funny

MU Nursingstudent · Apr 1, 2011

Hahhaa I was just watching that the other day :) I used to watch it with my aunt when I was little because she would always watch it cause she's a paramedic.

microtutor · Apr 1, 2011

Did nurses ever wear those uniforms? How did they get stuff done wearing those?? I think of all the things nurses have to do - all the lifting, bending, etc. - and I can't imagine it!!

trixie333, ASN · Apr 1, 2011

Graduated in '74, and yes, we used to wear those short dresses....the shorter they were, the more fashionable you were.....we always wanted to look good and up-to-the-minute in what we wore to work...don't forget...the cute caps were required.....I had a roomie that really challenged the administrators with how short her hem could go....some places had rules the hem had to be 4 in. or less from your knee cap....we avoided anything that looked like it was designed in the fifties or sixties...but we learned to be very flexible and not 'lose our manners' too often...

and the shoes....it was hard to find nursing shoes that looked good with a short dress....and the best, white oxfords that looked OK were way-y-y expensive...

and 'sneakers' were taboo....

as male nurses filtered into our work places in the late seventies, a few of us bolder female nurses started wearing PANTS to work....talk about controversy and write-ups...but they Were a more modest solution, it was a relif to know my underwear wasn't showing as I worked...

..and I got more hassle than you want to know when I stopped wearing my cap....Always was a stealth feminist, though...if the guys were not following dress code, then I was on their team....

Went immediately to clogs and athletic shoes when they went on the market....

always looking for a comfortable shoe.....I sure took a lot of grief, esp. in evals. for wearing 'basketball shoes'....... when I bought my first Pumas, I never took them off no matter what the bosses said.....they really helped the feet and legs

suffer through all those shifts on your feet, no breaks, running the whole time....

Nursing fashion through the years is a fun topic...I've seen some displays put together for Nurses Day, and I have collected a couple pieces in my day (like the old, blue wool cape w/ the red lining)...I remember being surprised to see that black was a required color for uniforms at some places a hundred years ago...

I sure would like to hear some other nurses' stories on this topic

microtutor · Apr 2, 2011

That's a very cool story, thank you for sharing it!! OMG.."the shorter the better"?? LOL Too funny!!!

I'm glad we can wear pants today. I guess we have the male nurses to thank for that, from what you've related. Thanks, guys!

nurse12b · Apr 2, 2011

wow, trixie333 that is amazing. I was just telling my husband that allot of changes took place in the 70's. I know this nursing school in Ohio that they are still required to wear the old uniform. The changes in the nursing uniform is amazing. Even what nurses do now compared to back then is amazing.