It’s not just nurses who wear scrubs. These simple, lightweight garments have become the uniform of the medical professional, widely recognised by the general public. Many healthcare organisations now encourage
scrubs for nurses, and also for entire medical teams including doctors, paramedics, students and more.
Scrubs aren’t just restricted to hospitals. Many of those working in dental practices and veterinary clinics also wear them. For many of us, there’s something reassuring about entering a medical environment and seeing someone in scrubs. Rightly or wrongly, someone dressed in scrubs comes across as a reliable medical professional.
Scrubs for nurses: practical workwear
Modern scrubs are worn by almost everyone because they’ve proven to be ideal for the demanding and often messy medical workplace.
Traditional nursing uniforms, derived from the habits worn by nuns, looked very smart and clearly set nurses apart from others working around them.
Over time, these uniforms became simpler. Because they often worked long shifts in demanding conditions, nurses needed clothing that was comfortable and adaptable to their environment.
The increasing number of male nurses also made the older dress uniforms less practical. Nursing was almost exclusively a female profession until the latter part of the twentieth century, and as its image changed, so too did the expectations around what nurses would wear.
Scrubs originated in operating theatres, where there was a clear need for light, cheap garments to protect the regular clothes of a surgeon and their team. The simple convenience of scrubs has led to their being adopted by nurses and others across almost all medical settings.
Scrubs for nurses: hygienic workwear
Nursing uniforms needed frequent washing, particularly as cleanliness became increasingly valued in healthcare. Advances in medical understanding meant stains and splashes were no longer just regarded as unsightly, but also as potential carriers of infection.
Pathogens can linger on clothes for days, so they need to be cleaned often. Hospitals have their own laundry processes, with strict procedures to help protect everyone involved in handling soiled garments.
Today’s scrubs are designed to make it easy to spot stains. They’re also relatively inexpensive, because of the quantities needed and the frequency with which they’re changed. No one wants to attend a patient wearing scrubs that have been soiled with someone else’s bodily fluids.
Not all scrubs are made equal when it comes to hygiene. While some are simply a fabric barrier between the wearer and soiling, others offer additional protection. The
Code Happy range of scrubs, from Cherokee, includes antimicrobial technology and a liquid repellent. They actively resist spills and stains, protecting against bacteria on the fabric and helping them to last longer.
Scrubs for nurses: professional workwear
Scrubs are the uniform of the modern medical professional. It’s a uniform that doesn’t emphasise position, because in their scrubs, doctors, nurses and cleaners can all have a similar look. This equality of appearance reflects that while their roles are different, they all have an important part to play in the operation of a medical facility.
A form of clean uniform is important in a healthcare setting. It helps reassure patients and their families that they’re engaging with trained, experienced medical professionals. This can help reduce anxiety and bring calm to what can be difficult situations.
Scrubs also allow nurses and other medical staff feel more professional. The clothes we wear can influence how we feel about ourselves. Slipping on a set of clean, simple, yet smart scrubs can boost confidence and self-esteem, in a way that the more complicated nursing uniforms of yesteryear used to do.
