When you embark on a new career, having an appropriate wardrobe can be an important concern. If you are a clinical worker in the medical field, though, scrubs are the primary component of your work clothing. So, acquiring enough of them is an urgent priority.
A brand new pair of scrubs costs a minimum of $15. “Most clinical Caregivers work three shifts, but you want to have a little variety, so the fifteen-dollar set is not what most people are going to buy,” says Jenn Murray, RN, Director Emergency Department at Rapid City Hospital. “The least expensive scrubs are what you would picture in the operating room: very basic, one pocket, tie at the waist, stiff cotton material, not super stylish. Now, they have stretchy, flattering fabric. You can get additional pockets to carry all your stuff. They’ve got little loops to hook your pen on. They’re highly customizable.”
Purchasing scrubs, though, can be a barrier for newly-hired Caregivers who may be just entering the industry, are coming off of a long period between jobs or have recently completed schooling or training. This could mean that some roles go unfilled because Caregivers can’t afford scrubs.
One solution is that Monument Health has partnered with Scrubin Uniforms to offer discounted scrubs to help Caregivers to at least get started.
However, one pair of scrubs isn’t enough for a full-time individual. That’s why Jenn developed the Monument Health Scrub Recycling Program. “People’s sizes change, their roles change,” she says. “So why not have a way to let people—instead of taking them to Goodwill or throwing them away—bring used scrubs into their facility and just find a way to be able to disperse them?”
Starting last week, clinical Caregivers can donate gently used scrubs of any size and color via drop-off locations in the break rooms in the Lead-Deadwood, Sturgis and Spearfish Hospitals. The Rapid City drop-off cabinet can be found in the Fairmont Street lobby. Additional drop-off locations are being identified for those who do not work in one of the hospitals.
Story: Kory Lanphear
Image: Nate Dickerson