Old Fashioned Nurse's Cap Case

[DeniseTN]

My instructor went to nursing school in the 1960's. She still wears the traditional white uniform to clinicals. She mentioned the other day that she has been wanting a traditional carrying case for her nurse's cap. She said she had one years ago, but it disappeared. She's just using a makeshift case right now. She said that it was made of white plastic. I have Googled this like a mad woman and cannot even find a picture of one. I'd love to surprise her with one at our pinning ceremony. Does anyone know what she is talking about or where I can find one?

(This is the only cap case I can find...I'm pretty sure this isn't like the old kind though.)

[mamamerlee, LPN]

Whether or not it's the same, get it for her anyway. She will be EXTREMELY touched.

[*LadyJane*]

That looks like the ones I used to see being used for cap carrying.... She'd be thrilled to get it....

[NamasteNurse, BSN, RN]

My teacher has one on her desk, Its clear hard plastic. Maybe look on ebay? I agree with LadyJane, she will love it no matter what.

[elkpark]

The carrying case in the link you provide may not be exactly the one that your instructor is talking about, but it is one of the traditional styles of "cap cases." Since she has mentioned it before, it would be a thoughtful gift.

(I used to carry my cap in a "tupperware" type plastic box designed for food storage, rather than a special cap case. Worked just as well!)

[nurturing_angel]

I haven't seen anyone wear a cap in ages! I wish I still had mine. The case you posted a pic of is just like the one I used to have. I graduated in the 80's. Your instructor would probably love it.

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

A little off topic. I dressed as a nurse for halloween complete with the cap that's been sitting in my closet collecting dust. A bit of a stretch right? My 9 year old grand daughter asked if it was a "sailor hat". It hadn't occurred to me that her generation has no clue that nurses once wore caps. They are officially extinct.

[elkpark]

They are officially extinct.

Not entirely -- I still have mine, and, on the rare occasions when I wear whites (I work in a specialty where we wear street clothes, so it is rare), I wear my cap (and real whites, not scrubs).

[DroogieRN]

They are officially extinct.

Not quite!

I am getting ready to begin my last semester of an ADN program and we are old school, caps and all! As first level students, our caps were all white, and now that we're second level, we have stripes added to them. They can be annoying but they're quite distinctive at the hospital and the patients love them.

[DoGoodThenGo]

Yes, the item shown in the like is about as close as one is going to get today for a nurse's cap case, at least sold new in the United States. Kay's Caps pretty much the only source in the United States, indeed much of the world for nurse's caps.

Your instructor probably had the old round style case, but oval should suit fine, unless her cap is of a distinctive shape and or size. OP could contact Kay's directly and see if they have any NOS (New Old Stock), round cap cases still lying about. Failing that check around very old nursing uniform stores (what there are left of them), and see what there is.

Even back in the day, the cap cases were not very durable. Made from plastic/PVC, the often tore or were otherwise damaged, which is not surprising considering the abuse some of them took.

Guess living in NYC one considers the sight of caps rather odd, as cannot remember the last time one has seen one. Do know from freinds outside of the metro area, especially down South, many nurses still wear the things, some are even required via dress code, go figure.

Wonderbee:

Caps may be rare in the United States, but in many parts of Asia,South America and Mexico, nurses are still required to wear caps. Just look at some of the recent media coveage of flu shots being given, and you'll see more than one snap of a nurse ( in whites and caps), giving shots.

What really strikes one as odd, have watched programs from Asia and South American showing nurses giving treatments in burn or isolation units where they are gowned, masked, gloved but STILL wearing a cap. I mean what is up with that? Know it was done stateside for ages, but that was before it was known how full of germs the darn things could be.

DGTG

[WeS-RN]

Yeah, I'm glad my ADN program wasn't old school. I'd look really strange in one of those caps. ;P

[Midwest4me]

a little off topic. i dressed as a nurse for halloween complete with the cap that's been sitting in my closet collecting dust. a bit of a stretch right? my 9 year old grand daughter asked if it was a "sailor hat". it hadn't occurred to me that her generation has no clue that nurses once wore caps. they are officially extinct.

"sailor hat" !!! lol!!! amazing, isn't it, how our grandkids have no clue about the nurses' dress code back then?! and why should they anyway? we all dress in "pajamas" these days!