How Should Scrubs Fit?
As everyday heroes, medical professionals need clothing that fits well to allow them optimal flexibility and comfort – but how should scrubs fit?
Nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals generally have to wear scrubs for a solid 8-12 hours per shift, and sometimes longer. These garments need to stand up to a significant degree of wear and tear, but more importantly, they have to be comfortable and unobtrusive so as not to impede a healthcare professional during their day-to-day.
Scrubs are generally made from flexible, stretchy, and breathable material, much like a lot of common athletic wear, and they’re cut in such a way to help healthcare professionals easily move around without putting significant amounts of stress on the fabric. But when picking out your own scrubs, it’s quite easy to get a lot of things wrong.
Finding Scrubs That Fit
To find the right scrubs fit, you must gather all the information you might need to make your pick, especially if you’re ordering your scrubs online. It’s easier to find the right fit when you can try it on, but that isn’t an option when purchasing your scrubs online.
That doesn’t mean you’re doomed to play a game of roulette, though. We’re here to help you figure out exactly what kind of scrubs fit you need.
Begin with Your Measurements
Just like any other piece of clothing, the first step to getting an accurate and comfortable fit is figuring out what specifically might fit you these days. If you’re trying to order online, then getting your current measurements taken is important. Don’t try to rely off of old measurements, because as we all know, measurements can change drastically over time.
Definitely don’t try to order a size based on other clothes and scrubs you might have bought in the past. The reason sizing charts exist and are so important is because many companies rely on different definitions of small, medium, large, and other sizes, and what might be small for one company might be medium for another.
Taking your own measurements without help might be a little bit of a chore, but it can still be done. If you’re taking your own measurements, make sure to wear form-fitting clothes with your usual undergarments before measuring. Don’t measure in loose or heavy clothing. For women and men alike, a form-fitting tank top with a pair of jogging pants would be ideal. You don’t need to wear leggings, as scrub pants generally only require you to know your inseam, hips, and waist.
Measuring for the Right Size Fit
To choose the right size and fit for you, you will want to know your chest, waist, hips, and inseam measurements. Make sure to use a flexible measuring tape, and avoid fabric measuring tape. It stretches over time, which obviously defeats the point.
- Stand up straight, get a full-body mirror to have an idea of whether you’re measuring properly or not, and begin.
- When measuring the chest, measure it at its fullest point, for both men and women. That would usually be close to the nipple.
- Next, for the waist, measure at the navel (or belly button).
- For the hips, put your feet together and measure right on the widest part of your hips, usually below the pelvic bone.
- For the inseam, measure from the seam of your pants down to an inch below the ankle. The inseam determines the lengths of the scrub pants.
It’s easier to get more accurate measurements when someone else is doing the measuring, so if you want to, enlist a little help to get your proper measurements. From there, consult a sizing chart.
Finding the Right Scrub Size
If you’re a particularly tall person, then check to see if the company manufacturing your scrubs has special measurements and sizing options for tall people. Usually, the only serious consideration here is the inseam. For taller, lankier individuals, it’s often a struggle to find scrub pants with an inseam long enough for their legs. Different companies offer special tall scrub pants with inseams ranging from 32” to 36”. Likewise, if you are petite (under 5’3” as a woman), check to see for petite options.
If you are plus size (different definitions apply here, from sizes 12 and up to sizes 18 and up), note that some companies offer a different plus size collection made with a special fit, with longer sleeves and more breathing room around the belly for greater comfort. For men/unisex sizing charts, plus size scrubs generally start at 2XL, although some brands start at XL.
Size is important, and you generally want fitting scrubs – not too small, but not too baggy either. Loose, baggy scrubs can become difficult to move around quickly in, and if you decide to pick loose-fitting scrub pants, you may have trouble keeping them on in hectic situations. If you do prefer your scrubs to fit a little loosely, then consider a different cut, rather than a different size.
Be sure to pick scrubs that are true to your measurements. If you buy 100% cotton, consider getting something slightly roomier, to combat potential shrinking.
Choose Your Fit
Offers for scrubs fit and style vary wildly, with some companies offering unisex, men’s, and women’s scrubs, while others also offer special fits such as:
- Athletic fits
- Plus size fits
- Maternity scrubs
- So called modern or classic fits, wherein modern describes a more form-fitting cut that hugs the limbs and waist little more closely. Classic leaves more room in the sleeves and legs, with roomier pant legs, pants that fit up along the waist, and a longer top that falls below the hips.
Different neck cuts exist, as well, with choices from round, to v-neck, mock wrap, tunic top, and wrap top. While largely aesthetic, your bust and other considerations may sway you towards one or the other.
Pant cuts are another choice for you to make, with common options being a low, mid, or full-rise waist, a flare cut, pants with just the drawstring, or pants with both elastic and drawstring, tapered legs, straight legs, and more.
What Else Do You Want from Your Scrubs?
Scrubs nowadays come with a wide array of different features to appeal to healthcare professionals with a variety of needs, including antimicrobial fibers, scrub pockets, moisture wicking, odor control, fabric composition, and more.
- Do you need a 4-way stretch fabric, or is 2-way stretch enough for you?
- Is your skin sensitive to certain fabrics? Do you prefer cargo-style pants with plenty of pockets, or something sleeker?
Past the sizes and fits for your scrubs, there are several other factors to consider before you decide to get your own pair, including color (unless your workplace has a strict color code for clothing).
