scrub in
Wash before operating
To scrub in is to prepare for surgery by thoroughly washing hands and forearms, then donning sterile gown and gloves.
The term comes from the vigorous scrubbing required—typically several minutes with antiseptic soap.
By extension, scrubbing in means joining a surgical team or, figuratively, committing to participate in any demanding task: Mind if I scrub in on this project?
- gownLong formal garment
- sterilizeEliminate all microorganisms
- disinfectKill pathogens on surfaces
- glovesHand coverings with fingers
- operateControl or perform surgery
wash up · mask · handwashing · soap and water · go in · surgery · preparation · get ready · asepsis · antiseptic · hand hygiene · gear up · operating room · engage · glove up · operating table · sterile field · commitment
- surgerysurgery, surgeon, surgeons, operation, incision
- Hospital Slangstat, code blue, frequent flyer, circling the drain, turf
scrub inscrub out
Clean by hard rubbing
step out · desterilize · stand down · observe
scrub inopt out
Decline to participate
sit out · stand down · withdraw · step aside
scrub, scrubbed, scrubbing, scrubs, scrubber, scrubbers, scrubby