Standard Scrubs Never Fit Nurses Right
Healthcare professionals, including nurses, CNAs, and students, consistently express frustration with the fit and quality of standard scrubs. They struggle with issues like length, sizing inconsistencies, stiffness, and lack of comfortable stretch, often resorting to alterations or settling for subpar options. Finding scrubs that accommodate diverse body types and work environments proves challenging.
SOURCES (60)
“Cherokee has a line of scrub tops that are crew neck! Also for headbands I had the same issue. I ended up getting the twist turban type on Etsy and they did not slip as much. I still had to do a low pony, bun,…”
“I work in private duty, with kiddos of various ages, and I’m in need of new scrubs! I really need something that covers up well (no v-necks- one of my little ones pulls on my shirts all the time and I don’t want to be flashing people) 🙃 and something veryyy breathable, as I sweat a lottt and I go outside with my clients even in hot weather almost everyday. In the winter I just layer with thermals underneath so I really just need options for the summer that don’t leave me feeling sweaty and gros”
“I got rid of mine because I hated how the fabric felt on my skin but that's a Me problem. They were otherwise great.”
“Hello! I am recently new to wearing scrubs and I was looking into fabletics scrubs because of their discounts and colors. I did want to get a bit of advice on their top sizing since I couldn’t really tell from photos. Usually, I get scrub joy tops in the short length since they fit me a lot better than the regular length. However, the scrub top in the fabletics photos seem to be around that length? For fabletics, would I be fine with ordering the normal length top or should I still shop for the”
“I mean, I’m all for malicious compliance! How about going bold and getting some of the Figs leggings scrubs? They don’t have pink but a nice maroon color lol”
Seconding Cherokee Infinity. They have been my go to brand for years now
“Cherokee infinity. They breathe. They stretch. They’re affordable. Plenty of pockets. A pair lasts me 5 years”
“Hi fellow day/nightwalkers - Our hospital has now instituted a policy where we are no longer allowed to wear surgical greens unless we work in the OR or perioperative areas. I believe very strongly in a personal policy of malicious compliance, so I am going to wear pink scrub bottoms to work from now on. I am a beefy male nurse. Any recommendations on scrub brands that have a single rear pocket at minimum and if they have other pockets, no major concern. I haven’t bought scrubs in 16 years.  ”
“I had my first fitting today and my dress did not come close to zipping. It was off by like, 3-4 inches. They measured me when I bought the dress a year ago, and re-measured my waist and it's 2 in bigger now. I haven't gained any weight at all, but have been weightlifting 4 days a week so maybe that's part of the cause idk honestly. The staff was very nice but they have to remake the bodice essentially and order more fabric and now I'm freaking out that the dress still won't”
“I’m a new intern and I have to wear business casual over my white coat on the floors. What is a good brand and specific outfit that can pass for business casual but is really more comfortable than scrubs? Something you can work out in perhaps? submitted by /u/polyester57 [link] [comments]”
“I really wanted to like these pants, but every pair I owned ended up coming apart in the crotch.”
“Most I've tried are just far too thin and it's uncomfortable with uh what they show lol submitted by /u/tropicalrad [link] [comments]”
“preferably male but what scrubs (male or female) makes your bottom look good? thank you kindly, submitted by /u/-_lo [link] [comments]”
“What color scrubs do you wear? I am starting soon and haven’t been told what color scrubs I need to purchase. submitted by /u/FiberheadRD [link] [comments]”
“i used to buy figs until i puked on a pair during a norovirus code brown and just stared at the trash can. 70 bucks straight into the bin. that was my wakeup call. now i grab five pairs of the walmart scrubs twice a year and call it a day. theyre thin and the pockets rip but i can throw them out without a second thought. a seamstress by the hospital patches the pockets for like five bucks a pair if i really like a set. its not pretty but neither is my job at 3am.”
