Uniforms for identity
Uniforms identify people with either their profession or their employer. One always knows, for example, a fireman by his red overalls, a priest by his collar or a soldier by his fatigues. Likewise, medical uniforms also identify hospital workers or caregivers. The clothes that hospital workers and caregivers wear are traditionally referred to as scrubs; these consist of a pair of comfortable trousers, a loosely fitting top and a hat which covers the hair completely. These range among the clothes that nurses, doctors and even trainees would wear.
Nurse uniforms usually bring to mind ladies dressed in white dresses and sturdy white shoes, with nursing caps on their heads. Although that is the conventional image that one has of a nurse, the clothing that nurses wear, both male and female, has evolved as the need for functionality, speed and modesty led to nursing uniforms where scrub pants and scrub tops were preferred. Simple and quick to wear, as well as being comfortable, medical scrubs are no longer only worn by surgeons. Getting everybody involved in the activities or themes which concern the hospital the almost always create an all round feel-good atmosphere.
If one owned a clinic, or sat on the board of a hospital, the somber mood that takes over the hospital when World AIDS day comes around, or the remembrance of those women who have succumbed to the scourge of breast cancer, makes one feel that something more can be done. There are uniforms manufactured to reflect support for these worthy causes, and purchasing these uniforms for the clinic staff results in contributions being made to support research into cures. The staff donning these outfits will undoubtedly have a positive air about them.
Theme wear makes it everybody’s concern, and will go down well with the patient being attended to. A positive outlook all round! Various color schemes are also available, the plain aquamarine green and sea blue of old is still available, but one can also find pink, pale blue, navy blue and wine red. Style does not need to be compromised for comfort. If one spends any amount of time in a hospital, one will be struck by the modern scrubs uniforms the staff wear today. The need to have the clothing, light and comfortable as well as presentable would mean that the quality of the material has to be considered.
One may not want to have highly starched cotton that itches and chaffs resulting in one being sore by the end of the work shift. The scrubs that make a hospital worker happy will ultimately reflect in their work. Nobody wants to be attended to by a grumbling nurse or a disgruntled intern. Besides being light and comfortable, these clothes should also wash and dry well. Stains should be able to wash out easily. Due to the frequency at which they will be used and washed, hospital outfits should also have fast colors, which will not fade after the first couple of washes.