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Nurses Uniforms History might begin in the Middle Ages. Nuns and monks performed their nursing duties mostly within the monasteries. The traditional dress of monks and nuns were the uniforms worn by the nursing brethren as they attended to all who needed their services. From the 1600s into the 1800s nurses were not looked up to, but rather were often viewed as having substandard morality. The reason for that point of view was a result of unmarried female nurses staying overnight in their patients homes, or in the hospital basements where drinking and carousing went on.

Partially trained nurses, used by local health officials or the cities in the 1800s, were to care for the poor because they could not afford to have a doctor come to them. The uniform was often dignified and mature giving the appearance of a lady.

By 1850 when Florence Nightingale, daughter of a wealthy British landowner, rejected the life planned for her by her parents and set out on a medical journey of nursing, nursing was about to see a change. Through her efforts nursing took on an even more elevated station and uniforms became more professional looking, making the nurses uniform more distinct and separating them from the untrained. The nurses uniforms were almost floor length with aprons like a pinafore with cap sleeves. Hats were worn similar to a nuns headwear, or caps with straps tied under the chin, both of which gave an even more respectable look than previously.

With the advent of World War I it became apparent that exacting nurses uniform styles were not efficient in the extremity of war. Due to the large number of wounded that needed immediate care it became obvious that shirts needed to be shortened, sleeves shortened or rolled up, and that the aprons frequently needed to be discarded altogether.

World War II brought about even more startling changes, and distinct uniforms of military nurses were of blue and olive and became even shorter according to dress modes of the day. Caps took on a military appearance, and were more efficient. There were also various colors and insignias according to the nurses area of military service or rank, but usually were in a shirtwaist style.

Nurses uniforms in the 1950s were more feminine looking with short sleeves and covered by a bib apron with shoulder straps. Caps were often in pill box style.

During the 1960s open collars gave a more casual look. In the United States, scrubs became popular. In the UK however scrubs were only for the operating theatre. Disposable paper caps were used in the 1970s, and later disposable plastic aprons came into use in the 1980s.

As time has marched forward, uniforms have changed often due to necessity or reflecting current style. Today nurses continue to be a vital part of the worldwide medical community and wear a variety of styles of uniforms. Scrubs have become the norm in the United States being colorful, or whimsical, though many countries still have more traditional uniforms. Male nurses also have a variety of styles to choose from via the Internet.

The history of nurses uniforms show that styles and norms have changed, but one thing has not changed. We still need and appreciate our caring nursing professionals who attend to us all over the world. It is and always has been a vitally needed and appreciated profession.

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