OT scrubs hygiene: changing in and out

Theatre staff change clothes more than anyone else in a hospital. In at the start of the shift, out at the end, and sometimes again in between. The way that change is done is part of keeping the theatre clean, and it is one of the first things new nurses and students learn in an OT posting.

Every hospital has its own procedure, and that procedure always comes first. What follows are general habits that sit behind most theatre routines, so the reasons make sense when you are taught them.

Before you change in

• Leave outside clothes outside. Change in the designated changing room. Street clothes, bags and phones stay in your locker unless your hospital says otherwise.
• Start with a clean set. Use a freshly laundered OT dress each shift, never one worn the day before.
• Remove jewellery as your hospital’s policy requires. Rings, bangles and watches are commonly restricted in theatre.
• Tie hair back before putting on your cap, so it goes on once and stays.

Putting on OT scrubs

A simple order keeps things tidy:

1. Pant first, drawstring tied firmly.
2. Top next. If your hospital asks for the top to be tucked in, do it now.
3. Cap on, covering all hair. A tie-back scrub cap should be tied under the bun at the nape.
4. Theatre footwear or shoe covers, as your theatre requires.
5. Mask and other protective equipment according to the theatre’s procedures.

A well-fitting set helps here. A top that is too loose or a pant that drags at the hem is harder to keep clean and tidy.

During the shift

• Stay within the theatre area in your OT dress unless your hospital allows you to leave with a cover gown or coat.
• Change if it gets wet or soiled. Damp fabric and visible soiling should not stay on you through the next case. Keep a spare set available if your theatre allows.
• Do not carry personal items in your pockets beyond what your theatre permits.

Remember that a woven OT dress is a uniform, not surgical PPE. Sterile gowns, gloves and other equipment are what protect you and the patient during procedures.

Changing out

• Change before you leave the theatre complex. Do not walk to the canteen, ward or car park in your OT dress unless your hospital’s rules allow it.
• Remove the cap and top carefully, without shaking them.
• Place used scrubs where your hospital directs, usually a laundry bin in the changing room.
• Wash your hands after handling used clothing and before putting on your own clothes.

If you wash OT scrubs at home

Some hospitals expect staff to take their own OT dress home. If yours does, check whether it has specific instructions, and follow them. In general:

• Carry used scrubs in a separate bag, not loose with other clothes.
• Wash them on their own or with other uniform items, not with household laundry.
• Our care label: machine wash warm up to 60 °C with similar colours, do not bleach coloured scrubs, tumble dry low or line dry, warm iron.
• Dry completely before folding. In the monsoon this takes planning, so keep more than one set.

Why the routine matters

Changing in and out properly keeps outside dirt from coming into theatre and keeps theatre soiling from going home with you. It also builds a habit that new staff copy. Being consistent matters more than doing it perfectly on one day.

Wrapping up

Change in the designated area, start each shift in a clean set, change when soiled and leave the OT dress behind when you leave theatre. Above all, follow your hospital’s uniform and infection-control policy. If you need sets for your own use, see the OT green scrub set and read the OT dress guide for help with fit.