Holidays in the Hospital: A Visiting Guide

The Christmas holidays can be the best time of the year for most but for those unable to spend it outside of the hospital it can be a sad, lonely, and frustrating time of the year. If you find that a loved one is stuck in the hospital this year, be sure to go the extra mile to make their holidays a bit better.

There are a few simple, easy things you can do to bring Christmas cheer to the hospital room. While it isn’t always possible to set up decorations, your presence or a thoughtful phone call is often enough to lift someone’s spirits. Take a look at these tips for visiting the hospital during the holiday season:

·       Stagger the Visits - No one person should be the visitor; everyone that is available should visit at separate times so the person that is in the hospital feels wanted. By staggering the visits, everyone has a chance to socialize with the patient and the patient is not overwhelmed with too many people.

·       Bring Festive Food – If it is ok with the attending doctor, bring food that reminds the patient of the season. Sometimes even setting a bowl of festively wrapped candy in the room for those in medical scrubs to munch on can bring a bit of pizzazz to bland walls.

·       Deck the Halls - Who says you can’t decorate the hospital room like you would at home? Ask the person what they think of the idea and what kind of decorations they want. There is no reason why it can’t be fun for them too! Just be sure that the hospital staff approves the décor you put up.

·       Use Technology Available - If there’s a chance you can’t come to the hospital, set up some form web-chat. A phone call is always a good choice as well.

·       Never Overdo It - Never overwhelm the loved one. Visitors are great but you don’t want to crowd him or her with a room full of visitors or a large string of visiting friends. Make sure there is some down time for the patient to get some breathing room.

As either a nurse, doctor, or even a former patient, what are some suggestions you have for those visiting loved ones in the hospital this season?

Tips for Dealing With Your Difficult Patients

Being a medical worker such as a doctor, nurse or any worker in scrubs can be hard sometimes, especially when dealing with difficult patients. People come into medical facilities for a variety of reasons and you are there to provide a service; you must remember that. There are going to be times where patients are going to be less than cordial and you have to be ready.

In the daily practice of physicians, psychotherapists and other staff, there’s a very good chance that you will pick up on some of these the unpleasant following behaviors:

• Intense anger outbursts

• Aggressive verbal behavior

• Exaggerated expression of emotions

• Persistent desire for recognition of others

• Distrust

• Lack of follow rules

• Contentious and persistent insistence on personal rights

• Frequent need of help

• Complaining or whining

• Silence

• Constant complaints of being ill, often associated with hypochondriac-type symptoms

• Suicide threats and suicide acts

• Ingratitude

Such "difficult" behavior frustrates the workers, triggers resistance and costs time, money and effort of staff. If, however, it starts to stress the relationship between the workers and patients, treatment success is in question. Interaction skills, awareness and professionalism in dealing with patients is very important- especially with difficult patients- and is therefore a basic prerequisite for any treatment.

Sometimes unruly patients can get very violent and start throwing things. You should always have a spare set of medical scrubs uniforms on hand just in case something goes wrong and you need to change.

Top 5 Worst Styles of Medical Scrubs

Medical scrubs can be fashionable, comfortable, and inexpensive. Unfortunately, they can also be quite unfashionable. It is wise to keep in mind the five main mistakes people make when it comes to medical scrubs. Because scrubs come in so many colors and styles, it’s easy to choose badly. It seems every major medical facility employs at least one worker who “didn’t get the memo” about scrubs fashion and etiquette. 

When it comes to stains, you need to tread very carefully. In the medical profession, permanent stains are considered bad business. Therefore, even if you know that that tiny red stain on your medical scrubs is from strawberry jam, it is best to toss the things if the stain won’t come out. Most scrubs are very easy to clean, and feature treated materials that do not stain easily. But every now and then, a permanent stain makes its way into our lives. When it does, do not delay trashing the scrubs.

Torn pockets are fine, if they are properly mended. The challenge here is knowing when to give up the ghost. Mending once is okay, but mending a second and third time makes your medical scrubs look terrible. 

The third and fourth medical scrubs disasters have to do with color and size. Too small is too bad. No one wants to see a person wearing scrubs that are on the tight side. Colors and wacky patterns can sometimes look awful, so avoid the really frightening hues and insane patterns. 

