Antimicrobial scrubs: What’s the story?

Nurses, clinicians, doctors and other healthcare workers know all about germ transmission, and the steps to avoid it. They can’t help but be aware — they are surrounded by reminders to wash their hands with antimicrobial soaps and sanitizers dozens of times throughout the day as they come into contact with patients.

So, wouldn’t it be great if the scrubs and lab coats they wear pitched in and helped cut down on the spread of germs? It sure would, and that’s why when antimicrobial scrubs came on the scene a few years ago everyone got pretty excited.

The idea is fairly simple: Embed the cloth with various chemicals and/or substances (everything from proprietary chemical agents to silver and copper is used, and most every brand has its proprietary formula), and that agent will act as a barrier for germ transmission.

But — do they work? And are they worth it? If your area of the hospital is more prone to a MRSA outbreak, for example, would antimicrobial scrubs be a sound investment? Let’s look at what these scrubs are, what they’re supposed to do, and come to a conclusion or two:

There appears to be evidence that scrubs can carry bacteria, and some antimicrobial models were released in 2012 (and others may have been available before) to answer the problem. In 2014, The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses released a report saying that antimicrobial scrubs might “prevent bacteria and fungi from adhering to the fabric” and thus help protection patients.

The science about how these scrubs work is as varied as the companies producing them. There are different antimicrobial agents being embedded into the scrub material fiber by each manufacturer in order to differentiate their product, with some going after bacterial organisms and others targeting bacterial protein. Some are also fluid repellant, which is touted to add another layer of protection by keeping bacteria-laden material from soaking into scrubs in the first place, with the antibacterial agent acting as a second defense.

The jury is still out on whether or not they work effectively. Manufacturers can (and do) tout studies that show how these scrubs can prevent, or limit the spread, of MRSA, but the Antimicrobial Scrub and Transmission (ASCOT) study, a Duke University clinical trial that, among other things, evaluated whether antimicrobial-impregnated scrubs could help reduce bacterial contamination vs. regular cotton-poly scrubs, didn’t show a significant decrease in clothing contamination.

There are also other points to consider, such as price, because antimicrobials can be more expensive. Also, what’s your level of exposure? Anyone working in a hospital or clinical environment is going to come up against bacteria — that’s part of the job. But if you’re not around patients that much, or in a low-exposure area (primary care practice vs. ICU or ED), then you may not want to add in the extra layer of protection. In the end it’s up to you, but erring on the side of caution, especially when it comes to keeping patients, and yourself, safe from bacteria and infection, is never a bad idea.

Check out available Antimicrobial Scrubs here on our website! Happy Shopping! 

Working the night shift? We salute you, brave nurse!

Coffee, usually subpar. Grumpy doctors. Grumpier patients. Circadian rhythms all out of whack. And, most frightening of all, cafeteria food after hours.

These are just a few of the gauntlets run by night-shift nurses. The fabled red-eye shift is no place for the faint of heart. A hospital anytime of day is seldom anyone's version of Shangri-La, but come the wee hours it can transform into a spooky obstacle course of trials and challenges. But rounds still have to be made, vitals taken, medicines administered and patients cared for.

Many, many intrepid bands of night-shift nurses are up to the task. It may be thankless and not always the most pleasant stretch of hours, but they wouldn't have it any other way. When duty calls, the night shift nurse always answers the bell. And boy howdy, do those bells ring and ring .... (Actually nurses' stations are now equipped with call lights, but you get the drift.)

It is common knowledge among nurses working these hours that patients in the middle of the night/early morning tend to be a little needier than in the light of day. Depending on the nature of the infirmity, patients are apt to become more disorientated in these hours. They are prone to being surlier, or needing to use the toilet more frequently. And they themselves are tired, and the nature of the care might mean it is necessary to wake them up periodically for examinations.

Very often night-shift nurses are doing much of their work with skeleton crews, a few making do and doing more. Then, when the shift is over, they walk out into the blinding sun, brave morning traffic at the end of a long day rather than the beginning, and head home to get some shut-eye as most of the world has just opened theirs.

And many of them will tell you it's wise to bring your "lunch." For instance, the cafeteria might be serving tuna casserole. Haven't you always wanted to have tuna casserole at 4 a.m.? No? 

But there are perks. For one, it is socially acceptable for a night shift nurse to have a glass of wine while Good Morning America is on.

In seriousness though, there are some truly meaningful rewards. The reward of doing a tough job and doing it well. The reward of caring for patients during hard, scary moments in their lives. And the reward of camaraderie with coworkers, everyone pulling together under challenging circumstances to achieve a common goal. It is worth pausing to mention that nurses working the night shift are at risk for certain problems deriving from the nature of their work. They are on their feet a lot obviously. Like most night workers they need to be cautious about their diet as they are trying to operate at peak efficiency at a time in the daily cycle when metabolisms generally slow down (veteran night shift nurses often advocate packing nutritious meals from home). 

And sleep deprivation is no joke; day sleeping has the potential to be broken sleep -- more noise, more light, more distractions -- and over time that can lead to fatigue, a weakened immune system and cardiovascular problems. Then there are the personal issues of maintaining a home on an unconventional schedule, making time for family and juggling errands. Here are some good tips to help nurses survive the night shift grind: 

So night-shift nurses, we salute you! Thank you for your expertise, your stamina and your smiles. And get some rest -- you've earned it!

Be sure to check out our new line made with YOU in mind! Night Shift® Scrubs are soft, luxurious stretch scrubs that are sure to keep you comfy on that long shift! Shop now! 

Nursing is like real estate: For the best places, it’s all about location

There are few fields growing in America like healthcare. Projections have it as one of the fastest growing sectors of job growth in the United States over the next 15 years. And of professions in healthcare, registered nurses are near the top in terms of potential and demand. Just how rosy is the outlook? Employment for RNs is expected to expand by 19 percent till 2022.

Higher demand will likely mean higher wages and better benefits. But where will the RN jobs be the most desirable? Let’s take a look around the nation and find the best spots for these lucrative jobs.

Wages: California, unsurprisingly, is in the lead here, as it tends to be in wages for healthcare workers overall, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It’s the most populous state in the union, so it stands to reason that California has the highest number RNs overall. Other states in the top five are Oregon, Hawaii, Alaska and Massachusetts.

One thing to remember: Alaska, Hawaii, and California are three of the six states in America with the highest cost of living. So that has to be factored into any judgment call on desirability: how much bang is the RN, especially one just out of school, getting for her/his buck?

On the flip side, here are the bottom five states for RN wages: South Dakota, Iowa, West Virginia, Alabama and Arkansas. (But just like above, these states are also among the lowest in cost-of-living figures, so the percentages come close to evening out.)

High wages don’t mean much, however, if there are no jobs to be had. As attractive as the Golden State might seem, it also has among the lowest open nursing jobs. That could be a boon in the future: more people means more healthcare means more need for nurses. But right now, better bets are Missouri, West Virginia, Mississippi, South Dakota and Rhode Island.

Also, more specifically even than a state breakdown, there is the rural/urban question. Here the tilt seems to go to urban areas, generally home to the larger hospitals and clinics. RNs grade out considerably higher as a percentage of the healthcare workforce here. And urban medical facilities tend to pay a higher wage. Again, the drawback is that urban living tends to be costlier.

All in all, a nursing career does not look to be a bad bet, wherever you may be looking. Like any other career though, you’ll want to do your research, then factor in all the elements to find the best opportunity for you. And once you’ve landed that dream nursing job, let us help you get properly outfitted!