The Evolution of the Nursing Uniform

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The Evolution of the Nursing Uniform When you hear the word “Nurse,” a particular image may come to mind. A lady in sparkling white dress, clean white rubber shoes, crisp white hat, white socks and a stethoscope around her neck, right? This was previously the standard uniform of the nurse across the world, but not anymore! Over the years, the nursing uniform has evolved and nurses nowadays wear scrubs in different colors as opposed to the white nursing dress. The uniform has changed drastically over the past century alone. The Late 1800s (19th Century) The nursing uniform in the 19th century was known as a servant’s uniform, and it consisted of a full black gown, white apron, and banded cap. During this time, nursing was a street profession, and was looked down on. It was only after war and turmoil, that the nursing career started to gain respect. While there is no data on how nursing uniforms looked before 1839 due to the lack of cameras, there is relevant evidence from the Crimean war. During that time, the “Lady with the Lamp,” Florence Nightingale gave personal care to the wounded soldiers, wearing a long dress with aprons tied in the back. After the war ended, Florence Nightingale realized the importance of cleanliness and the correlation between illness and unsanitary conditions. Therefore, nurses continued to wear long sleeves dresses as it helped them cover the maximum amount of their body, shielding them from various diseases. The nurses did not use gloves or masks during this time, but the white starched cap became synonymous with nurses. The Early 1900s (20th Century) Until the early 1900s, nurses wore long flowing dresses, however, the addition of an armband became a part of their identity, and the nursing uniform began to look different from a servant’s uniform. They used to prefer nun-type headwear over nurse hats. It was only after 1919 that nurses started wearing gloves and surgical masks. The late 1900s, however, again saw a change in the nurse's’ uniform, as it transformed into a shorter skirt with short sleeves and a button down top in order to wear the gloves comfortably. As nurses became required to stay on-site of their job, the uniforms again evolved and left more room for nurses to stay comfortable. Now the skirts as well as the sleeves, were much shorter.


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