NO! I Don't Want No Scrubs.

Scrub is a word thrown around a lot in hospitals, medical offices, and most importantly, on bad TV medical dramas. So what exactly does "scrub" mean?

scrub 

[skruhb]: verb -- 

1.  to cleanse something by hard rubbing 2. to cleanse one's hands and arms as a preparation to performing or assisting in surgery   (often fol. by up or in) The process of scrubbing is long, tedious, and rough on the skin. It involves using a brush like the one pictured below and systematically rubbing the hell out of your skin, right down to the dermis (that may be an exaggeration).  Surgery in theory is meant to be a completely sterile process. "Scrubbing in" to a surgery makes one sterile and is the only way to play an active role in the surgical field. After scrubbing, the participant must properly gown and glove oneself and take care not to contaminate him- or herself. Contaminating involves anytihing from touching non-sterile equpiment, brushing up against non-sterile individuals, picking your nose, adjusting your mask, etc. As medical students, we either love or loathe scrubbing in, depending on one's point of view (to put it mildly Your Humble Observer is LESS than interested in surgery and, by extension, scrubbing). For example, scrubbing into a 5 hour cystectomy...not our idea of a crazy good time. scrubs  [skruhbs]: noun --  1.  protective garment worn by surgeons during operations Actually, scrubs refer generally to the uniform tops and bottoms worn by medical professionals in general. During operations, surgeons will wear sterile gowns OVER their scrubs. A typical pair of scrubs are pictured below.  scrub  [skruhbs]: noun --  1. as per TLC: "a scrub is a guy who can't get no love from me. Hangin' out the passenger side of his best friend's ride, tryin' to holla at me" Scrubs  [skruhbs]: noun --  'nuff said