Buying the right uniform may seem like an easy task, but today when there are so many designs, colours and options, things may get overwhelming. If you're a young doctor or a nurse and have just got a new job in a hospital or clinic, you'll first need to get a set of scrubs. A scrub set includes a loose top and pants; they should be comfortable, and protective and allow you to work without feeling defocused. There are many things you need to consider such as your budget, but also colour, and neck cut (should you get a mock wrap scrub or a V-neck cut?). If you have any dilemmas here are some helpful tips.

Expensive vs. Cheap

Are you on a budget? Even if you are, it's a better idea to buy scrubs of good quality, even if it means that you'd spend a little more. Buying cheap ones may match your planned budget, but will surely not last for too long. Keep in mind that you'll wear and wash these scrubs often, so they should be made of quality fabrics that can withstand all that. My suggestion is to get one more expensive quality par, and three cheaper ones. This will allow you to rotate them and be covered for a long time.

Trendy or Basic?

This all depends on you. Not every person in healthcare feels like wearing basic scrubs; some prefer being trendy. Your scrubs should feel comfortable to you not only material-wise but design-wise as well. If you're just starting to work at a new healthcare facility, look around and see what your co-workers are wearing. Your decision will largely depend on whether you will feel comfortable with a trendy look or a basic tunic design. If most of your co-workers wear basic scrubs, you might not feel like stand out. Finding the right scrub takes a bit of trial and error.

V-neck. Mock Wrap, Round or Square

When it comes to neck cuts, it's all up to your preferences. What matters is whether the design fits you comfortably. Mock wrap scrub tops are nothing but basic scrubs with a touch of modern style. They come in various styles, fabrics, colours and colour mixes, and with numerous pocket features. You can easily pair a mock wrap top with different unisex and women's scrub pants styles. As long as the design fits comfortably, the scrubs can have different neck cuts. Besides the mock wrap cut, you can choose v-neck and round-neck uniforms. You can also get the U-shape, split neck, scoop neck and other neck variants. Just make sure to check if your employer is all right with the style aspects.

Chest Pockets - Yes or No?

Pockets are essential for scrubs as they will help you carry things such as thermometers, keys, phones, pens, stethoscopes, etc. Some doctors or nurses aren't fans of many pockets. The reason behind that is that it gives them too much storage space they would eventually fill, which will give additional weight to their uniform, therefore, additional stress to their neck and shoulders.

Choose a scrub with a pocket and patch pocket; this way you'll have enough room to place all your medical instruments and necessities such as phones and pens. Patch pockets are handy as they will carry the most necessary items close to you (pen, thermometer, etc.). This way you won't seek these things in your scrub pants pockets. However, if you're annoyed with these gadgets and may feel that they are making clutter, seek scrubs with no pockets.

The featured pockets should be kept in a limited number. Things like alcohol pads, a pair of scissors, and even a pair of gloves should be kept in pockets for convenient use. So if you're choosing tops and pants with pockets, make sure they're large enough to gather all these things.

Some designers don’t include pockets for women's scrubs, since bulky pockets will interfere with the female body shape.

White or Colored Scrubs

White is the first association with doctors’ and nurses’ uniforms. It looks clean and patients won't have a hard time identifying you. However, you can choose coloured scrubs as well. The most common choice of colour is green or blue; these are calming colours and are not going to show stains that easily. White scrubs on the other hand are a stain magnet; even the tiniest stain will be easily visible.

Before you opt out for a coloured scrub, make sure that the healthcare facility you work at allows that. It would be inappropriate to choose scrubs in the total opposite of the employer’s colour scheme. If there’s no specific rule, choose dark colours such as black, navy blue, dark brown and maroon.

Dark vs. Light Colors

If you're choosing coloured scrubs, consider light vs. dark colours. Green or blue scrubs are the most commonly used. They won't show stains easily and are a good choice for people with any body type. Dark colours for instant (navy or black) are superb for plus-size individuals because of their ability to make the figure more slender. Light colours may easily make a person look bigger because they draw much attention. Some doctors and nurses change their uniform colour based on the season, simply to improve their mood.