During the early days of nursing, there was no uniform for nursing. They only gained popularity when Florence Nightingale, one of the first women pioneers in the medical field, established the importance of wearing nursing uniforms during the Crimean war. The first nursing uniforms were dark-gray, full-length dresses covered by white aprons. Today, nurse uniforms take on many styles and functions for seeing to the safety and security of patients.
Over the years, nursing uniforms evolved. White dresses and hose were the standard garb, but when many complained because these were impractical and difficult to work in, white tunics and pants came about. These were more comfortable to wear and nurses could actually move around easily. Nowadays, most nurses wear colored uniforms and nurse scrubs. The colored uniforms and scrubs are more convenient, since dirt or stains can’t easily be detected.
However, according to many critics, more patients are confused with colored uniforms and nurses can’t be easily picked out from the rest of the hospital staff. That is why, many hospitals reinstated white nursing uniforms with a designer flair for style and comfort. These uniforms not only give patients a sense of security, but also give nurses a level of comfort and style that they expect in their day-to-day attire.
Nursing uniforms are indeed an effective way for patients to easily recognize the nurses who take care of them. Not only that, nursing uniforms give a sense of pride to the nurses who wear them, since they are just one symbol of their love and dedication to their profession.