“Hi everyone. I have a smaller head and I’m bald. I don’t love the way standard scrub caps fit me. There’s a lot of space left over which leads to a baggy awkward looking fit. I’ve used wonderwink in the past when I had hair but obviously too big now. Any recommendations for tighter fitting or smaller scrub caps? Thank you submitted by /u/Asleep_Lab985 [link] [comments]”
“Modeled by Figgy. The gown is open on bottom and can be tied to hold it in place. submitted by /u/BleachingBones [link] [comments]”
“I know this question sounds ridiculous but scrubs are the only clothes I wore my entire life that’s comfy, have good shapes, and lots of big pockets. I feel like scrubs fit all body types, especially us average sized, because a lot of time I find myself either not slim enough or not curvy enough for certain clothing styles. It gives that effortless vibe too it. I want to wear it everyday, but also don’t want to look like I am wearing scrubs outside work. I hope someone gets my point… submi”
“Hi all, New grad ICU murse here looking for scrubs options. Pretty set on Carhartt but I was wondering the differences between the Force Essentials and Force Cross-Flex collections they have and which would be better for the ICU environment. I know I'm probably going to buy them both and see which one I like better but I can't really test them in the real environment without possibly ruining them. Pretty much just looking for the public's opinion. Thanks! submitted by /u/”
“I don’t like it when i bend/sit/kneel and my scrubs ride up my calves. I hate wearing long socks and I also don’t want to have to shave my legs all the time. My last clinic provided our scrubs so I don’t know which fits work in what ways. Which scrub type avoids this the best? I wear petite scrub bottoms. submitted by /u/hotdogwater64 [link] [comments]”
“Hi guys and gals - I don't know if it's because my head is getting fatter or if my scrub cap is just 6 year old and getting tight but I think I need to retire it. It's like Superman without his cape but I know if I don't want migraines I need a new one. Mine was a gift from an old coworker, so I don't know where she got it from. Do you all have a place or website you like the most to get your scrub caps? I'm trying to have it with a custom photo of my soul doggo that has”
“Mine are at least 5 years old, but I’ve lost a decent amount of weight and they’re starting to sag down if I put anything in the pockets lol, so I might have to shell out for some new ones soon”
“I replaced my pants with a yoga style pants from Amazon. I wear tshirts. I work private duty now.”
“Short story long, I don’t have many scrub stores near me and am looking for scrub pants that’s are flexible in the crotch so that I can widen my base of support to perform transfers and other various tasks without ripping my pants. I use to buy a pair of Dickies that I really liked but they seem to always be out of stock now. submitted by /u/Beans4TheChowder115 [link] [comments]”
“This looks like exactly what I want. Theyre expensive but I think I'm gonna do it. Thanks for the rec!”
“I'm so glad I'm not the only one who thinks this. Its literally terrible. I change the moment I'm done working.”
“Cotton is gonna hold in the sweat though. Synthetic is better for hit natured people”
“Hello everyone! I started work at a new clinic that allows us to wear our own scrubs if we choose to. The work scrubs are uncomfortable and I wanted to get more breathable and comfortable scrubs. However, as a wide calf girlie i’ve had a lot of trouble finding scrubs that fit my butt and thighs without being too tight on my calves. Any recommendations are helpful! submitted by /u/Fun_Masterpiece9273 [link] [comments]”
“Buying my first work scrubs and looking for anti fur and lint underscrubs. Having a hard time finding 3/4 sleeve tops to hide my chubby upper arms too! I'm 5'3" and 150 lbs. submitted by /u/Budget_Quiet_5824 [link] [comments]”
“So I've been wearing Carhartt scrubs for some time specifically the force style with the breathable crotch and back fabric. This style has been discontinued and I'm not a fan of the replacement. I need my fellow sweaty folks to weigh in on what is the most breathable scrubs and best for a sweaty boy that just wants to stay cool. I'm a hefty lad so any that for bigger people well is a plus. submitted by /u/dang_it_bobby93 [link] [comments]”
“I haven’t bought my own scrubs for a job in about 6 years and at that time I just thrifted them because there wasn’t really a dress code. I’m about to start a new job and will need to start sourcing my own scrubs and not really sure what brands are worth it. They have to be specific colors for both the onboarding period and then it chances to a different color after that……. The onboarding period is about three months so I’m not sure whether to get like two pairs of high quality scrubs or four of”
“I work in an office that deals with healthcare. You'd think it would just be business casual but nope, we have uniforms. The shirts are perfectly fine, just the logo and they hold up. The pants however are absolutely ridiculous. They are just black slacks with our logo on the right upper pocket, and they costed 30$ when I started a year ago. 6 months ago my work pants split at the crotch. I asked my manager about getting more and he said it could take a while and told me I could go to the un”
“I have 3 work placements in various clinics lined up for the coming academic year, these will be my first placements. 2 of the clinics are organising me scrubs for the duration of my placement, and the remaining has instructed me to dress “smart casual, comfortable shoes.” I’m super nervous about my clothing decisions and wanted to run them by yall before I get stuck in. My ideas are white button ups and plain neutral coloured polo tops, various comfortable and semi formal trousers (as seen in p”
