The Complete Guide to Choosing and Wearing Men’s Medical Scrubs

Medical scrubs are the everyday wear for medical personal such as nurses, doctors and assistants in medical practice. This is their working uniform and nothing else is acceptable as clothing. It’s designed to be convenient, comfortable, prevent cross-contamination and follow the hospital’s rules.

What to Consider When Buying?

Fit

Fit should be one of your priorities. It’s a very important factor to consider when choosing your scrubs. The uniform you’re wearing should be comfortable and nicely fitted. Nothing too tight or too loose. Otherwise, it can interfere with your movements, limit some hand and feet gestures, or even get in the way of your work. This can be dangerous for you and the patients you’re working with.

Go for stretchy, flexible materials that can help you optimise your movements. If you get soft and comfortable men’s scrub tops and bottoms, you’ll be able to enjoy every minute spent working. Men’s tops and bottoms have a different cut and shape compared to the women’s models. They’re boxier and don’t have a curvature that follows the shape of the body.

The top part of the scrubs should reach below the waist. The bottoms should have a high waist. This way there’s no visible skin underneath and you’re protected from bacteria, viruses, blood and other bodily liquids. If your weight often changes and goes up and down, it’s better to buy pants with drawstrings so they’re adjustable. If you don’t have a fluctuating weight, you can get pants with zippers or buttons.

Material

The four primary materials used to make scrubs are spandex, rayon, polyester, and cotton. They all have their advantages and disadvantages. Scrubs manufacturers often combine two of those four to get the perfect match and all the necessary features to make good scrubs. Cotton is widely known for being breathable, durable and able to resist static electricity.

It’s not wrinkle-resistant but this is an easy fix if you have an iron at home. It’s a great summery material and it becomes even better when blended with polyester. Adding the polyester brings out the moisture-wicking properties. Polyester will also take care of the wrinkles because it’s wrinkle-resistant as well. Plus, it’s simple and easy to clean and maintain, it’s stain-resistant and won’t shrink or loosen up.

Rayon is similar to cotton because it’s absorbent, soft and lightweight. It dries quickly which makes it ideal if you live in a hot climate. You’ll be very comfortable wearing it because it’s very smooth to the touch. Just be careful when you wash it. Doing it in hot water can shrink the material. Wash it with cold of lukewarm water.

Another synthetic material that entered the field of medical scrubs and became very popular is spandex. It doesn’t matter if it’s men’s scrub tops or women’s bottoms, spandex will make them stretchy. It’s always combined with cotton or polyester, it never goes on its own. Despite the stretchiness and constant wear, your scrubs won’t lose shape. You’ll feel comfortable because of the stretchy feature.

Features

There are some important features you should look for in the scrubs you buy. Pockets are the first. The pockets on scrubs are just as important as they’re on your everyday clothes. There can never be too much. They’re very helpful. You can use them to store you pens and pads, tapes, instruments and much more.

Chest pockets are very practical and used the most. There are also designs with side pockets if those work better for you. Nurses love slash pockets. They’re not just good for storage, they also provide the perfect place to rest your hands when you get a chance. Some scrubs have loops. They’re also known as “utility loops” and “belt loops”.

They can have different purposes. Number one is for you to have a place to hang tools and instruments you use on a daily basis. Number two is to hold your ID or badge where it will be visible and make identification more efficient. You can also use the loop to add a personal touch to the scrubs. Something decorative that represents you and your character if the hospital allows it, of course.

Wearing colours can be exciting. It’s how you can tell different personnel apart in various hospitals. Make sure there are no limitations at the medical facility before getting a particular colour, though. If it’s okay, you can buy scrub tops for men in colours such as green, blues, yellow, blue, purple, or even darker shades. Patterns can also be fun, especially if you work with young patients.

How to Layer Scrubs Correctly?

Layering is not just important in fashion and on cold days. Layering is crucial when you’re working as a nurse or any other medical professional. However, layering is more than just throwing on something and going to work. You should have the knowledge on how to combine textures and materials.

In medical institutions, temperatures can vary greatly, and there’s little you can do about it. It will get extremely hot at one point and extremely cold at other times. One great piece for layering are long-sleeved undershirts. They’re a great option for chilly days. Pick materials that feel nice on your skin. Something lightweight, stretchy and soft.

Tank tops are another option. They will give you a stylish and professional look at the same time. They’ll do a good job while you’re wearing light-coloured scrubs during hot weather. You have some options for under your bottoms as well. Jeggings will do a good job when the weather is cold. No one will see them under your loose pants. They’re comfortable, warm and will feel nice on your skin.

You can also go for biking shorts. Most of them have moisture wicking properties and will hide sweat stains. Most medical institutions have colour limitations so be mindful of the colour of your undergarments. They shouldn’t show. Always test your outfit before going to work, as this way you’ll know if it’s appropriate or not.