Last but not least, do not wear scrubs that are too revealing. Save the parade for Fourth of July, and keep the skin show at the beach. Medical scrubs are meant to be worn in a work environment, not a nightclub. Stick to proper sizing, current styles, and comfortable fabrics. That way, you will look great and get the job done.

The Fad of Printed Medical Scrubs

To go with the printed scrubs, or to abstain, that is the question. Recently, printed scrub tops have been all the rage. Regularly seen as fun loving, many nurses consider printed medical scrubs to lift the spirits around their workplace or office. On the other hand, nurses may want to mull over a few things prior to throwing on their favorite cartoon character tops.

Firstly, reflect on you workplace. Cartoon printed scrub tops may perhaps not be sensible while working on an ICU hospital floor. Conversely, when scheduled on the hospital’s pediatric floor, this sort of top is relatively important and may even be encouraged. When dealing with children, fun cartoon scrub tops can make all the difference and can help boost spirits.

Take some time to consider your employer. Remember that you represent your employer as a professional. If sporting frolicking animals printed on your top will affect your credibility in any way, think twice. It may be worth asking the feelings of your employer on the subject, even if you already have a dress code but the topic is not outlined.

On the subject of credibility, bear in mind that you have worked exceptionally hard to get to where you are. In this profession it is important to look the part. Do not wear printed scrubs unless you are certain they fit in at your workplace.

Wearing printed scrub tops can prove to be especially fun. Countless nurses relish in the break from the usual scrubs. So, keep in mind these tips when deciding on your medical scrubs. When coming to a decision on a print, be sure it is acceptable.

Tips to Choosing Work Appropriate Scrubs

Your work scrubs can be considered as your closest companion when you are working so it is best if they live up to your expectations, right? The smallest of details will play the most important of roles every single time. You will have to ensure that you cover all the bases when you purchase your work scrubs, for instance the styling of the sleeves, the patch pockets and even the side slits. Here are some other things to keep in mind:

Mock Wraps versus V-necks- Choosing between these two might be a little harder than you think. This choice is like choosing between wanting a stylish pair of work-wear without the “u-shape”, split neck, scoop neck or any other neck design. Without giving you confidence with that new look you can consider choosing a slimmer look with the mock wrap.

Raglan versus Set-In- You may think that it’s a little on the odd side to figure in the type of sleeves when picking the perfect type of scrubs but when it comes to certain perfectionists it can mean everything. So if you are one, make sure you pay close detail to this part.

Colored versus White- We all know that white is clean and it looks great on doctors but dirt is very attracted to it. Do you really want to go through all that attention to detail, all that cleaning, etc? Chances are, you don’t. So if you work in maternity, pediatrics or the ER… it is very advisable that you stay away from white.

A good pair of scrubs can mean the difference between comfort and discomfort for the course of a shift. So be sure you get what you want, especially as you’ll be spending a lot of time in them!

How To Avoid Fashion Blunders With Your Scrubs

Let’s face it, having to wear scrubs on a daily basis can lead to fashion hum drums. While you can shake things up a bit by wearing bright colors and patterned scrubs, you may be relegated to wearing a specific color based on your position in the hospital or health care facility. Your hospital may let you make a bit of a fashion statement with your scrubs but you want to make sure no matter what you do, you don’t become a scrubs fashion faux pas.

Being professional and dressing professionally is something you want to strive for every day. Avoid coming to work with stained and mismatched scrubs or scrubs that are held together with safety pins. Your scrubs will likely get pretty stained on a daily basis and that is unavoidable, but that, in addition to other fashion blunders are something you need to avoid.

One major blunder to avoid is showing too much. Consider what your front view looks like when you’re bending over in front of a patient or his or her family. You don’t want them seeing your cleavage. If that is a problem with your scrubs, you need to wear a scrub top with a higher cut or wear a shirt or tank top underneath. This goes for men as well.

Stains and myriad unhygienic substances and blood are all part and parcel of working in a hospital. You don’t want to announce to your current patient, however, that you’ve just been in a setting with the prior patient in which you’re covered in stains. Scrubs need to be sanitized and cleaned every day without fail. 

