According to recent reports, there were over 586,000 qualified healthcare professionals in Australia in 2018. This number saw a rise during the pandemic as numerous retired and inactive medical personnel returned to duty.
Given how depressing the profession can be, the turn of the century saw these medical personnel embrace fashion openly, even printed scrub tops in Australia became common among healthcare professionals.
These scrubs come in many different types and serve a wide range of purposes. Let us take a look!
Surgical Scrubs
Surgical scrubs are frequently worn during surgery. Due to the various bodily fluids, bacteria and other substances that surgeons and their operation assistants encounter, doctors and medical staff discard surgical scrubs following a surgical operation.
These scrubs consist of the shirt, slacks, and gown worn right before surgery. These need to be loose and allow free movement for surgeons and nurses, especially during surgery because surgeries often last long.
Nursing Scrubs
Nurses assist with all the patients’ demands, including movement, cleaning, medication administration, and assistance in any emergency, and hence scrubs are essential for them.
Nursing scrubs have evolved from the stark white, stiff nursing outfits of the 1950s. Today, they are non-restrictive and allow more movement and comfort.
Both the shirt and the pants have pockets, where they can store items such as a stethoscope, a penlight, and a pager that assists them in their tasks properly.
Printed Scrubs
Printed scrub tops in Australia are seen in the maternity and paediatric ward. They also come with matching pants like most scrubs. Certain nurses and doctors in paediatric care choose to wear these to seem less intimidating to children.
They come in quirky patterns and colours and make the medical personnel seem extremely approachable. This makes caregiving for children much easier since children are not scared off by the gloomy colours of the usual scrubs.
Lab Coats
Medical technicians and other healthcare workers who handle chemicals and bodily fluids for testing require an additional layer of clothing in addition to their scrubs. Lab coats are ideal for this.
These coats offer excellent protection against spills and drips. They are also fire-resistant and simple to remove in case of a chemical emergency, allowing for hazard risk containment.
Maternity and Patient Scrubs
When hospitalised, patients must also wear a specified uniform. Pregnant women should wear them. Maternity scrubs are easy to put on and keep these new mothers clean and comfortable while they recover after a tough delivery.
These scrubs are airy and loose and allow free movement, so hospitalised patients are also required to wear them when admitted. They are all made free-size.
Endnotes
It is vital to look for scrubs that are appropriate for an individual based on the type of care they provide. However, certain things are similar across the board.
These are some of the most important things to consider while selecting hospital scrubs:
- Comfort
- Adaptability
- Material and fabric utilised
- Pricing
- Maintenance and long-term sustainability
As medical personnel, individuals need to go through a lot daily while handling patients. Therefore, it is essential to choose the proper attire to ensure that one remains efficient throughout the day.
Moreover, the functionality of one’s attire often dictates their performance; hence one needs to ensure the best possible quality to avoid any hindrances.
