|
The purpose of scrubs has changed due to pop culture. I remember when scrubs were exclusively for working in environments where contamination from body fluids and tissues were an infection control issue. Wearing them was restricted to certain units/wards. There were actually signs posted at the exits that said no scrubs beyond that point. Civilian healthcare facility administrations would take disciplinary action against offending employees. In the military, it was an Article 15 offense.
But then popular medical television shows and movies took artistic license by showing doctors and nurses running around all over the place in scrubs because they looked cool. People started doing it IRL and it branched out to ancillary healthcare occupations as everyone wanted to jump on the coolness bandwagon. Scrubs essentially morphed into symbolic uniforms.
Civilian healthcare facilities couldn't stop it. They weren't about to fire everyone and go out of business; so, they capitulated. They transitioned to disposable garments worn over the scrubs for those who were actually exposed to body fluids and tissues. The military took longer; but, it has many service members who received their healthcare training as civilians before joining. There are still fewer ancillary healthcare personnel running around in scrubs though.
|