Nursing Scrubs are a type of protective clothing designed to be worn by medical staff during times when they are likely to come into contact with bodily fluid or infectious substances. The scrubs save the wearer from making contact with that substance by forming a barrier between them and it. This ensures the medical atmosphere is safe and clean for patients and clinics.
Who wears scrubs?
They are worn mostly by medical experts who work within hospitals such as nurses and doctors, but any person visiting a hospital can be asked to wear them. They are also worn by other medical industries such as carers, midwives, or vets.
Why do doctors or nurses wear scrubs?
Scrubs started in 1981 when the Spanish Flu hit. Millions died due to the serious disease, and with a rising understanding of how bacteria and viruses spread surgeons took to wearing masks.
By the 1940s, knowledge of wound and virus infection had improved, and surgeons started wearing gowns and drapes in operating theaters. During this time scrubs would be white, but after some time fabric changed to green.
The green stopped surgeons from being desensitized to the colour of the human body.
Types of scrub uniform
If you are in the market for medical attire, you need to familiarize yourself with various types of scrubs first. Read up to learn 5 different medical scrub types.
Surgical scrubs
Surgical scrubs are designed for operating theatres, doctor surgeries, and hospitals. They are made to be disposable and sterile due to the chemicals and fluids that surgeons come in contact with during their procedures. They are also very loose so they don’t affect right working movements, and are perfectly-body coverage to keep the skin safe during surgeries. Surgical scrubs include surgical masks, surgical clogs, pullover clothing, and more.
Maternity scrubs, as the name advises, are mainly designed for women expecting a delivery. Maternity scrubs generally come in orange, light yellow, and other light colors. These types are a best choice for expectant mothers who want to be relaxed and still look stylish.
Nursing scrubs for women
Medical scrubs for women are unlike other scrub types. They have specialized in pattern (such as indigenous scrubs), styling, and special roomy pockets, shapes, and colors that match female nurses. They also feature extra flexibility and comfort for long shifts.
Lab coats
Lab coats are long-sleeved white coats that are made of breathable and stain-repellent fabric with antimicrobial finish. These are classic attire that doctors wear over another set of medical wear. Lab coats not just help physicians stand visible in a crowd of employees and patients, but they also make them look professional. These kinds of medical scrubs are polyester, or stain-proof polypropylene and they are simple to clean. Men and women can buy lab coats in a range of colors and styles to stand out.
Veterinary scrubs
Veterinary scrubs are created for experts who work with scaly or furry patients. Veterinarians have different job works than those who are in the human healthcare, which means they also need special uniforms. Veterinary scrubs are the best choice for daily use and are beneficial in handling pet care needs. They are long-lasting strain-proof and can stand the rigors of the intense animal care workplace.
How are nursing scrubs cared for?
Depending on the department, scrubs can either be washed through industrial laundry or by the wearer themselves. Scrubs should forever be cleaned after each wear, at a temperature of at least 60s to make sure they are sterile and following virus control guidelines.
Sometimes disposable nursing scrubs are worn to lower the danger of contamination, like when fighting highly infectious diseases such as Ebola.
How to pick the right nursing scrub uniforms for you
Here are the most vital things to consider when shopping for nursing scrubs uniform:
Style
Scrubs can range in style from flair to a more utility look. Observe what some of your co-workers are wearing to decide what styles are best for you.
Fit
Every scrub pant brand and style is going to fit pretty differently. Forever try on your scrubs at home and wear them for a few minutes to plan if you should keep them before wearing them to work.
Material
Your scrub materials will tell you a lot. For example, scrubs with spandex in them tend to be extra stretchy than those that are just polyester. Cotton will feel softer but may need ironing.
Cost
Cost is forever a consideration when shopping for work-related attire. But it is vital to remember that high standard nursing scrubs can be worn for many months or years, so it may save you cash in the long term to splurge on a more costly brand that makes you feel remarkable.
FAQs
How do I look more professional in nursing scrubs?
Looking more professional in scrubs begins with wearing a style that makes you feel best and helps you perform well on the work. Many firms also provide ancillary appeal to style out any health worker's look and make it more professional-looking.
How many pairs of scrubs do you need?
Since most nurses work about 3 twelve-hours shifts a week, owning at least 3 pairs of scrubs permits nurses to wash their scrubs on their off days and still have sufficient time to get through the week. Anyway, if you work more hours per week or are needed to wear different color scrubs for different facilities, you will likely need many more pairs of scrubs.
Are expensive scrubs worth it?
Many nurses wearing figs scrubs report that the comfort, durability, and style are worth the increased price point. It is vital to remember that high standard scrubs are an investment, but great nurse scrubs can be worn 100s of times before needing replacement which makes costly scrubs worth it.
End words
Nurse uniforms have seen a lot of changes in colour, design, and length over the years, just to ensure that nurses are capable of giving an interrupted healthy service to those in need of care. The history of the nurse uniform is nothing like the big history of human evolution, the changes in health wear.