Uniform Question For Seasoned Nurses...

NurseNora, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2009

How many nurses here remember ash trays in the nursing stations and doctors smoking while making rounds???

Ah yes, smoking at the nurse's desk... I'm just so glad I quit smoking before you had to go outside to smoke. I would have been a very cranky nurse indeed!

Otessa, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2009

I was glad NOT to wear white anymore-not pleasant during 'that time'. Don't miss bleaching the uniforms and some turning yellowish over time.

I was happy that with my nursing class we did NOT have to wear a hat or receive one.

Scrubs-mine were always tailored to fit and not looking like pj's. Always a shirt underneath the v-necks so to not show any cleavage (one of my pet peeves with v-neck scrubs). Not wrinkled-either took them out of the dryer or ironed them so I wouldn't look sloppy. Shoes weren't falling apart and were clean. I have seen shoes breaking apart and some duck taped(!)

otessa

Otessa, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2009

I used to wear dresses, skirts,etc. First in white and then ceil and dark blue. White nylons were a pain though. I always made sure I could move really well in them though.

bluemorningglory · Jul 18, 2009

These posts are a hoot to read. I just got back from visiting with my 93 year old aunt who was a nurse and while she admits that the scrubs might be more functional, the white dresses and caps put patients at ease.

I do want to ask...are caps still given at graduation and are pinning ceremonies still done?

NurseTink · Jul 18, 2009

Ohhhhh no! I would never go back!! lol

Imagine all the things we do as nurses now that doctors or orderlys did back then.

I encourage anyone with the interest of knowing what the nursing cap was like just order one and wear it around the house. see how many times you almost knock your head off... Its just not functional/feesible these days. :nurse:

I wore a pinafore dress/uniform. It was not comfortable at all. OH and the support hose!! :uhoh3: I know I should probably still wear them but I dont.

White is just so hard to keep clean. After a while they start looking yellow or dingy.

I likesolid, all one colored scrubs Ceil blue, Black or grey. Boring I know. I do not like all the prints though. I would wear it if i worked in Peds.

I certainly dont miss the days of all white.

Most of our nurse managers still wear all white.. but scrubs with a jacket. It looks great..but then again they are not getting around body fluids either.

:tinkbll:NurseTink

island40 · Jul 18, 2009

There are some religions that ban women from wearing men's clothing and thus require women to wear a dress/skirt. Schools that receive federal funding have to make accommodations to these students and respect their cultural difference. Usually they can wear the same colors- just buy scrub skirts. I liked the white signaling clearly to the patients who was a nurse and not a tech, med aid.... but I would rather wear what Nightengale wore....dark blue. Much easier to hide iodine, blood, rust.... keeping uniforms servicable for longer and saving me $$.

emmalou* · Jul 18, 2009

I trained in the 80's in Australia. We had to wear awful purple and white pin stripe dresses with navy tights and navy shoes. We also had to wear a cap, that would have one star, two stars or three stars on it depending what year you were in. I was always hitting patients in the eye with my cap. Thankfully we got rid of the caps in my second year.

I remember visiting a family member in hospital in the 80s - Wesley Private Hospital in Brisbane, Qld. I remember those uniforms! Purple and white striped with a cap. Was that where you trained?

The reason I remember is because I used to watch the nurses, fascinated by them, and that was when I really wanted to be a nurse.

Nostalgia eh? :lol2:

berrylion · Jul 19, 2009

I remember visiting a family member in hospital in the 80s - Wesley Private Hospital in Brisbane, Qld. I remember those uniforms! Purple and white striped with a cap. Was that where you trained?
The reason I remember is because I used to watch the nurses, fascinated by them, and that was when I really wanted to be a nurse.
Nostalgia eh?

I actually trained at the Royal Canberra Hospital. Which doesnt exist anymore. I did a three year hospital course. We got paid for our training, $11/hr! Ahh the good old days. I remember one time I had finished all my work and sat down at the desk to read a patients chart, a mortal sin apparently. The charge nurse saw me, gave me a tub of gumption ( like comet) and told me if I had time to sit down i had time to clean all the bed wheels in the unit:icon_roll

allnurses Guide · Jul 19, 2009

I do want to ask...are caps still given at graduation and are pinning ceremonies still done?

I have seen posts by students here complaining about their caps, so I would venture to guess yes on the cappings. Definitely yes to the pinnings: my community college is having a pinning ceremony in a couple of weeks. The convocation I went to to receive my hood started with the pins being presented to the BSN students. Both schools presented the pins as a gift. In the 80's where I got my BSN we had a choice of sterling silver or gold, and paid for them ourselves. I've read about students skipping their ceremonies for various reasons, one being couldn't afford thier pin.

bluemorningglory · Jul 19, 2009

I have seen posts by students here complaining about their caps, so I would venture to guess yes on the cappings. Definitely yes to the pinnings: my community college is having a pinning ceremony in a couple of weeks. The convocation I went to to receive my hood started with the pins being presented to the BSN students. Both schools presented the pins as a gift. In the 80's where I got my BSN we had a choice of sterling silver or gold, and paid for them ourselves. I've read about students skipping their ceremonies for various reasons, one being couldn't afford thier pin.

OMG-how sad that someone would miss her pinning ceremony due to a lack of money:(