Looking Into The Nurses Uniforms History
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by: AdrianaNoton
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Word Count: 584
Some nurses who were only partially trained, were employed by local health officials or cities, in the 1800s, to attend to the care of the poor who could not afford to have a proper doctor. Their uniforms were mature looking and dignified and lent more to the appearance of a lady.
In the mid-1800s, Florence Nightingale, the daughter of a rich British landowner, refused her parents plans to marry her into a station of life befitting the times. She wanted a medical career in nursing. Due to her, nursing rose in position socially and uniforms began took on a more professional look. The professional nurses uniforms displayed obvious differences from those of the untrained. The nurses uniforms were covered with pinafore like aprons with capped sleeves, and hung to nearly floor length. Hats, or caps, had chin straps that resembled those of nuns gave an appearance of quality.
With the advent of World War I it became apparent that exacting nurses uniform styles were not efficient in the extremity of war. Due to the large number of wounded that needed immediate care it became obvious that shirts needed to be shortened, sleeves shortened or rolled up, and that the aprons frequently needed to be discarded altogether.
An even bigger change came about when the skirt shortened to mid calf during World War II and bearing a distinct uniform look blue and later drab olive since many nurses were in the military services. Caps were more efficient looking dropping the chin straps altogether or had a military look. They were various colors and bore insignias representing the nurses different area of service, but most always a shirtwaist style.
After the war in the 1950s, nurses uniforms adapted short sleeves and a feminine bib apron with shoulder straps, and pill box caps became the norm.
The 1960s saw a change to a slightly more casual look as open collars appeared, and scrubs became popular in the United States. Scrubs were reserved for the operating theatre in the United Kingdom however. Paper caps that were disposable came into use in the 1970s and later in the 1980s disposable plastic aprons began to be used.
Times have changed and so have the nurses uniforms, sometimes out of necessity or to reflect current styles. As always nurses are a vital part of the medical field in all countries and still wear different styles of uniforms. The popularity of scrubs can be seen in almost every hospital and clinic in the United States. Their whimsical, and colorful, patterns are popular among US patients, though more traditional uniforms are still worn in other countries. With the advent of more male nurses the Internet also offers a variety of styles from which to choose.
The nurses uniforms history may have changed over time, but no matter what the style they are worn by caring nursing professionals who attend to the sick and dying of the world. It is and always has been a noble and vital profession.
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