca

Get Rebecca's look here!

Enter to Win a Lydia's Gift Certificate

Thursday, September 2, 2010 by Liza Guikema




Speak your mind and win a spot as guest editor at Lydia’s Uniforms. If you win you get a $50 gift card to spend on new medical uniforms and your winning entry will be featured on our blog! Each month there will be a different topic, so feel free to enter every month to increase your chances of winning.

For September's contest, we want to hear from those of you who are heading back to school! Whether you're a new nursing students or a seasoned pro we want you to share what's in store for you in the upcoming months. Leave a comment here and tell us about your back to school experiences. At the end of the month I'll select one comment and the winner will receive a $50 gift card to Lydia’s Uniforms. Good luck to everyone who enters!
 

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!

What Would Deb Do?

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 by Erin W

Last week, I started my first teaching gig as a clinical instructor at a school of nursing. It has been one of my long term career goals, but now that I am doing it, I am so nervous. I'm teaching a group of ten students in their first ever med/surg clinical. They will be caring for real patients and attending clinical at the hospital for the first time. I feel like the pressure is really on, because whether you love med/surg nursing or hate it, it is pretty much the foundation for all other specialties.

To prepare for the job, I thought back to all of my own instructors I had in nursing school. They all had their good traits, some more than others, and they also had quirks, too.

I had one instructor who would come up to us in the middle of clinical from out of nowhere and say things to us like, "God has a purpose for you." or "The end is near..."

I also remember another instructor who I seriously wonder if she went into teaching not to help students learn about nursing, but to be mean to them...still trying to remember what the good traits were. Um, maybe it was that she had really shiny hair?

But one clinical instructor really stood out from the rest. Her name was Deb. She was my instructor for both the lecture and clinical portion of my med/surg course. She treated all of us with respect, and never talked down to anyone. She would never accept, "I don't know" as an answer, and she would help us think things through until we realized that we knew more than we thought. She even looked out for us, like scolding us if we ever walked out to our cars alone in the evening (we had second shift clinicals), or telling us how important it  was that we each had our yearly pap smear. She was always one of our biggest advocates, especially if we were having any issues with other faculty (see above instructor) who were being exceptionally unfair.

As I was starting to get really worried about how will I ever be a good instructor to these future nurses just starting out in one of the fundamental nursing courses, I thought "What would Deb do?" I hope I can use her teaching method as a model to help provide these students with the knowledge and confidence they need to proceed with becoming a nurse.

I hope that no matter how much farther I go in my own education, or how long I end up teaching, that I will never forget what it felt like to be a student. When someone showed faith in me or displayed kindness, it made such a difference.

Did you have an instructor or professor who really made a positive impression on you when you were in school? Or did you have someone really evil who was completely out of touch with how nursing really is in today's world? Feel free to share your stories about either one!



 

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?

Take this job and, well you know...

Tuesday, August 24, 2010 by Erin W
As a blogger, I'm going to have to jump on the wagon and mention the Jet Blue flight attendant, Steven Slater. I know the story is getting a little stale, but I am still reading about this guy on the internet daily a few weeks after the incident happened. (If you've been out of the country, or away from the media for an extended period, here's what happened: www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/08/10/new.york.escape.chute.opened/index.html

I don't know what the whole story is on this guy, so I can't really judge him for what he did. According to his account, he was somehow mistreated by a passenger on the flight. I'm sure ANY nurse could relate to this...and secretly would like to have a similar reaction.

I know about 95% of the time patients and families are respectful and appreciative- but the 5% who are not can easily overshadow the good ones when you are having a difficult day.  And nurses, as a rule, are supposed to be nice to everyone. You know nursing ethics: beneficence, respect, justice, all that stuff. It's not always easy, though.

I'm sure more than one of us secretly admired that flight attendant when we heard that story, wishing we could do the same...but hospitals and doctors' offices aren't really equipped with inflatable emergency slides to make a grand exit.

I tried envisioning what I might do: I don't think I would use profanity as this man did, but I'd probably say something over the call light system, tie a bunch of IV tubing end to end and make a rope, jump out the window, scale the wall, and walk five miles to the place where I have to park every day...

I read another story about a pharmacist who was fed up with her job and just wrote a note on the back of a receipt saying Saturday would be her last day. Hmm...maybe I could write on one of those prescription pads they keep in the nurses' station??

Okay, honestly. I wouldn't do any of these things, for one thing, who would take care of my patients? I am consistently treated very well by patients and co-workers at my job. I can recall times back when I worked in more of a med-surg area when the some patients weren't so nice. But I did try to give them the benefit of the doubt that it was because they were under stress.

We all have bad days, but we have okay days as well. It's important to take care of ourselves. I think there is no shame in healthcare professionals talking to counselors from time to time about the stress of their jobs, or at least having a really good laugh with your co-workers. Some of us have stress in our outside lives, as well, so that's why it's extremely necessary to get some kind of relief.