“I know this is a very minor problem, but I’m a new grad about to start my first nursing job and I’m finding that scrubs in the same color from different brands don’t match. My uniform is navy scrubs that I can buy from anywhere, so I’ve tested the waters with three sets of scrubs that I could return if I don’t like. All three scrub sets, two of which are both from Cherokee, have slightly different navy hues and it drives me crazy. I like the pants from one set but the top from another and was ho”
“Like the title says, just curious if anyone has found scrub pants that fit similar to Lululemons Studio Pants? I like that they’re fitting to the butt and hips (comfort wise lol, not look wise), and then looser in the legs. submitted by /u/freeyoursunny [link] [comments]”
“I don't wear a real scrub top to work anymore I wear a solid colored non form fitting athletic top as it's comfier. Only downside is less pockets. Does opting for a shirt over scrub top appear unprofessional? I haven't been able to find comfort in an actual scrub top like my $20 athletic shirts. submitted by /u/kittyjoe81 [link] [comments]”
“Pretty much title. Finishing off intern year and my specialty will require us to wear slacks and a buttoned shirt for the rest of residency. It’s embarrassing but somehow I have no dress clothes that actually fit me (I’ve put on some lbs lol). What are people wearing that is comfortable? I really like the j crew pants I’ve had, but I’m honestly at a loss for what brands of shirts to buy. I want to prioritize comfort above all else because I think it’s dumb to make us dress up for clinic, I at le”
“Im a size small. I have tried medium sizes but they are too big around the waist. The smalls fit perfect but the waistbands on most scrubs have some compression that make my back hurt. Popular brands I've tried are figs and mandala. They have a great material for the leggings but then they make hard/thick waistbands that barely stretch and thats where I need stretch the most Any suggestions? submitted by /u/g-darling- [link] [comments]”
“So I bought my first pair of scrubs after graduating, from mandala, there aren’t any uniform stores near me so I couldn’t try them on before hand Anyway the shirt seem to be a bit to wide from side to side but maybe that’s just the boxy fit idk, I’m 5ft 11, 170 lbs, but the shoulders are kind of tight when I lift my arms up any higher than horizontal and it lifts the whole shirt up when I lift my arms over my head, is this a too big thing or a too small thing? The shoulder seam looks to me like”
“I am a 5 feet 6 inches tall man. Annoyingly all my height is in my torso so I kinda got short legs which has made shopping for pants always quite difficult. I've gotten petites before that were 28 inches inseam and they still just barely go past my toes so when I wear shoes I just got a big bunched area at the bottom of my feet 😭. I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations on scrub pants that could actually fit me. submitted by /u/RoundJournalist8126 [link] [comment”
“I have been wearing the hospital provided scrubs for a while now because I don’t like doing laundry. However I have a bit of a beer gut. I am otherwise a normal weight. But after someone asking me if I was pregnant yet again today, guess it’s time to up my scrubs game. Anyone have recommendations for flattering scrub pants? submitted by /u/Ok_Programmer7028 [link] [comments]”
“Petite/slim girls - what are your favorite scrub brands? Not a fan of joggers so I usually do a bootcut or straight leg fit. I have tried Figs before and they were nice but the price was just not justifiable. I really liked Poppy scrubs but they pilled like crazy! I have also tried a few amazon brands with no luck. Has anyone tried the Hypothesis or Resurge line from Uniform Advantage? TY! submitted by /u/Diligent-Cellist5431 [link] [comments]”
“Love these and want more, but they are thrifted and the tag print has been washed away with time. I can't seem to identify the brand of these and I don't see anyone else wearing them. Anyone familiar with these? [image related: most identifiable, unique things about the pants] Very soft, stretchy material, feels like polyester or nylon or something, not stiff and sturdy like cotton, but also not cheap feeling? submitted by /u/Labadoressence_XLR [link] [comments]”
“Looking for breathable / comfortable scrubs for home health. Dress code says navy, Grey or purple scrubs or business casual. Hoping to spend less than $25 a piece. submitted by /u/bastaxxo [link] [comments]”
“I keep seeing ads for them, they claim to be “designed for healthcare” blah blah blah and apparently you can use an HSA to buy them. Wondering if they’re any good. I’m starting gen surg intern year soon so I need good shoes for well…standing lol. submitted by /u/orthomyxo [link] [comments]”
“If you can't run in its it's not appropriate, it needs to LOOK professional, and it needs to BE functional.”
“I’ve been to a few scrubs stores and couldn’t find the right material! And when you get the wrong material, scrubs can be a fur magnet! What’s the secret material? What do I need to tell the scrubs store people because vet scrubs or hair resistant scrubs didn’t get me anywhere”
“this might actually be what i go with, found some black 5x drawstring scrubs over at allheart i’m gonna go for!”
“I’m loving Nike Air Force 1 while rounding. They’re simple and cheap. The ‘07 LV8 pairs well with most of scrub colors. But in some days I wear Palladium boots like the gray flannel Pampa Hi. submitted by /u/Front_To_My_Back_ [link] [comments]”
“do u guys like wearing joggers or loose pants? i wear joggers and have been since i started my nursing career 6 yrs ago. what do u guys wear? a lot of the new grads i work with wear loose pants like pants that look like yoga pants. not judging em but i’m curious if they’re comfy and what everyone else wears haha”
“What website do you guys recommend getting good scrubs from? I currently have Figs, but I definitely don’t have enough and I want to get more. Also underscrubs, I definitely need a good place to get those.”