What is the first thing that you should put on when changing into scrubs *?

The process of scrubbing, gowning, and gloving is one that all members of the surgical team must complete before each operation.

In the surgical scrub, the hands and forearms are decontaminated. A sterile surgical gown and pair of gloves are subsequently donned, creating an aseptic environment.

‘Scrubbing in’ dramatically reduces the risk of infection and significantly improves patient outcomes. As such, it is a skill that should be taken seriously and always performed to the highest standard.

In this article, we shall look at the procedure for surgical scrubbing, gowning, and gloving.

Procedure

Preparation

• Remove any watches and rings from your hands

• Ensure that your sleeves are at least two to thee inches above your elbows

• Open out your gown pack onto a clean table, only grabbing the outermost edges to maximise the sterile field (Figure 1.1, 1.2)

• Open your glove packet and let it drop onto the clean area (Figure 1.3,1.4)

• Collect a nail pick and brush

• Put on a face mask, securing appropriately

By TeachMeSurgery (2020)

Figure 1 – The preparation stage of scrubbing and gowning.

Scrubbing

• Allow the water to run (Figure 2.1) and cover the nail pick and brush with soap, using your elbows on the soap dispenser; clean your nails and remove any gross debris from your hands (Figure 2.2)

• Start by scrubbing your hands and forearms, down to your elbows, using the WHO hand washing procedure for the hands and a rotational action for your forearms (Figure 2.3); this should last for at least one minute

• Wash the soap from your hands and forearms by holding up your arms with your hands elevated under the tap, such that the water runs off into the sink from your elbows (Figure 2.4)

• Repeat this procedure a further three times, initially down to the mid-forearm (Figure 2.5), then down to the wrists (Figure 2.6), then just for the hands (Figure 2.7), each time lasting for at least one minute

• Keeping your arms elevated (Figure 2.8), dry your hands and forearms with the sterile towels in the gowning pack, using a dabbing motion instead of a wiping motion (Figure 2.9); use one towel for each hand, before throwing them away

By TeachMeSurgery (2020)

Figure 2 – Scrubbing in, the aim is to decontaminate the hands and forearms

Gowning and Gloving

• Take the sterile gown (Figure 3.1) and gently shake it out, taking care not to let anything else touch it (Figure 3.2)

• Open it up and place your hands into the sleeves (Figure 3.3,3.4); keep your hands inside the sleeves (Figure 3.5)

• Ask an assistant to help pull it up over your shoulders and fasten it up at the back

• Take the right hand glove and place it, palm down, fingers facing your body (Figure 3.6)

• Grasp the bottom of the cuff with the thumb and index finger of your right hand, still inside the sleeve (Figure 3.7); grasp the top of the cuff with your left hand (also inside the sleeve) and pull the glove around and over your right hand (Figure 3.8)

• Pull gently on the sleeve of the gown to help move your hands into the gloves and straighten out the fingers (Figure 3.9); the sleeves of the gown should remain over most of your palm

• Repeat this technique for the left hand

To Complete

• It is advised to rest your hands on your front as you move around to ensure you remain sterile

• Make sure you do not touch any non-sterile equipment as you move to the operating area

By TeachMeSurgery (2020)

Figure 3 – Gowning and gloving

Key Points

• All members of the surgical team must scrub, gown, and glove appropriately before each operation.
• The hands and forearms are decontaminated, before a sterile surgical gown and pair of gloves are donned
• ‘Scrubbing in’ dramatically reduces the risk of infection and significantly improves patient outcomes

Wearing clean and tidy medical scrubs is crucial for a professional appearance and imperative for the safety and the health of your patients, whether you are in a medical school or a practicing nurse or doctor.

Keeping your medical clothing in a mint condition and making them last longer requires some extra effort and care than your daily wardrobe. Knowing how to care for your medical scrubs will ensure they look better, last longer, and protect you and your patients from bacteria.

How to Keep Your Scrubs Looking Best For Longer

Well, the only way your medical clothing will last a few seasons is by how you care for them.

The regular wash, rinse, and dry method would not do the trick for your medical scrubs. They need special care and regular upkeep. Scrubs are worn almost every day, and they might eventually get worn out. The only way to make your scrubs last is by putting in the extra time and effort in disinfecting and bringing them back to their prime for your next shift.

You might think it’s unnecessary to talk about it, but you would be surprised to know just how many avoid reading the instructions. Care instructions give you precise information on how to wash and care for your scrubs.

Turning your garments inside out before washing is a time-tested method of preserving the colour integrity and longevity of the fabric. By doing so, you prevent excessive pilling or abrasion to the surface of the fabric. Pilling is caused by regular wear and tear of the garment. And, even though it doesn’t impact the functionality of the medical uniforms, pilling can make the garments look unsightly and worn out.

