Image: Digital Vision | Thinkstock + Scrubs

Forget about your size. Having a great look and style is about making the most of your body shape.

And yes, you can accentuate your best assets and disguise your flaws by choosing the right cut, colors and prints.

Here are four essential scrubs fashion tips for the curvy nurse, brought to you by the Hollywood stylist who has dressed some of the curviest stars (we can’t disclose names but suffice it to say she’s got experience!).

(1) Shapes that flatter a larger bust
(2) Shapes that flatter the ‘apple’ figure
(3) Shapes that minimize larger thighs
(4) Important scrubs style notes for every nurse

Shapes that flatter a larger bust…

The shift to a national uniform was the result of an analysis ordered by the Welsh government, which found much confusion over who’s who in the hospital. The new uniforms are color-coded (royal blue for clinical nurse specialists, hospital blue for staff nurses) and designed to prevent the spread of infection.  The uniform is short-sleeved and will be laundered on site, to prevent any contamination from entering or leaving the hospital.

Unfortunately, a number of nurses reported skin irritation after donning the new uniforms. Turns out the anti-creasing agent used on the uniforms contains formeldahyde, a potentially carcinogenic chemical. Alternative uniforms are available to affected nurses while the government investigates the problem.

Formeldahyde aside, what do you think of the idea of a national uniform?

Image: Jose Luis Pelaez Inc | Blend Images | Getty Images

Shirley Chaplin, the 54-year-old British nurse who claimed religious discrimination when her employer told her to remove her crucifix necklace at work, has lost her claim.

Chaplin plans to appeal the ruling and issued a blistering criticism of the National Health Service Trust.  “What the Trust doesn’t realize,” Chaplin says, “is that it sends out a very clear message to Christians working in the Trust…The message is clear:  Christians whose faith motivates their vocation and care of patients do not appear to be welcome at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust.”

While the Trust argued that their request was motivated by health and safety concerns — and backed by an official uniform policy — Chaplin’s proposal to add an easy-off clasp was rejected.  Chaplin also noted that female Muslim employees are allowed to wear the hijab.

Did the Tribunal make the right decision?  Or is Chaplin a victim of religious discrimination?  What role should religion play in the workplace?

Shirley Chaplin, a 54-year-old nurse, has worn the crucifix necklace without incidence throughout her 31-year nursing career.  Her employer asked her to remove the necklace in the fall of 2009 after a risk assessment showed it could be pulled by one of the confused elderly patients in Chaplin’s care.  Chaplin refused and was reassigned.

She’s currently telling her story to an employment tribunal.  Chaplin told the tribunal that she was “forced to choose between her job and her faith.”  Seven Anglican bishops have issued a letter of support on Chaplin’s behalf.

The Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust Hospital, Chaplin’s employer, maintains that their request reflected hospital policy and was motivated by health and safety concerns.

What do you think? Do you wear religious jewelry to work? And should there be any jewelry restrictions for nurses?

We’re here to help you not only match your scrubs outfits, but we’re taking it a step further.

Consider this: The colors you wear can affect your mood and that of those around you.

Put the science of “color therapy” into practical use for your next scrubs shopping trip:

1. Sunny yellow.

DO wear white with a bright yellow top if you’re looking for a really fresh look. Yellow is considered a very energizing color that summons sunlight and optimism—maybe just what you’re looking for when you’ve got a long shift ahead of you!

DON’T mix too many bright colors. If you wear yellow, especially if it’s a brighter shade, you might want to make sure the other part of your scrubs outfit is a bit more muted in color, such as a dark green. And be sure not to confuse ’sunny’ yellow with ‘caution’ yellow!

2. True blue.

DO treat blue scrub bottoms like a pair of jeans when choosing a top—there are so many fun colors that will look fantastic! Lighter shades of green and violet look terrific with darker blue scrub pants, and if you’re really into orange, wear a top of that color with blue scrub pants. Blue is identified with calmness—perhaps a perfect color to wear on a busy day.

DON’T go for just any orange colored top to match with your blue pants. While deep orange adds excitement, bright orange can look cheap.

3. Basic black.

DO wear black scrub pants or tops. You can never go wrong with any other color you choose to go with them. One of the trends in fashion this season is pairing black with colors such as purple, gray, bright green or bright blue.

DON’T, however, earn yourself the monicker ‘goth nurse.’ Wearing too much black day in and day out can look empty and depressing to the nurses and patients around you.

4. Green with envy.

DO add green to your wardrobe. Green is associated with growth, vitality and openness and can positively affect those around you. Good options to wear with bright green include brown, dark blue and more muted shades of red.

DON’T choose too many earthy tones as they can be associated with melancholy. Warm shades of brown encourage closeness.

5. Red hot.

DO try a rosy red, soft pink, or violet for a scrubs top as these colors have a calming effect and are easy to match. With stronger reds, you may want to try lighter colors with it, such as light blue, light green or light yellow.

DON’T go for a highly saturated blue-red since it can be disturbing in large amounts and possibly increase anger.

6. Which white is right?

DO embrace a white uniform as it often signals crisp, clean professionalism to your patients. White also imparts purity and brightness of spirit.

DON’T buy a uniform that is blue-white as it can look sterile instead of inviting.

Other hospitals, including the Cleveland Clinic, Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta and Miami Valley Hospital in Ohio, have adapted similar policies — often after receiving complaints about non-responsive nurses.  Patients, it seems, were confused by the constant parade of people in scrubs.  All too often, they’d ask questions of an employee they assumed to be a nurse, but who turned out to be a representative of housekeeping or dietary.

What patients think of nurses in white scrubs…

Here are our fashion expert’s picks for scrubs outfits that look great from top to bottom. Pick your color from our list below to find a great match for you.


