Everyone knows that doctors and nurses wear scrubs, but very few actually know why.  Just like the stethoscope, which is an indispensable tool of trade for a doctor, a set of scrubs is an important accessory for both doctors and nurses. Since they were first worn in the early days of the 20th century, scrubs have now become a symbol of the profession. So why do nurses wear scrubs?

The medical profession is a very hands-on profession. Doctors and nurses have to come into contact with all sorts of patients throughout the day every day. They have to touch the patients, administer medication, give them injection, help them lie on the bed and get up, help them walk to the bathroom and back, transfer them to stretchers, give CPR and more. Those on duty in the ER, OT, ICU and maternity ward have a tougher job. They are constantly in contact with very ill people.

Every work day brings nurses into direct contact with blood, urine, stool, vomit, saliva, mucus and many other bodily fluids. Getting these possibly harmful matters on their regular clothes is not an option. A clean scrub acts as a first line of defense against biological fluids and hazardous materials.

The material that scrubs are made of can withstand a much higher temperature than normal clothes. This property allows scrubs to be cleaned at a higher temperature, which is essential for killing harmful bacteria. Thus, it prevents nurses from being infected by their patients due to lingering germs on their clothing. Nurses’ scrubs can also be washed with harsher chemicals to kill microscopic life forms and to remove obstinate stains. This makes them ideal for use in any hospital environment.

Finally, doctors and nurses where scrubs because it identifies them. A hospital is filled with people and not all of them are doctors and nurses. How can people tell who is who? By looking at what they wear. A person who wears scrubs most probably a nurse. Different departments in a hospital may have differently colored scrubs. For example, nurses in the wards may wear white whereas nurses in surgery usually wear green.  Scrubs act as a kind of uniform and identifier for medical professionals across the world?

So why do nurses wear scrubs? They wear it to protect their regular clothing, to defend themselves against harmful germs and for the purpose of identification. Not to mention scrubs are comfortable for daily wear and allow nurses to perform all of the duties they may encounter on a daily basis!