The History of Nursing Scrubs

Medical attire has changed drastically over the last century. As the depth of scientific knowledge and the awareness of bacteria spreading disease has grown the practices and protocols of cleanliness transformed not only the medical attire, but also the entire profession. Medical professionals are now required to follow a strict dress code in order to maintain a high level of sanitation. Unfortunately, this was not always the case. Uniforms have been required by nurses for quite some time now, but surgeons in the early practices would simply perform surgeries in their street clothes. These surgeries were done in a large room much like an auditorium so that students and spectators could watch. The room was unsterile, the surgeon used his or her bare hands, the instruments used in the surgery were not sterile and they usually reused needles. Strangely enough, the success or failure of a surgery in those days was determined by the amount of blood stains on the surgeon's apron. The ...