White | Purple | Blue | Green | Pink | Yellow | Brown | Black

FOR MALE NURSES

Green | Black

Image: Fabrice LEROUGE | Getty Images

Nurses, if you haven’t noticed, there is a wide selection of scrubs styles out there. The days of purely standard-issue scrubs top and pants are gone! Now there are flip-top pants and a variety of fashionably cute tops masquerading as scrubs.

However, I tell you, ladies and gents, if you bend down to pick up an alcohol pad and your patient gets a shot of your crack, they should totally be allowed to ask for another nurse! So while it’s important to feel good about what you’re wearing, be careful when you’re buying scrubs that show your curves. You want to make sure you’re selecting the right (read: appropriate) fit for your body.

Here are some tips for your next scrubs shopping trip:

1. Ask yourself: Are these scrubs too revealing (e.g., cleavage, biceps, overall sex appeal)? If so, you should try a different style or size.

2. Remember that scrubs are chiefly designed for: a) comfort (12-hour shifts!), b) easy laundering and c) functionality. These criteria are crucial when you’re shopping for stylish scrubs.

3. Either buy petite or hem your scrub pants so they don’t drag on the floor.

4. Make sure your pockets can hold more than just a mini Sharpie and a quarter. Scrubs should have reasonably sized pockets so you can actually carry the tools needed for work, and you can look and function like the professional you are.

Are you looking at your clothes in a whole new light? Remember, scrubs were originally designed not for style but simply to protect you and the patient. Thank goodness we’ve passed beyond the era when nurses wore starched white dresses and hats.

Image: Peter Dazeley | Digital Vision | Getty Images

In the working world of being a nurse we evolve into our own niche of things. We give and take report a certain way, we have certain ways our patient’s rooms need to look, we carry around a lot of paper, or we have our ‘brain’ attached to a clipboard.

This list of tendencies, habits and preferences is endless. I find there are ‘trends’ depending on where you work, who you work with and just what kind of nursing you are doing.

With all that in mind there are just certain things that are a ‘must’ when riding the nursing roller coaster. There are just some ‘must haves’ when you’re out there doing your ‘thing’. These ‘must have’s make life just a lil easier on you through the course of your day. Once you have them, you don’t know why you never had them in the first place!

Stethoscope

Ok this sounds like a ‘no-brainer’, but I’m talking about a GOOD set of ears. Not they playskool kind, or those darn stethoscopes they try to sell you while you’re a nursing student (those horrible double lumen stethoscopes). How are you to properly care for your patients, if you can’t hear abnormal heart beats, murmurs, or specific adventitious lung sounds?? I will say the type of stethoscope is purely site specific. If you work with Pediatric patients, then by all means make sure you have the correct diaphragm for your work. My advice is to spend the extra money on the higher quality (psst… the name begins with an L), you’ll be thankful later.

Shoes

Once again, you’re probably thinking… seriously? Shoes? You need a GOOD pair of shoes. The kind that fit comfortably, have breathing room, good support and of course can withstand the wear and tear of your daily duties (I found a great pair of ‘walking’ shoes myself). I would caution you with these ’slider’ type shoes and those highly touted ’slip-on’ ‘throw them in your dishwasher to clean them’ shoes. While they are great for the simple bodily fluid clean up, they will eventually be murder on your feet, your ankles, your knees, and finally your back. Those type of ’shoes’ offer no long lasting support for your feet. I don’t know about you, but after a 12 hour shift my back can use all the support it can get.

Writing Utensils

Nurses and their pens. Need I say more? Take a nurse’s pen and see what happens – I dare ya. We hoard our pens because once we find ‘that’ pen that writes nice, doesn’t smear or leak we think we hit a gold mine! Throw in a ‘Fat’ pen with some cushion and there is not turning back! And of course we can’t just have a black pen, we need a red one as well and a permanent marker and possibly a highlighter or two!

Scrubs

This goes without saying. “Heeeello!” Look at the name of our magazine and website?? Heh heh. Once again this is all about comfort and utility. I am a ‘pockets’ person. I love my pockets. I have had a total of 10 pockets on my scrubs at times depending on the style I wear. I use/abuse and utilize them all for one thing or another! I am a plain and boring type scrub wearing fool – solid colors for me. I don’t wear the patterns or cool themes. I’m sounding like a broken record here, but it’s all about the function and utility of the scrubs. Will they withstand the wear and tear, as well as be ’stain free’ after a good washing. Just because it looks good and is a popular name brand doesn’t mean it will work well.

To go along with this list there are a myriad of other pieces of equipment that I myself ‘need’ and use. I took a couple quick ‘poll’s on Twitter last night and found I wasn’t the only one.

Plus…

I always have a pair of scissors with me. I prefer a nice pair of small bandage scissors (some call them trauma shears). And I always have a pair of clamps / hemostats with me for those unbearable tops and caps that need a lil extra grip. In the end the frills, thrills and prices come down to one thing – functional on the job capacity.

What are your best? What are your ‘must haves’?

Image: Jose Luis Pelaez Inc | Blend Images | Getty Images

Each nurse has her own individual body shape, height and proportions. And let’s face it—time and gravity eventually affect all of us!

So we asked Sallian Song, a top designer of premium scrubs, to give us the lowdown on choosing outfits that will make you look great.

First, paying attention to your proportions is king! Next to that, picking the right style can do wonders for looking your best in your scrubs.

We’ve not only addressed some of our most vexing body issues, but we’ve found the exact match for you. Now you just have to pick the right color (why not check out our “10 Great Scrubs Outfits by Color” to find your match?)

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