You have 10 patients you have to check up on during your shift in the ICU. As you walk into the 4th patient’s room you encounter the dreaded scene. A highly emotional family sees you walk in and they attack. Some crying hysterically wanting to know if their loved one is going to be ok, others, like the father, are getting upset and yelling at you thinking he can do your job better than you or the doctors can. While you might want to run or make sarcastic comments back, you know this will not help your case in the long run. You know you need to calm the family down (after all it probably isn’t great for the patient having their stress level go up because of their family), but you also have 6 other patients you need to check on and get vitals for. Here are some ways to help you handle that kind of family:

1.) Listen. Let them talk, many times if the family knows you are listening and understanding what they are saying they feel more comfortable and begin to trust you. Many people just need to vent out what they are thinking and feeling and suddenly they feel better.

2.) Reassure. When dealing with a family member, no matter what state they may be in, make sure you keep reminding them that you are doing everything in your power to help care for the patient along with the doctors.

3.) What you say. Remember, most of the family probably did not go to medical school. While medical lingo is the way you speak normally, pause and remember to speak “human” to the family!

4.) Strength in Numbers. If you have an extra aggressive family member, you don’t have to face them alone. Bring another nurse along when you talk to the family member so you have backup in case you need it. Also, that other nurse may be able to calm down the family member in a way you didn’t think of!
Handling difficult family members is tough and sometimes you just want to avoid it. Hang in there and support the family. It’s sometimes hard to remember between your rounds, all the procedures you need to follow and personal things that are on your mind that the family could be in a panic & fear state of mind. Any support you give them will help them calm down and allow you to do your job.

As nurses you have one of the most hands-on jobs. You must be mindful of what you touch, how you handle equipment and observe proper hygiene protocols. This can all take a toll on your skin. Depending on where in the nursing field you are, you have to wash your hands upwards of 50 times in a day!

The harshness of anti-bacterial soap can severely dry out your hands and make them cracked and uncomfortable. Nobody likes to let other people see their cracked hands. After all, to many of your patients, your hands are healing hands! Take care of your hands so they can take care of your patients. Using something like Remedy ® Nutrashield which traps in the moisture can keep your hands soft and comfortable. The important piece is to make sure you use the moisturizer as frequently during the day as possible. The more often you use it, the more effective it will be at keeping your hands smooth!

Additional things to do to help protect your hands are to wear gloves whenever you go outside (obviously to protect your hands from the elements), avoid using harsh industrial soaps, wash your hands with lukewarm water (hot water doesn’t help your dry hands) and stay hydrated!

Another skincare must-have for nurses is the lip balm. With all the smiling you need to do during the day, having chapped, cracked lips makes smiling painful and can even cause some bleeding which wouldn’t be a great thing to greet a patient with! Remedy® Lip Balm starts to work instantly on your lips leaving a refreshing cool sensation to bring relief to your lips!

Have tips of your own to help your skin feel great? Post it on our FaceBook wall.

Medline’s newest product line, PerforMax is an all-in-one dream scrub. The fabric acts like athletic wear to propel heat and moisture away from the body to keep you dry and comfortable.It is twice as strong as the leading scrub fabric so it can stand up to the rigors of everyday wear for longer than any of the scrubs that you have. And the best part?! No complex instructions on how to clean your scrubs. It’s as simple as putting it in the washer then dryer.

829: PerforMax Warm Up	810: PerforMax Scrub Top	800: PerforMax Scrub Pants

To celebrate the new line, please take advantage of the 10% off discount on all PeforMax apparel. Enter the coupon code: Peformax10. Be the first to experience these new scrubs and see how perfectly they fit for you and your hectic job!

And as an added bonus you will get free shipping on all your scrub orders until the end of the year at www.scrubs123.com

The ribbons may be pink, but breast cancer affects men as well as women. Yes, it’s true that women are much more likely to develop breast cancer, but nearly 2,000 men are diagnosed with the disease each year.

Do the numbers surprise you? Maybe. Or maybe not. Either way, remember - there are ways to improve your odds. Taking early preventative measures can reduce your chances of developing breast cancer. Go ahead and evaluate your lifestyle. Are you...

• Eating healthy? A diet rich in fresh fruits and veggies has been shown to lower a person’s chances of developing breast cancer. Go for at least 5 servings of produce per day, balanced with plenty of whole grains and lean protein.

• Working out regularly? Scientific studies show a link between exercise and decreased risk of cancer. Men who are overweight are more likely to develop excess estrogen and insulin - which can lead to cancer. Make exercise a part of your daily routine so you can reach a healthy weight and improve your odds.

• You also might want to learn a little about your family’s genetic history. If you have female relatives who developed breast cancer then you are at a greater risk. Also, certain gene mutations can significantly increase a man’s likelihood of one day having breast cancer. If you’re concerned about your predisposition to the disease then make sure to talk with your doctor about getting screened.

• Get out there and do something about it. Beat cancer to the punch and get involved in breast cancer awareness. Find out what local fundraisers are going on in your area. Make a donation to a cancer research foundation. Man up and talk with your friends and family members about genetic history and eating right.

