Title: 
Green Scrubs: A Short History In Review

Word Count:
501

Summary:
Surgical greens have an intriguing history in our culture. Named after the color, surgical greens have been a part of surgical attire since the 1970s. Why choose the color green? Well, interestingly, surgical greens can be of any shade of green, but offered a high contrast in an often white, sterile environment. Green scrubs simply reduced the amount of eye fatigue experienced by the surgical team.

However, in recent years more and more green scrubs have been seen out of t...


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Article Body:
Surgical greens have an intriguing history in our culture. Named after the color, surgical greens have been a part of surgical attire since the 1970s. Why choose the color green? Well, interestingly, surgical greens can be of any shade of green, but offered a high contrast in an often white, sterile environment. Green scrubs simply reduced the amount of eye fatigue experienced by the surgical team.

However, in recent years more and more green scrubs have been seen out of the surgical environment. A nasty strain of Staphylococcus aureus happens to be methicillin-resistant, and the need for sterility is vitally important. This sterility is necessary not only in the surgical environment but in the complete medical setting.

While white scrubs do have the additional benefit of giving a cleanliness factor, green scrubs do not show blood and other colors as pronounced. Let’s face it; a doctor looks better in clean green scrubs than in white, stained scrubs.

Green scrubs come in many shades of green, and have changed since their inception in the 1970s. Some things have remained the same such as the common v-neck and the drawstring pants.

Where does the name scrubs actually originate?

Once called “surgical greens”, scrubs were given a friendlier, shorter name simply because it was easier on everyone involved. The green scrubs are worn in a sterile, or scrubbed, workplace. The name scrubs seemed like a natural evolutionary step in medical apparel.

Green scrubs can be found almost anywhere but are prevalent in the hospital setting. Medical clinics have a less stringent policy concerning workplace attire and favorite cartoon characters, logos, and preferred prints. Green scrubs do not just come in green anymore either. You can get scrubs in a choice of attractive, colorful, and professional colors.

Of course, scrubs have been a part of our medical industry because they are clean, neat, and sterile – just like the medical facility. The scrubs are a direct representation of that particular medical facility.

Since the late 1910s, medical attire has been found to be useful in and out of surgery. Once upon a time surgical scrubs were only used during surgery in the extremely sanitized and scrubbed environment. However, history has shown that the surgical area is not the only place where sterility is necessary.

Illnesses and bacterium are spread easily in a medical setting. The sterile environment assists in stopping the spread of nasty contagions reducing the expectancy of everything from the flu to staph infections. Green scrubs act as a barrier between those contagions and the medical staff.

Choosing green scrubs is a simple way to protect you, your co-workers or staff, the patient, and visitors.

No matter whether you are a doctor, nurse, or part of the clerical staff, the benefits of scrubs is undeniable. Green scrubs have an interesting history that is ever-evolving. Today, more and more medical professionals are choosing the unique look of fashion scrubs or designer scrubs. Yes, you can have a sterile ensemble while retaining your own personality.