Additionally, it is important to dry the scrubs inside out to lower the chances of colour fading.

Always wash your medical scrubs separately. Never use chlorine bleach and hydrogen peroxide to clean your scrubs as this will result in fading of clothes. Instead, you can pick a regular detergent to wash medical uniforms.

Avoid over-drying your nursing scrubs as it can cause your scrubs to lose their sheen, leading to extreme colour fading and fabric shrinkage. It is especially bad for bright coloured medical scrubs.

Over-drying can also severely weaken the material fibres of the garment. Ensure you don’t let the scrubs in the dryer for too long and under a high heat setting.

Don’t let the stains sit on your scrubs for a long time. You might not have time to treat stains at work, but make sure you wash your scrubs at the earliest.

If you are hard-pressed for time, use alcohol wipes or a wet cloth to prevent the stains from setting in permanently into the garment.

It is always a good practice to separate your scrubs from other washables before loading the washer. Used scrubs may carry bacteria and other germs that can be easily transferred from the surface of your scrubs to other clothes and the rest of the house. By washing them separately, you’ll be able to prevent germs and bacteria from contaminating the rest of the laundry. Additionally, it will help in keeping your scrubs from getting damaged or discoloured because of other clothes.

Don’t skip the hot iron even if your scrubs look neatly pressed and tidy. There are a lot of microorganisms in healthcare settings. Heat has the potential to disinfect clothes. Heat pressing your medical scrubs after washing them will help eliminate those pesky bacteria that might be clinging to your scrubs.

Inspect your medical scrubs thoroughly. Carefully inspect your nursing clothes for any missed stains, loose threads, or holes. If there are any, cut off any loose threads and darn the holes. Make a note of the stains so that you can work on them the next time you wash.

Since most nurses are hard-pressed for time, they choose to wear their scrubs before leaving for work. However, it is better if you wear your nursing scrubs only during working hours. Additionally, change into your scrubs only after reaching your unit’s changing room. Make sure you get into your regular clothes before leaving your unit.

Store the sterile garments carefully before leaving for the day. You can either hang them up using a dedicated plastic garment bag or put them away in a separate drawer until it is time to wash so that they don’t contaminate the rest of the laundry.

Make sure you don’t spray the perfume directly onto your scrubs. The perfume might leave unpleasant stains on your medical clothing. Also, don’t let lotions get on your scrubs, as they too can cause tough-to-wash off stains.

How to Get Stains Out of Your Scrubs

After a long day of work, you come home exhausted, awake just long enough to get a quick refreshing shower before you hit the sack! Sounds like a typical day? Well, there’s just one thing you almost forgot – treating those stains before catching some sleep.

You know that getting stains on your medical uniform is simply unavoidable. Your scrubs have seen it all, and they need quick attention to get them off your uniforms.

Stains on scrubs are not something new for medical practitioners. So, when trying to remove stains from your medical uniforms, make sure you use colour-safe stain remover. It will help you retain the colour integrity of your scrubs while getting rid of stains.

Your medical uniform can get all sorts of stains while you are at work. Knowing how to get rid of stains, depending on their nature, can prove to be helpful. Let’s have a look at some of the common stains and removal methods.

How to Wash your Scrubs Based on Fabric Type

Cotton
If your scrubs are 100% cotton, it is best to wash them in cold water. Most cotton fabrics shrink, so tumble dry your scrubs on the lowest setting to minimize the shrinkage.

Polyester/Rayon
A gentle cold water cycle will be perfect if your nursing uniforms are made of polyester/rayon. Since you don’t have to worry about shrinking, you can simply hang the clothes on a line.

Polyester/cotton
For scrubs are made of polyester/cotton combination fabric, washing them in warm water will do the job. You can either use the dryer on a low heat setting or hang them out to dry.

Polyester/rayon/spandex
Wash your scrubs made of polyester/rayon/spandex with warm water. As far as drying is concerned, use the lowest heat setting on the dryer or hang them on a line.

Wrapping Up

Start caring for your medical scrubs right from their first wash - don’t wait to clean the scrubs until it gets grimy. While it might seem time-consuming initially, in the long run, you’ll be able to appreciate just how effective it is.

It is impossible not to get your medical scrubs dirty or stained. However, it is possible to give them a thorough washing and get the stains off. Scrubs are usually made of durable stain-resistant fabrics.

Although they do not wear out as quickly as your regular clothes do, they encounter all sorts of germs, bacteria, and contaminants. To make the scrubs last longer, it is essential to keep them clean, disinfected, and reconditioned for your next shift.