I hope everyone has a great week!

Nursing in the News

Friday, August 20, 2010 by Liza Guikema
Happy Friday! I know that many of you are preparing to start or head back to school this fall and I want to remind you that Lydia's Uniforms carries many of your must-have med supplies like stethoscopes, tote bags and more. What's on your back-to-school shopping list this semester?

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

Nursing Shoes with Style

Thursday, August 19, 2010 by Liza Guikema
Has anyone tried out the new Alegria nursing shoes? I'm lovin' the selection of playful prints that these shoes offer and I can't wait to hear what you think about the look and feel of this brand. Are the animal prints or pink hearts your style? Maybe you prefer a pair of crisp, white clogs. Either way, Alegria has you covered.

Here are a few of my favorites looks. If you want to see the entire selection head to our website and take a look around!




The forgotten shift

Tuesday, August 10, 2010 by Erin W
More often than not, if you're a new nurse and you want to land a position on a DESIRABLE unit it, it means one thing: you'll be working night shift. I know when I started out, fresh out of school, I did it. Lots of us have.

I worked the 11pm to 7am shift on an inpatient oncology nursing unit with the most fun, caring, compassionate nurses ever. I was one of the youngest, and worked with a good core of nurses who I wouldn't say were old enough to be my mom, maybe more like really cool aunts. Even though I was usually dead tired, I loved coming in because I knew I'd have a good night...no matter what happened. And anyone who'd ever worked night shift knows, that if anything bad (or even spooky) is going to happen...it will happen on night shift. I could tell you stories about patients I've had with sundowner's...or stories of call lights mysteriously going off in empty rooms, but I'll save that for future posts, maybe.

What I'd like to do is give a tribute to all the night shifters out there. Even though I've been on days for the last five years, I still consider myself a night shifter at heart. I'm a little more laid back, I've got that warped sense of humor, you know, common night shifter characteristics. I hope I never have to go back to nights, because of the fatigue and the unhealthy relationships with both caffeine AND diphenhydramine, and almost falling asleep on the drive home WAY too many times. It's because I know how hard it is that I want to salute you.

Once, as a nurse I had to take a mandatory work-offered class. Of course the class was offered during day shift hours. We had some night shifters in the class, and we were deciding when we would schedule the next class. The instructors actually said, "Would it be okay to have class from 2pm to 6pm, then you could work your regularly scheduled shift afterward?" So they were being asked to be in class from 2 to 6 pm and then work on the floor from 7pm to 7am. I doubt many day shift folks would like to come in and work from 2am to 7pm! I guess you'd get that hour between 6 and 7 to nap...

We live in a day shift centered world. I can remember turning off the ringer my landline (when I used to have one) when I'd sleep during the day. I'd have friends call and leave really long messages on my machine, saying things like, "You're probably asleep right now..." Well, I was until you started leaving me the world's longest message! If you don't work nights, you can't grasp just how disrupted your life can become.

So this week, I just want you to know that I'm thinking of you. I appreciate what you do. I know the good work you do often goes without acknowlegement because the bosses, the doctors, and the visitors aren't around (and that sometimes can be a good thing, too), but you are there with the patients during one of the loneliest, scariest times - the night.

Bless you for all that you do.

Monday Funday

Monday, August 9, 2010 by Liza Guikema

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

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!

I gotta break away

Wednesday, August 4, 2010 by Erin W

I am in the midst of conducting a research study at my institution, over a subject that is near and dear to my heart: workplace lactation. Since I've gone back to work on the hospital floor, it's been a real struggle to get away when I need to pump breastmilk to provide for my infant son. I've talked to lots of co-workers who've dealt with the same problem. So instead of complaining (or maybe in addition to), I've decided to do something about it. I'm seeking to identify what barriers hospital employees face when it is time to pump or breastfeed at work. Maybe something good will come of it - I hope. I was totally surprised when, within a week, 49 people had taken the survey. Anyone who's ever conducted research knows that it can be hard to get people to respond to surveys.

But for those who aren't lactating, there is still the issue of getting away from the job for a few minutes. I work 12 hour shifts, like many healthcare workers. Our policy states that you are allowed two paid fifteen minute breaks as well as an unpaid half hour break for lunch. But how many of you are able to take advantage of what you are allowed?

The other day, I had a patient who needed a little extra TLC. For the entire shift, I was attending to her needs and wants. Then it was time for me to quickly grab a bite and go take it over to the hospital daycare to feed my son while wolfing down my lunch. Apparently while I was gone, she called out for me and said "What do you mean my nurse is off the floor?! I need her now!" Thankfully my charge nurse helped her with what she wanted, but I thought, do people really think that nurses should not allowed to have a few minutes to themselves?

