The Evolution Of Nursing Uniforms Is Fascinating

We all know that nursing is a majorly demanding but rewarding career, and nurses sometimes don't get the respect they deserve. I mean, after all, you spend years going through incredibly rigorous training and devote yourself to working on the front lines with patients, taking care of them in ways that doctors don't. That's why I found this infographic of the evolution of nursing uniforms through history so fascinating.

The infographic came from the Simmons School of Nursing and Health Sciences and starts with the 1860s, when Florence Nightingale made nursing an official profession by establishing the first school of nursing in London. Back then, the standard nursing uniform included a blue dress, white apron and white bonnet. Sounds stylish, right? In the 1900s, the bonnets were replaced with nursing caps as hairstyles grew shorter. The 1960s brought the advent of scrubs, but unfortunately the comfy shirts-and-pants combo was reserved for male nurses. Boooo. Women still wore "scrub dresses," which were shorter and designed using the same comfy materials as scrubs are today. The 1970s brought the first challenge from nurses about their uniforms. By the 1980s, uniforms were closer to what we know and recognize today from Grey's Anatomy and Scrubs.

Check out the graphic for more info:

For the full chart, you can head to Nursing@Simmons: FNP Programs blog.

It's surprisingly fascinating. Considering the "sexy nurse" is such a trope in today's society, it was great to see a real history of the uniform. Nursing has such an interesting history as a career, but my favorite part about this graphic? The final quote: "We expect uniforms will continue to evolve as the nursing profession forges ahead."

This is what happens when you put professionals in a room with their sexy Halloween costume counterparts. Subscribe to Bustle on YouTube for more videos!