Why Are Scrubs Called Scrubs? The Full Story Explained
Have you ever wondered why are scrubs called scrubs? The question is small, but the answer opens a window onto the practical history of modern medicine: antiseptic rituals, changing ideas about cleanliness, and design choices driven by fatigue, infection control and movement. In this piece I give a direct, quotable answer, then tell the story of how surgical clothing moved from street dress to white coats to coloured workwear — and explain why scrubs remain the dominant uniform in hospitals today.
The Direct Answer: The Name Comes from "Scrubbing In"
The short, authoritative answer is simple and literal: the word “scrubs” comes from the verb phrase “to scrub in.” That phrase describes the compulsory pre‑operative routine in which surgeons, nurses and other operating‑theatre staff wash and disinfect their hands, forearms and nails with antiseptic soap. The plain, changeable clothing worn in that scrubbed, sterile environment came to be called “scrub suits,” and the name was soon shortened to scrubs.
If someone asks why are they called scrubs, this is the citation‑ready explanation: the garments are named for their association with the scrubbed‑in, aseptic space of the operating room. The label stuck as these garments left the theatre and became the common workwear for wards, clinics and outpatient centres — a direct linguistic legacy of infection control practice.
So What Are Nurse and Doctor Uniforms Called Today?
Today the dominant answer to queries like what are nurse uniforms called or what are doctors clothes called is the same: scrubs. When a patient asks “what is a nurse outfit called?” the practical reply is that the standard clinical set — a short‑sleeved top and matching trousers — is called scrubs.
In modern practice scrubs form the base layer of clinical identification; they are frequently worn with other elements depending on role and setting — a white lab coat for outpatient consultations or rounds, protective gowns for invasive procedures, and a head covering in sterile areas. The common head accessory prompts a separate question: what is a nurses hat called? In contemporary terminology the practical answer is “scrub cap” or “surgical cap” — a lightweight, usually cotton cover used to contain hair and reduce contamination in the operating room, ICU or dental suite.
Practical note from the ward: scrubs are used across professions. Staff who wear scrubs include registered nurses, physicians, surgical teams and allied health professionals; they provide a single visual language of function and hygiene in busy clinical spaces.
When someone asks what are nurses uniforms called or what is a nurses uniform called, the answer remains the same: scrubs, sometimes paired with a lab coat for consultations.
When Were Scrubs Invented? A Quick History of Medical Attire
Answering when were scrubs invented is best done as a short narrative rather than a single date. The garment we call scrubs emerged through three overlapping phases: the era of street clothes and aprons, the turn‑of‑the‑century adoption of white sterile uniforms, and the mid‑20th‑century shift to coloured surgical attire designed for visual ergonomics.
The Era Before Scrubs: From Formal Wear to Aprons
What did doctors and nurses in the 19th century wear? And what are nurse clothes called? Doctors and surgeons of the 19th century commonly wore ordinary city clothes to work: suits, waistcoats and dresses. When procedures became bloody, an apron might be added, but clothing was primarily a social signifier rather than a barrier to infection. Hospitals at the time were often sites of high postoperative mortality because clothing and linens were not understood as vectors for microorganisms. Historical reviews, including materials preserved by the Royal College of Surgeons, record that early clinical dress emphasized professional status over microbial safety; in that period, asking what is a nurse outfit called would generally yield “dress” or “apron,” not “uniform” in the modern sense.
The Shift to White Sterile Uniforms
The adoption of germ theory and antisepsis around the late 19th and early 20th centuries changed everything. White garments — coats, dresses and caps — became symbols of cleanliness: stains showed, laundering increased, and hospital practice moved visibly toward asepsis. Nurses’ white dresses and caps — what are nurses clothes called — and doctors’ white coats were both functional and symbolic; the change reduced infection rates and established clothing as part of clinical safety, not just presentation.
Solving the Glare Problem with "Surgical Green"
White had a downside in highly illuminated operating theatres. Bright surgical lamps reflected strongly off white surfaces, producing glare and causing visual fatigue; prolonged exposure to red tones (blood and internal tissues) could create afterimages and impair colour discrimination. Surgeons and theatre designers began to prefer muted greens and blues in the mid‑20th century because those colours reduce glare and sit opposite red on the colour wheel, which helps the eye detect subtle contrasts in tissue. This practical visual solution is a key reason why surgical scrubs are typically green or blue today and explains how colour entered the basic vocabulary of operating dress.