I'm sure the majority of us have clocked out no lunch, on more than one occasion. And have never taken a fifteen minute break in years. But is that a good thing? Is it really impossible to get away, or are we just not taking care of ourselves?

I admit that I've been in line at the grocery store and heard the cashiers saying "I need someone to relieve me so I can take my break," and thought, "Well, must be nice to get a break." But really, they're just looking out for themselves, is that so wrong? People need to eat, go to the bathroom, and even sit down for a few minutes every few hours. I guess it's not really out of the question.

I'd like to hear about others' experiences. How does your unit/office/institution handle breaks? Do you get a few minutes to yourself to just sit and take a breath, and if so, does it make you happier in your work? And if you're one of the working moms like me who's trying to nurse, how do you handle pumping?

 

Nursing in the News

Friday, July 30, 2010 by Liza Guikema
Happy Friday! Our new fall catalog went live on our web site this week and we're so happy with all of the products inside (especially our Pro Series and Pro Stretch collections!). If you haven't had a chance to browse the latest in medical uniforms yet, take a peek here.

Now here's the news from the week:

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

Review

Thursday, July 29, 2010 by Guest Blogger
Hi! I have been ordering from Lydia's for years. When I wore my most recent scrubs to work, my co-workers went crazy over the cute pattern (White cross 2 pocket scoop neck top in Pear Daises). I brought my catalog to work and showed the nurses your website. 4 other RN's are ordering the same style! Here is a photo of me with one of my co-workers Kim. We have different brand bottoms on: mine are from Medgear. Kim's are from White Cross. We both love the way the scrubs fit and feel! Thanks for the opportunity to share! Enjoy our photos!



Photo Submitted by Jennifer Q.

It's All About Perspective

Tuesday, July 27, 2010 by Erin W
Ever since my kids were born, it seems nursing has become "just a job" for me. Sure, I feel lucky to have health benefits and be making money to pay the mortgage in these rough economic times, but I'd certainly rather be home curled up on the couch with my little ones on any day than spending my time away from them.

I chose my current position because it came up on the job board and the posted hours were for two twelve hour days a week, so I thought it would give me more opportunities to be home. And it wasn't med-surg. I swore several years back I would never work again in an inpatient setting. I vowed not to go back to working weekends and holidays. But this was something to do to earn enough to feed the family, make sure we had insurance, it was supposed to be "just a job."

But last week, I met a patient who is changed my mind. Not only have I been given a job, I've been given a gift. The gift of perspective.

This young man has spent his entire life as a non-verbal quadriplegic. He is fed through a tube, and cannot control his bowel or bladder functions. When he was admitted to my unit, he was accompanied by an incredibly attentive and loving mom and set of grandparents. I got to know all of them over our time together, and his condition improved so much that I was able to do his discharge care.

As he and his family were getting ready to leave, I asked his mom if the nurse tech and I could help get him into the wheelchair. She said, "That's okay, I do it by myself at home." I watched her pick her adult son up in her arms, cradle him like a baby, and put him into his wheelchair. I had to bite my lower lip to keep from crying in front of them, I was so touched by this image.

In my mind, a montage of thoughts of my children flashed. I thought of my daughter, and how concerned I was when she didn't start crawling until she was eleven months and how I was hoping my son was not delayed when he wasn't yet sitting up on his own at six months...and how foolish that all seemed at this point. I thought of how I sometimes get annoyed when my kids are being loud when I'm trying to concentrate on something, and how much, at that very second, I was thankful that they were even able to make sounds. I was so glad that this young man has a family who loves him and provides excellent care for him at home. And I was even more glad to know that I had two healthy, beautiful, wonderful children to go home to.

Even if you don't work with patients like this, I am sure you know what I am talking about. When you are a nurse, you learn to appreciate things. You don't take things for granted...or you try not to, at least. You realize that in the blink of an eye, life can change. You know that lives can be taken much too soon, and it can happen to anyone.

I'm sure that there will be plenty of days when I'd rather be at home, but I really do feel blessed to be part of something so special- to provide care, compassion, and hope for people, and have an increased awareness of what precious things life and good health are.


Sneak Peek for Fall 2010

Tuesday, July 20, 2010 by Liza Guikema

Our fall catalog will be in the mail soon, but we didn't want to make you wait. We've added a few of our favorite new medical uniforms and nursing shoes to www.LydiasUniforms.com to hold you over in the meantime :-) There are some amazing styles from Koi Uniforms, Cherokee Scrubs and Dickies Scrubs, just to name a few. And even more scrub styles will be available soon.

If you've had a chance to browse these new scrubs uniforms then leave a comment and tell me what you think! If you haven't seen the new styles yet, then what are you waiting for??

(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??