Somali workers, employers finding common ground

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As part of her job helping patients breathe, Yusra Omar sometimes is required to go into sterile operating rooms where street clothes aren’t permitted.

The standard operating room attire for respiratory therapists is a surgical scrub top and pants. But following Muslim tradition, Omar wears long skirts and covers her head with a scarf or hijab.

Omar worked with Peggy Lange, director of respiratory care at St. Cloud Hospital, to find a solution. After looking at what other hospitals do and browsing medical clothing suppliers, they settled on a longer surgical gown worn over scrub pants with a head covering.

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