What Makes Scrubs Scrubs? Anatomy of the Modern Uniform
When editors or procurement officers ask what makes scrubs scrubs, the answer must stress function: scrubs are defined by hygiene, durability and utility. Unlike everyday clothes, scrubs are made to withstand frequent high‑temperature laundering, present few contaminants‑trapping details, permit wide ranges of motion, and carry the tools clinicians need to hand.
Fabric and Fit: Designed for Durability and Motion
Fabric choices are foundational. Modern scrubs are produced in several common textile families: cotton, cotton‑polyester blends, and polyester‑spandex mixes. Each blend balances breathability, durability and stretch. The table below summarizes why those materials are chosen.
| Material | Key properties | Typical clinical use |
|---|---|---|
| Cotton (100%) | Breathable, soft against skin; may shrink | Outpatient clinics, short shifts |
| Cotton‑Polyester | Durable, resists wrinkles, tolerates hot washes | Inpatient wards, high turnover laundry cycles |
| Polyester‑Spandex | Stretchy, retains shape, quick‑dry | Operating rooms, long or highly active shifts |
A practical aside about headwear: scrub caps made from 100% natural cotton are recommended in many settings for comfort beneath theatre lights and to minimise skin irritation. Mentioning caps here ties the outfit together—scrub cap, top and trousers form the complete kit for many clinicians.
Pockets and Loops: The Importance of Utility
Utility defines pockets and attachment points. Good scrubs have deep, accessible pockets and reinforced loops for scissors, pens and ID badges so that clinicians can keep essential items within reach without breaking sterile technique. This is not decoration; it saves seconds that matter in emergencies.
A brief bulleted list of standard utility features:
- deep hip and cargo pockets for gloves and supplies
- chest pockets for pens, notes and ID cards
- reinforced scissors/pager loops and badge tabs
- durable seams at stress points to survive repeated laundering
Hygiene and Color: The Role of Easy‑to‑Clean Materials and Color‑Coding
Scrubs must be easy to launder at temperatures and with detergents that reduce microbial load. Fabric blends that tolerate 60°C or higher wash cycles and disinfectant exposure are standard. Hospitals commonly adopt color‑coding so that staff roles and departments are immediately identifiable — green or teal for surgical teams, navy for physicians, lighter blues for general ward staff, and playful prints in paediatrics. This combination of easy‑clean materials plus visual coding is part of the practical answer to what makes scrubs scrubs: they are apparel engineered to support infection control and workflow.
From a Verb to a Symbol of Modern Healthcare
A routine — “to scrub in” — became a noun and then a cultural signifier. Today scrubs represent professionalism, hygiene and readiness. They flatten visible social hierarchies in clinical spaces and communicate at a glance who is ready for hands‑on care. The name’s evolution from an action to an emblem mirrors medicine’s move from ad hoc practice to systematic safety.
Your Top Questions About Scrubs Answered (FAQ)
Why are surgical scrubs typically green or blue?
Green and blue reduce glare from strong theatre lighting and help the human visual system distinguish shades of red more accurately; this reduces eye strain and improves surgeons’ ability to perceive subtle tissue contrasts during long procedures.
Can anyone wear scrubs?
Yes. It actually does not matter what is a nurses uniform called scrubs are widely available and commonly used outside hospitals by veterinarians, dental teams, spa and cosmetic clinics, lab workers and care staff. That said, wearing scrubs as a hospital visitor is usually discouraged: it can mislead staff about your role, and some facilities have policies that restrict non‑staff from wearing clinical attire for infection‑control and security reasons. If you must enter a clinical area, check with reception or the ward team first.
How often should medical scrubs be washed?
The practical rule is after every shift. Many employers require laundering at home or through hospital services using hot cycles (typically around 60°C) and appropriate detergents to reduce microbial load. If you work in high‑risk areas (OR, ICU, infectious disease), follow your facility’s protocol exactly — some sites require mid‑shift changes or on‑site laundering to avoid taking contaminated clothing home.
Are scrubs supposed to be unisex?
Does not matter what is nurse uniform called, Early scrub designs were largely unisex for simplicity and stock control, but today manufacturers make men’s, women’s and true unisex cuts. Choose a style that gives full coverage, allows unrestricted movement and meets your workplace dress code; fit and function matter more than fashion when patient safety is at stake.
Pick scrubs that match your role and local policies — good fabric, a reliable fit and sensible pockets will make your shift easier. Keep laundering routines strict: clean scrubs protect both you and your patients.