Nurses play an important role in providing medical care for patients. Nursing is one of those careers whereby a uniform must be worn.
Depending on the type of nurse, a nurse may wear an outfit known as scrubs, which will include scrub caps.
But what are these caps and why do nurses wear them (see also ‘How Do Nurses Wear Their Hair?‘)? This guide will give you all the answers!
What Are Scrub Caps?
Scrub caps are a vital part of the uniform of nurses and doctors. Scrub caps, also known as scrub hats, are a type of head covering. These items of clothing are designed to hold back the hair of the wearer.
Why Do Nurses Wear Scrub Caps?
Nurses may not look the most fashionable when they have to wear these scrub caps, but they nonetheless perform an important function.
Here are some of the main reasons why nurses wear scrub caps:
They Protect Patients
A person’s hair and scalp are home to loads of germs. Not to mention, some people sweat excessively on their heads.
Therefore, nurses are made to wear scrub caps as a way of covering their heads. Thus, they prevent germs from being passed to the patient.
Hospitals and operating rooms need to be sterile environments. If not, pathogens could be transferred to the patient.
Scrub caps allow nurses to maintain this sterile setting.
They Protect Nurses
These scrub caps aren’t just worn for the benefit of the patients.
They also provide a layer of protection for nurses, who are less likely to pick up any harmful germs that the patient may be carrying.
Not to mention, nurses won’t have to worry about their hair being messed up during the job. This is because nursing can be a messy occupation!
They Improve Visibility
Operating with your hair in the way would be difficult.To enhance visibility, these scrub caps keep the hair of nurses and doctors away from their faces. So
if a nurse has long hair or bangs, this hair won’t get in the way. Instead, nurses can fully see what they are doing.
They Remove Distractions
Hair can be somewhat distracting. When you are working to save someone’s life and improve their health, nurses don’t need to deal with these distractions. Therefore, scrub caps are a way of limiting this disturbance.
They Save Time
Styling hair can take time. This is particularly true if you have a head of long hair.
By removing the need to style hair, these scrub caps can save nurses tons of time. As a result, nurses won’t have to wake up as early for their early morning shifts.
Different Types Of Nurse Scrub Caps
Like many articles of clothing, scrub caps are available in a variety of different styles. They also come in an assortment of different colors and patterns.
This allows nurses to show their personality through this piece of clothing.
Not to mention, many patients enjoy seeing the bright and bold patterns that are featured on these caps.
Here are some of the most popular types of scrub caps:
Disposable Scrub Caps
Most scrub caps are made from fabric, which allows them to be washed. Consequently, these fabric caps can be re-worn. However, disposable scrub caps can only be worn once.
Though reusable scrub caps are preferable, disposable scrub caps are often essential in high-contagion zones.
These areas tend to be more messy, resulting in disposable caps being essential.
This is because disposable scrub caps are a part of PPE (see also ‘What Are Airborne Precautions?‘).
Fabric scrub caps can still retain germs even after they have been washed.
Therefore, to preserve sanctuary environments, disposable scrub caps will be used. These caps must be disposed of after use.
Pixie Scrub Caps
Named after the pixie cut, these pixie scrub caps are generally worn by people with short hair.
This is because they are quite tight-fitting. This means that you will likely struggle to store long hair in these caps.
Ponytail Scrub Caps
If you’ve got longer hair, a ponytail scrub cap may be the best option for you.
These scrub caps are designed to have a hole at the back, allowing nurses to thread a ponytail through them.
Some ponytail scrub caps even come with a pouch that can be used to tuck the hair into.
This will provide additional protection. Ponytail scrub caps are best suited to environments where it isn’t necessary to cover the entirety of the hair.
Bouffant Scrub Caps
Like the bouffant hairstyle, these caps are quite large. They are comparable to a chef’s hat, though they tend to look a little deflated. Bouffant scrub caps are also comparable to shower caps.
How To Wear A Scrub Cap
The best method will depend on what type of cap you are using. For instance, this general outline is best suited to ponytail scrub caps:
- If you have long hair, tie it into a bun or low ponytail.
- With the ribbon at the back of the cap, make a pouch.
- Put the cap on your head with the pouch at the back.
- Tuck the ponytail so that it goes through the hole in the cap.
- Tie the ribbons to create a tight fit.
Do Bald People Have To Wear Scrub Caps?
It may sound odd to make a bald person wear a scrub cap. But the truth is that you should wear a scrub cap even if you don’t have any hair.
This is because it remains an effective infection prevention technique.
Even if your hair isn’t a problem, if you suffer from scaling skin, your skin could flake during the middle of an operation.
Furthermore, sweat can be an issue. Even if a person appears to be bald, they could still have small hairs that could infect this sterile environment,
Therefore, as a safety precaution, bald nurses, doctors, and surgeons should still wear scrub caps.
Final Thoughts
Though scrub caps may not be overly fashionable, nurses must still wear them alongside the rest of their scrubs.
The purpose of these scrubs is to protect both patients and the nurses themselves by preventing infection.
This ensures that hospitals can remain sterile environments that allow nurses to do all of their important duties!