Do a mirror check test before you leave your home. Bend and stretch to see if your scrubs are pulling, tugging or exposing major amounts of flesh. If you’ve gained or lost weight you definitely need to make certain your scrubs still fit. Also, where will you “wear” your pants – above or below your waist? Make sure the length of your pants fits where you will wear them on your waist.

No matter what style of scrubs you wear, you will want to wash them according to the manufacturer label and wash like colors together so they fade evenly. You don’t want your navy scrubs, for example, to fade unevenly or you will look ill-put together when walking around the hospital. Professionalism is the order of the day, especially if you’re working in a hospital with sick patients.

Nursing Career Paths To Consider Pursuing

The aging population brings with it the need for even more nurses than ever. Nursing careers are favored by individuals looking to pursue a great part time or full time position. There are many more patients in need of care and there is a greater need for individuals to pursue nursing careers to fill the need. Nurses may not have to work the brutal length of hours that many doctors do, but their work is demanding and tiring nonetheless. Nurses deal with stressful hospital situations as well as being on their feet all day working with ill and dying patients. Nurses also need to interact with other hospital staff as well as the friends and family of patients. Those who are nurses though, find that being a nurse is satisfying work. 

Nursing careers are as unique as the individuals who pursue them. There are myriad nursing jobs for individuals interested in pursuing a career putting their talents to work helping patients. Nursing careers are: registered nursing/ (RN), licensed practical nursing or licensed vocational nurses (LPN/LVN), and nursing assistant. RNs supervise LPNs and nursing assistants. LPN and LVN nurses only are allowed to offer patient care under the supervision of a doctor, nurse practitioner or RN.

As with other careers, nursing careers offer other categories such as: full or part time schedules, contract nursing, office or permanent care nursing, private duty, hospital nursing, industrial or health nursing, travel and psych nursing. Nursing assistants aren’t nurses but they will still wear scrubs to work and will be involved in many daily nursing activities. Nursing assistant duties include: helping nurses carry out tasks, offering hygienic care, providing psychosocial care and other such duties.

As with other professions, full time RNs work at least 40 hours a week in any of the chosen career paths. They wear scrubs while at work and can choose to find employment in any of a number of medical venues in both the public and private sector. The hours of part time nurses vary widely and they also can work as nursing contractors. Pay, benefits and hours vary based on the facility in which you work as well as your longevity in the career, training and licensing and hours worked. There are even some individuals who will retire from full time nursing and take up a position as a part time or contract nurse while some others will become part time nurses to supplement their other jobs. 

Contract RN jobs are favored by many, but those looking for stable positions prefer a full time nursing position. Those who enjoy variety in both their schedule and location will typically opt for contract or traveling nursing jobs. Nursing provides competitive pay and in some cases competitive benefits.

How to Keep Medical Scrubs Clean

Employed in the medical field? Chances are you wear scrubs on a daily basis, and know exactly how dirty they get. The need for regular washing of your scrubs cannot be stressed enough, but for those who work in a hospital or medical setting cleaning scrubs daily is highly advised.

The problem, however, is that scrubs pill and fade and, since your scrubs are your daily uniform, your patients look to you to be professionally dressed. It’s likely you don’t own enough scrubs to be able to change them on a daily basis, however, and because of the nature of your job your scrubs see more wear and tear than the rest of your wardrobe. We offer you these tips to keep your scrubs looking fresh for the long haul.

1. Purchase scrubs that are made of high quality materials because they will stand up to washing and drying and daily wear. Additionally, high quality material will be less likely to wrinkle, stain or wear out as quick.
2. Your scrubs should be washed in cold water and should be washed separately from your other items of clothing.
3. Sort out scrubs by color, washing lights and darks separately to keep the colors from bleeding.
4. If you have bright colored-scrubs you will want to put in a tablespoon of white vinegar once the machine is full of water and before you add your detergent. The vinegar disinfects and prevents the colors of the fabric from running.
5. Run the washing machine on the delicate cycle to help prolong the life of your scrubs and make sure you always use a mild liquid detergent.
6. Add your scrubs after the water is in and the detergent has been mixed up a bit.
7. If your scrubs are white you can add bleach to the cycle to freshen them up.
8. Don’t add fabric softener to the washing machine, but feel free to use dryer sheets to address potential static issues.
9. If possible you should line, or flat dry, your uniforms.

A little extra care will keep your scrubs fresh-looking for the long haul.