If nursing caps looked decent, would you wear one?

[Flynurse]

My school never issued nursing caps to us, only pins. Whenever I see old pictures of nurses wearing their caps I have this urge to want to find one for myself, if of course it looked decent.

Think about it...most nurses haven't worn them since the 70's, but it stands strong as a symbol of what we do and who we are.

I would definitely wear one, but I'm the least likely to start a trend. :chair:

[researchrabbit]

I have fine, straight hair that won't even hold a rubber band (it all just slithers out eventually)...no way could I keep it on unless I glued it down! :)

[obtnt]

Like the others, I too have great memories of my cap and what it stood for, hard work, pride in the profession, the history of our sisters before us. Fast forward to today and it is still a great feeling, a remembrance to hold on to. Then I remember the headaches, the tissure squares to hold it on, keeping it clean, UGH!!! To answer the poll, I'll wear one when the doctors have to wear one-in other words, when pigs fly!!!!

[SherRN]

Quote

Originally posted by RainbowSkye

I always wanted a cap. I mean, Cherry Ames had one. I got my first cap when I was 15 and a volunteer at the local nursing home. (A blue and white striped cotton cap with a big ole red cross patch on the front.) I was so excited at our capping during our freshman year of nursing school (this was 1971), we all were. It was pretty easy to keep the cap on - first you had to fold a piece of toilet paper to just the right size and pin that to your hair with white bobby pins - then you pinned the cap onto that.

Well, I probably haven't worn a cap since maybe 1976. But I do kind of miss it. Everyone knew you were a "real" nurse, and there was a great amount of respect that went along with that.

I wonder what we could do to get that back (without pinning a cap on our heads again)? Something to think about.

Skye

Oh, I wish I had gotten a cape, my school stopped giving the out with the class right before mine. I've actually looked on e-bay to get one. Go figure.

Cherry Ames ! OMG I read everyone of her bookes. Thanks RainbowSkye for the flashback.:)

[JailRN]

Almost forget about Cherry Ames-thanks for the memories.

As for capes, sometimes in the Army-Navy surplus stores you can find French Police Capes, they're Mid calf and 100% wool, very warm waterproof and not $$$, plus has a hood.

I still have my nursing school cape- when I'm thin will wear it again. (soon, soon ,soon)

[patsue53]

I vote NO!

I was proud to wear my cap as a symbol of my achievment in my Nursing graduation picture. But for work they're impractical and a nuisance. (they sure are cute tho. :) )

[DelGR]

Hats-- No. They're not very practical. I did have to wear one through my ADN program and graduation. Never wore it again.

The guys in my ADN program decided the day of graduation to wear hats. They kept it a surprise from the rest of us and whipped them on their heads just as we were sitting down for the opening remarks. Then threw them up in the air at the end of the pinning ceremony. The hats looked like something a rich yacht owner would wear. The guys even put the navy blue velvet ribbon & silver cord on the hat above the visor. That was the colors that we (females) had on our caps.

It was great fun.

Pinning ceremonies are good but I haven't worn my pin since graduation. It's too expensive to have it fall off and get lost.

I don't think a hat or pin would really be necessary if we just introduce ourselves to the patients and family as Ms./Mr. so and so and give our title. A lawyer, doctor, teacher or any other profession doesn't have any identifying insignia--DO THEY?

Many nurses I come into contact with don't properly identify themselves to patients or family. Many times they walk into a patient's room and just start doing tasks. They barely acknowledge visitors in the room, let alone the patient. So, I think that a hat, pin, or even clothing is just a substitute for good communications.

[DIPLOMATICRN4HIRE, MSN, RN]

I had to wear a hat the entire time I attended Both Nursing schools. I said that when I graduated I also have earned the right to drag that thing behind the car the entire way home. I had 2 so that one remained white and startched at all times. One was dragged home past graduation the other framed with my Diplomas and hangs in my fathers home.

Zoe

[Glad2behere]

I would wear my JOHN DEERE cap, backwards of course.

SO THERE!

[williamssu]

I graduated in 1972 and loved wearing my cap! As a hospice nurse I don't even wear scrubs when I visit patients so a cap would certainly be out of place. Not one of my patients or their family have ever questionned the role I play in their healthcare so I guess caps don't make the nurse.

:balloons:

[semiller36545]

No way , no how.

[justme1972]

I am a sucker for tradition. Tradition is part of what makes certain things in life special and meaningful.

I totally agree that wearing the cap while working is nutty. However, I think it's a shame that they were abandoned for pinning ceremonies at many schools, because to me, the pinning marks you entering a profession with a long-standing tradition.

Can you imagine going to your regular graduation with a cap and gown and one day, the caps with the tassels being "obsolete" because "no one wanted to wear them anymore"?

I can't...the visions of hundreds of students moving their tassel over as they walked across the stage, or tossing their caps in the air after graduation...all of that would be lost.

I believe that "feeling" got lost when these schools dropped formal, traditional uniforms for pinning as well as dropping the hats. Without them, it just seems like a glorified tea party.

[CyndieRN2007]

I would wear one.