The History of Medical Scrubs

Medical scrubs have been the official uniform of health and care workers across the world for hundreds of years! But, scrubs have not always looked as they do now. Now scrubs can be bought in a huge range of different colours (e.g. blue, pink, purple, black and so on) to symbolise what ward a worker operates in. We see scrubs in all shapes and sizes, with tunics, tops, trousers and joggers. However, scrubs have gone through huge transformations throughout the years to get to where they are now. Read below to find out more about the fascinating and rich history of medical scrubs…   

Ancient Times

Whilst scrubs were not a ‘requirement’ until the 20th century, you can find uniforms dating back as far as Ancient Greece and the Holy Roman Empire. Most medical practices were carried out by nuns and monks, so you can find tunics that cover the whole body. These were designed for the sake of ‘modesty’, but coincidentally helped with hygienic practices.

The Plague 

The Plague or the ‘Black Death’ was one of the most deadly pandemics in human history. As a result, medicine and medical practices had to advance at a rapid rate during this era in history. The Plague doctor outfits took inspiration from the Early Modern Period, and they consisted of heavy leather clothing that covered the whole body and acted as a barrier between the skin and bodily fluids, which would carry the disease. 

Florence Nightingale 

Florence Nightingale is one of the most famous names in medical history. During the Crimean War, she asked the nurses to stop wearing crinolines, polonaises and hair pads as she believed that it made it more difficult to move around freely, and she also introduced aprons (to be worn over floor-length dresses) and caps to keep hair away from the nurse’s faces. This is a clear further advancement of medical uniforms. 

19th and 20th Century 

During the middle of the 19th century, medicine became a more established and respected profession. As a result, formal qualifications were required and hygiene standards rose. Medical researcher, Joseph Lister, discovered that microorganisms caused infections. Therefore, some doctors and surgeons began to wear white coats and aprons as protection. 

During this time, surgeons were now required to wear gloves and masks, which was further advancement of the medical uniform. 

In 1903, Greenbergs was established as a work uniform supplier for health care, catering and beauty. We have become one of the market leaders, due to the experience and knowledge we have acquired as a family business throughout the years. Find out more about us on our website. 

Are you interested in purchasing high-quality, durable and comfortable medical and nursing scrubs? Check out our amazing selection! 

Spanish Flu Epidemic 

The Spanish Flu Epidemic of 1918 was a deadly pandemic. Doctors were now required to wear caps, face masks and rubber gloves. The purpose of this was to protect medical staff from catching the illness. During this time, medical staff and the general public began to learn how easily illnesses spread. 

During this era, medical scrubs were white, which represented purity and had religious connotations. However, this was impractical as the colour of blood was obvious when it was spilt on the uniforms. This was soon noticed, and green started to be used in the 1960s onwards.  

The 1960s 

During the 1960s, scrubs were becoming standardised. Hospitals required ‘surgical greens’ to be worn, which were green scrubs and kept staff safe from illnesses. Green scrubs are still worn today and are usually reserved for surgeons. 

Green was chosen as the medical uniform colour, as it was believed to reduce fatigue and drowsy eyes, and it also made bloodstains look less severe. 

The 1970s 

By the 1970s, scrubs were worn in almost all hospitals. The uniform that was required was a v-necked shirt and drawstring trousers. These scrubs were designed to be comfortable for long shifts, and protective enough to keep the staff safe. Similarly to today’s standards, the scrubs were designed to withstand high-temperature washes for hygiene purposes. 

Now 

Medical scrubs are required in all health and care settings. Each department or ward has a designated colour to set them apart from others, such as blue, grey, black and many more! Also, each role is expected to wear a different style of scrubs. For example, student and junior nurses will wear different styles of tunics. 

If you are interested in finding out more about the history of medical scrubs, this is an excellent research paper.