They may not be the height of fashion, but for doctors, nurses and other hospital staff, scrubs are an indispensable uniform of choice.
The medically-issued pants, smocks and gowns inexpensive and are designed to be easily washed, with few pockets or folds that can hide sources of infection that can cause problems in a sterile operating room.
But over time, they can become stained or show other signs of wear, and rather than being tossed away, used scrubs can be given new life on the backs of health sciences students.
Knowing the financial challenges students face paying their own way through post-secondary school, the College of New Caledonia is asking health professionals to donate their working uniforms to the college to fund health sciences bursary programs. Collection bins are now set up at two drop-off locations -- the CNC library and the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation office at UNBC.
"It makes a huge difference in the lives of students and it gives health professionals a way to give back," said CNC nursing instructor and scrub drive organizer Nancy Esopenko. "The students are very grateful to those who help fund their education."
Last March, five standout CNC students who demonstrated professionalism and community dedication received $250 bursaries from the scrub program.
CNC is reaching out to doctors, nurses, medical lab technologists, medical radiography technologists, health care assistants, technologists, dental hygienists and assistants and encouraging them to donate their used scrubs. Scrubs must be in good shape and donors are being asked to wash them before they give them away.
The donated scrubs will sell for between $5 and $20, to be available in September once fall classes resume.
