The Evolution of Nursing Uniforms

During the late 19th century, professional nursing and the first nursing uniform were established. Over the last 155 years, nurses’ place in society, their responsibilities and their uniforms have all evolved dramatically.

Florence Nightingale establishes the first school of nursing, now a part of King’s College in London, England, and nursing uniforms – blue dresses, white aprons, and white bonnets.

The Training School for Nurses of Bellevue Hospital Center in New York City institutes the first uniform for American nursing students. This uniform was very similar to Nightingale’s.

Doctor William Stewart Halsted introduces rubber surgical gloves to operating rooms, which become near-universally adopted by the end of the century.

As women’s hair is cut shorter, nursing caps become smaller, with the starched white cap perched on the back of the head eventually winning popularity.

The Army Nurse Corps adopts the American Red Cross’ cape. Uniforms are scarlet-lined blue flannel (but without the Red Cross symbol) and both surgical masks and nursing pins, which are awarded to nursing school graduates, see widespread use.

Clothing retailer White Swan begins offering nurses more stylish uniform options: higher hemlines, lower waistlines, and pleated skirts.

As the varieties of nursing caps proliferate, with schools designing their own to be used in capping ceremonies and hospitals to distinguish seniority, some nurses observe that caps “are apparently worn for purposes of ornament only.

World War II sees 50,000 army nurses on or near battlefields living and dressing as soldiers in fatigues and steel helmets when not in uniforms of jackets and skirts. Before the adoption of sterilizing techniques, all-white uniforms are also introduced in medical facilities during this time period to reinforce ideals of cleanliness.

The length of nursing uniform dress sleeves are reduced and open-neck dresses are unveiled.

After all-white operating rooms and uniforms strain the eyes of staff, uniforms in shades of green are adopted; “scrub dresses” are also introduced before pantsuit uniforms become an acceptable alternative.

The appropriateness of nursing uniforms is questioned with some nurses, particularly in psychiatric settings. Uniforms are abandoned for casual dress and ID badges; while the cap comes under particular scrutiny, and the disposable cap his the market.

Many hospitals make caps optional as even capping ceremonies fall out of vogue. During this period we see a larger trend moving away from traditional uniforms (and casual attire) toward lab coats or scrubs with surgical caps.

The American Association of Nurses and the Center for Nurse Advocacy introduce RN patches as a way for nurses to proudly identify themselves amongst other scrub-clad health care workers.

What becomes clear from the history of nursing uniforms is that they are not just an expression of institutional values, but of nurses’ standing in society at large. As nurses evolved from being the successors of charitable nuns to full-fledged health care workers, their uniforms also progressed. We expect uniforms will continue to evolve as the nursing profession forges ahead.

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