Kathryn Dickson, an RN, DNP, FNP-C, ENP-C, is the CEO and founder of San Diego’s OliveUs Apparel. The cardiology nurse, emergency nurse practitioner and University of San Diego professor has introduced a new line of scrubs with built-in stethoscope holders. It’s a brilliantly simple design that allows nurses to safely tuck away their stethoscopes so they no longer have to dangle around their necks.
“It became very obvious to me at that moment that wearing a stethoscope around your neck was a workplace hazard,” Dickson told Nurse.org, explaining that she came up with the idea for the design after developing a neck rash from her stethoscope.
“Along with that, I could never find scrubs that I felt comfortable in. I was constantly altering my scrubs and looking for ways to make them fit better. That’s when I started sketching out designs.”
OliveUs scrubs come with a number of other features.
“There is a spot for every essential: stethoscope, phone, scissors, ID badge, credit card, and personal IDs,” she said. “The style is very flattering with options for different body shapes from tuckable to untuck on the top, and straight leg to joggers on the bottom, all in the fabric that is ideal for a body in motion.”
Dickson has shipped her scrub line all across the U.S. and overseas. According to the health care hero, business has been terrific.
“I had a very fun ‘aha’ moment recently when I saw a nurse passing in the hall at work, whom I do not know, wearing OliveUs scrubs,” Dickson said. " I said, ‘Nice scrubs!’ and she said she loved them and heard a nurse at the hospital made them…that made it all very real for me.”
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