Any nurses out there still wearing a cap?

[abbaking]

Hello. I saw a nurse the other day in the parking lot wearing the traditional white nurse cap. I ran over to her and asked why on earth she was wearing that. It turns out she is from the "Old School" era of nurses (1970's) and has never worked a nursing job without her cap ...as she put it "I worked for this cap and nobody but myself will remove it". So, here is the question : Have you ever, or are you currently working with a nurse who wears the cap? ANy insights would be appreciated

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

I STILL wear a nursing cap, as well as a white DRESS uniform and a white lab coat,stockings and shoes. I managed to locate some new nursing caps this past week on ebay. One arrived today by FEDEX. The others are on their way. I will NOT wear "scrubs" . I am a professional and will dress as one (properly attired, no extra jewelry or long fingernails or sloppy "hairstyles"). I will continue to dress this way until I retire from nursing, which is a LONG way off.

I admire your pride, but to imply that anyone who wears "scrubs" isn't dressing professionally is insulting. It is considered "proper attire" nowadays. I don't wear patterns and bright colors; the other day I wore a solid red scrub top, black pants, and black clogs. I had a patient ask me if my outfit actually was scrubs, he said I looked very nice and "dressed up" like I was going to church (!). So YES it is possible to look professional and presentable wearing scrubs.

As far as caps, one RN on our float team still wears one. She's the only one I've ever seen. We have a VERY old (not being mean, she IS old~at least in her 80's~and she's also BRILLIANT) nun that works in our ICU's, telemetry unit, etc, that wears the white dress, stockings, and shoes with her white habit every day, usually with a patterned warm up jacket.

[caliotter3]

Back in the early 90's the DON of the facility where I worked wore her cap with a totally white uniform, dress, not pantsuit. I have only seen one or two others. Most recently (a couple of months ago) I saw a nurse wearing her cap at the blood donor center in a hospital. She had an office and quite proudly displayed her various diplomas and certificates.

[canuk_chick]

I've never seen a nurse wear one in real life in my hospital, however I do work with a nurse who could retire any day now and the only thing she tells us is that we'll all know it's her last day (including our boss) when she comes to work in her nursing white's and cap!! I'm pretty sure she graduated mid to late 60's

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

I am in the ADN program at a community college and we have to wear all white and caps to clinicals.

Wow. Had to check the date of this post; wondered if it was about thirty years old!

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

I've seen a couple of nurses in caps, but they are unusual. The other hundreds I've seen don't.

I like to thoroughly clean EVERYTHING I'm wearing (except the shoes that stay in the garage!) and while I appreciate the sentiment, a cap is also a pathogen collector nowadays.

It was charming in its day, truly, but if I can't throw it in the washing machine daily, I'm not wearing it.

[caliotter3]

I've never seen a nurse wear one in real life in my hospital, however I do work with a nurse who could retire any day now and the only thing she tells us is that we'll all know it's her last day (including our boss) when she comes to work in her nursing white's and cap!! I'm pretty sure she graduated mid to late 60's

That's the way to go out in style!

[northshore08]

Graduated 1986 from ADN program. The last day of clinical was the last day I ever wore my cap. I did continue with white dresses, hose and shoes for about 5 years, then moved on to scrubs.

I feel uncomfortable in some colors and some patterns I think might be confusing to patients. I stay away from loud geometrics, and don't wear denim, black or red scrubs. That still leaves plenty of nice stuff to wear.

(The denim, black and red is leftovers from another job where the patients were polled, and the results found that healthcare workers wearing these colors were viewed as less professional...go figure! So every time I try some on, I pull them back off. Can't go there yet!)

[Marvie]

Go to the South, there it seems many hospitals are demanding a return to Cap wearing, even if a fairly new nurse never got one. Go figure:bugeyes:

[northshore08]

Where, Marvie? I am from the south, have friends in several states, and have not heard this!

[lukesspotted1]

Hi I live in Nottingham UK and I work for a private hospital and we still have to wear a frilly cap. We also wear a dress and stockings, there are no trousers and tunics, and sometimes it can be uncomfortable especially in the summer when its really hot on the ward. I must say that we often get comments from patients that they like the look it, it gives us an air of tradition. One comment was passed "you look like proper nurses" others think we look like we have a cupcake on our heads!!!

To be honest I think we are probably the only hospital in the country that still does wear a cap!

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

One comment was passed "you look like proper nurses" others think we look like we have a cupcake on our heads!!!

LOL!

[jmgrn65, RN]

I know of one nurse that wears her cap, she has been a nurse for ooodles of years, she is an excellent nurse.