Don’t forget to support the cause and Shop Pink at Scrubs123 - your one stop shop for Nursing Scrubs, Medical Scrubs & Scrub Uniforms. And if you like to be the first to know about upcoming sales and promos, then be sure to like Scrubs123.com on Facebook!

January may be nearly over, but it’s not too late to make a new resolution. This one will take a little time and effort (then again, what resolution doesn’t?), but it can lead to more money in the wallet and a lesser number on the bathroom scale.

Packing a lunch doesn’t have to mean swiping your daughter’s Lunchables or relying on a daily PB&J. If done up right, packed lunches will help you save money and cut calories. Check out these Dos and Don’ts for packing the healthiest lunches:

DO...

* ...pack last night’s leftovers in a microwave-safe container (consider getting small Pyrex glass containers as they are safer to microwave than tupperware).
* ...try making a “pita-pizza” by packing a whole-grain pita, ½ cup low-fat tomato sauce, and ½ cup skim shredded mozzarella, and ½ cup mixed veggies in separate containers. Put them together and heat in the microwave at work!
* ...substitute hummus and bean dips for fattening ranch-flavored vegetable dips. Same creamy texture, but way less fat (and a lot more protein!).
* ...make sure the majority of your lunch is made up of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Keep the fatty, sugary, and processed foods to a minimum.

DON’T...

* ...skip out on protein. A super-light, fat-free diet meal is not going to keep you going ‘til dinner (and chances are, you’ll overeat in the evening to compensate). Try adding nuts, hard-boiled eggs, beans, tuna, or cottage cheese to your packed lunch.
* ...drink your calories. Many people that pack healthy lunches unintentionally sabotage their diet by adding a vending machine soft drink. Switch to water or unsweetened tea to keep your calorie balance in check.
* ...rush it. We know it’s nearly impossible to sit back and enjoy a lunch break these days. But do whatever you can to eat your lunch slowly without working at the same time. Studies show that eating quickly while stressed can actually increase the feeling of hunger and cause people to overeat.

Ready to be the envy of all the lunchroom? Pack your lunches. And when that extra cash adds up (and those extra pounds fall off) reward yourself with a new set of scrubs. Check out Scrubs123 for a vast collection of Medical Scrubs and Nurses Uniforms. And if you haven’t already then be sure to follow @scrubs_123 on Twitter. We’ve got great discounts and giveaways that you won’t want to miss, tweet us!

Whether you’re new to the scrub-wearing game or a veteran at donning the duds, at some point you’ll face that harrowing question - “How many scrubs does a person really need?” 2? 5? 25?

The answer is: it depends. So before you throw out your 30 year collection of scrubs (or run to the nearest store and buy 12 more pairs), check out these tips and tricks for determining just how many scrubs you really need:

First, make sure you know your employer’s policies on scrub cuts, colors, and patterns. Does your employer use color coding to distinguish between departments? Are patterned scrubs allowed? You don’t want to run out and buy your favorite Mickey Mouse scrubs and then find out your employer only allows solid colors. Check the rule book before updating your wardrobe.

Compare your laundry schedule and work schedule. It’s true, some of us only do laundry every other week. Others like to throw in a load every other night. Think realistically about how often you do laundry and whether or not you care about having freshly washed scrubs every single time you work. (Tip: if you regularly pick up extra shifts you should keep an extra pair of scrubs on hand so that you’re not scrambling to find a clean pair at the last minute.)

Look for wear and tear. How tough are you on your scrubs? Just because you think you have enough scrubs doesn’t mean it’s not time to retire some of the old ones. Do at least an annual check on your scrubs to determine which ones to keep and which ones to toss.

Check the weather. Do you live in a cold climate state? You may want to invest in some long-sleeved scrub jackets (such as Landau Scrub Jackets Crew Neck Warm-up Jacket) for the winter months. This means you’ll need both short-sleeved and long-sleeved scrubs. If you live in a warm-weather state you are more likely to get through the winter with the same short-sleeved scrubs that you wear in the summer (though you may want to layer a tank or long-sleeved t-shirt if it gets a little cool).

Consider your own personal tastes. If your employer allows you to choose the cut and colors of your scrubs then you have the freedom to express yourself through your work attire. What’s your style? Do you want some with patterns (check out these patterned Scrub Tops, Scrub Bottoms & Scrub Jackets) and some that are solid? Do you want special holiday scrubs? Think about what colors and patterns will most make you feel comfortable and cheerful at work.

So, bottom line - think carefully about your unique needs and tastes before buying (or throwing out) all your scrubs. When it’s time to get some new work apparel Scrubs123 will meet your needs!

How many scrubs you use? Let us know!

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Medical scrubs need to be durable enough to withstand the demands of a double shift in the emergency room but do not need to be so “rugged” that you may as well be working in overalls. Angelstat scrubs by Medline are the perfect combination of comfort and durability.

We hear from countless medical professionals that have purchased trendy scrubs only to have them fall apart after one washing or fray under the frantic working conditions that can exist at hospitals and health care institutions. Still others talk of buying rugged scrubs that have the rigidity of cardboard and do not move with the customer. A hybrid must exist. Luckily, one does.

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