Now that you have qualified as an Licensed Practical Nurse, you need to not only act and know the part but you will also need to look the part. You will be required to wear LPN uniforms; these are not something that you can get from your local department store. LPN uniforms or LPN scrubs are specialized uniforms that need to be obtained from certain sources.
What an LPN Uniform Looks Like
The LPN uniforms and LPN scrubs are made in such a way as to promote hygiene and safety to the nurse that wears it. Your general LPN uniforms consist of:
- LPN Scrubs
- LPN shoes
- LPN Stethoscopes
Although it is not the most glamorous outfit ever, it does distinguish you from the other types of nurses and medical practitioners. The type of uniform you need to wear will mostly depend on where you will be working and in which department you are working in.
The color of your LPN uniforms will also depend on your employer. You will need to find out what their criteria for the uniforms are. When you are entering into this field of work for the first time it may be a little daunting and frustrating to learn about so much in such a short time. Your employer will be able to tell you what is expected of you before you start and you will learn a great deal on your training course as well, but the acquiring and maintenance of your LPN scrubs will be completely up to you.
Should you have a problem with the fabric that the LPN uniforms are made of, such as an allergy or sensitivity then you can speak to your employer about having your LPN scrubs made especially for you by a supplier that is not on the list that was commissioned by the department of health.
Where to Acquire the Right Scrubs
As soon as you know what it is that you need to buy, you need to find out where to get it. There are certain outlets that have been granted the authority to make the LPN uniforms that are worn by nurses all over the country and these have to meet certain requirements and standards. Although it may sound rather silly, these requirements are for your protection and comfort.
A few places where you can start looking for these LPN uniforms are:
- American Health Care Services Inc.
- Acorn Uniforms LCC
- Jenndigo Designs
- Harbour Scrubs Company LCC
- Today’s uniforms
- Ackley Uniforms
These are only a few examples of places where you will find these approved uniforms, but what is it that makes an approved uniform better than something else? Your LPN uniforms that are approved by the National Department of Health are breathable and made from natural fibers. They are easy to clean and they don’t store bacteria. You would also want your LPN uniforms to not be see-through. This is only possible if you have a good quality material that has been worked properly.
How to Care for Your Scrubs
When you work with the health and welfare of others who cannot care for themselves, it is hard to keep yourself crisp and clean. Imagine all of the things that you will need to do during one workday and the trials you have to go through every day. For this reason you need to make sure that you know how to take care of your uniform.
Because you are looking after the sickly and the frail, you have to make sure that you have a clean and neat uniform at all times. If you have small children then you will understand just how difficult it is to keep a white garment clean and neat, but this is what is expected.
To help you obtain this crisp whiteness, you can purchase a stain remover from your supermarket that contains no bleach. Although bleach is fantastic at killing germs and keeping whites the way they should be, it tends to damage the fabric after a while and this shortens the lifespan of your uniform. If you get just a splash of it on the rest of your uniform you are doomed as well. After using bleach on your white clothing a few times, they tend to go a light yellow color as well which is not ideal at all. The stain remover will help you to get those stains out before you give them a wash with all of your other white clothing.
Which Brings Us to the Separation of the Garments
It may seem really old fashioned and time consuming, especially with so many products out there these days for white garments as well as those with color, but it really will do you the world of good to wash your white garments separately from the other colored washing. It is so easy for one of the other garments to lose a bit of color in the wash and that can ruin your entire uniform in one simple wash. The stain remover from your white washing could also affect the color-fastness on the other garments which could make their colors bleed as well.
Cold Wash is Your Best Wash
When you wash your clothing in cold water, you will also find that their colors last a lot longer and that the material does not get damaged quite as easily as when you wash with warm water. You could hand wash your uniform to make it last even longer if you have the time and energy to do that. If you do not have the time to stand and hand wash your uniform, then you could pre-soak it in cold water and a non-bleach stain remover before washing it with the other whites in your washing.
Hanging Your Uniform Out to Dry
Air drying your uniform is so much better for it than tumble drying it. You should always read the manufacturer’s label on the garment to see if you are able to tumble dry your clothing, but it is always best to not tumble dry your clothing to make them last longer. When you hang up your uniform, you need to be careful where you pin them to the line so that you don’t leave marks. It is also advised to hang them inside out so that if there is a mark on them from your washing line, that it is on the inside which is not as noticeable as on the outside. When your LPN uniforms are clean, stain-free and dry, you can iron them and hang them up. Hanging your LPN uniforms just make so much more sense because they will not crease while hanging in a closet.
A Quick Care Supply List
So, effectively you will need the following to preserve your uniform for as long as you can:
- A non-bleach stain remover
- A mild detergent or a detergent that is specific for white washing
- A tub for pre-washing
- A clean and well maintained washing line (even if it is just inside the house)
If the Shoe Fits
There are so many ways to get the dress code wrong just by using inappropriate shoes. When you are choosing shoes to go with your LPN uniforms, then you need to think for yourself what you and those shoes are going to be going through together on a daily basis. You may come into contact with blood from a patient and if your shoes have holes in the top of them, then that blood may seep into your shoes and onto your feet. In your line of work, you want as little as possible skin contact with body fluids in order to minimize your risk of infection.
When you are rushing down a passage on your way to an emergency, the last thing you and your patient needs is for you to slip and get injured on your way there. Non-slip shoes are essential. If they do not have a sole that has a super grip, then they were just not meant to be. You will not be allowed to wear open-toed shoes if you deal with patients for the same reason that you may not wear shoes with holes in the top and front. You will also just be posing a danger to yourself if you wear heals or court shoes. These types of shoes are not only dangerous, but they are also uncomfortable.
The ideal shoe that you will be looking for is something that will support your feet, will be comfortable to wear, will last quite as well as being easy to clean and will be non-slip and closed off completely. You will work long hours on your feet and will be moving at a very fast pace throughout your day with very little time to sit down and reflect on the happenings around you. Your shoes need to be there for you as you are for your patients
What Makes You Stand Out, Should Make You Proud
At the end of the day, if you look after yourself and you take pride in your appearance, then you will look professional and will receive a much better response from your employers and your patients alike.
