What Do Nurses Wear? The History of the Nurse Dress Code

From white caps and skirts to running shoes and scrubs — the nursing professional uniform has gone through major changes in the last hundred years. As the perception of nurses as a profession has evolved, so have expectations around appearance and dress code. What do nurses wear in the modern day, and how did we get here? Let’s explain some common wardrobe staples for nurses and the history of nurse dress code.

What Clothes Do Nurses Wear While Working a Typical Shift?

Nursing is a physically and mentally demanding profession, so the clothes that nurses wear to work typically reflect the demands of their role. Most nursing accessories and clothes serve a specific purpose. What do nurses wear and why? Here are your answers:

• Scrubs: Nursing uniforms need to meet dress code while being breathable and comfortable. Scrubs come in a variety of colors, which typically indicate departments within a healthcare facility.
• Shoes: Nurses are often on their feet for extended periods, so shoes need to be comfortable and supportive. Slip-resistant soles can prevent falls, cushioned insoles absorb shock, and many are made with materials that can be cleaned easily.
• Work bags: Often made of materials that can be wiped down and sanitized, these sturdy carry-alls have to transport water bottles, clinical notes, snacks, supplies, and more.
• Compression socks: Tight, high socks help improve circulation and have even been shown to help with swelling and leg pain related to varicose veins.
• Stethoscopes: These listening devices help nurses hear heart, lung, and bowel sounds, and are also used for checking manual blood pressure levels. High-quality stethoscopes are designed with sensitive diaphragms and bell components to accurately transmit sound.
• Badge reels: As a safety policy, nurses must carry identification to show their name and credentials at work. Badge reels are retractable ID holders that make it easier to scan badges without taking them off.
• Watches: Nurses must track time to manage tasks, take vital signs, and document procedures. Watches typically have a secondhand or digital display and must be easy to clean at the end of a shift.
• Scrub caps: Clinical areas with a high risk of infection, such as the surgical unit and some oncology units, often require hair coverage.

A Short History of Nursing Uniforms

Nursing uniforms have come a long way, and their evolution tells the story of the profession itself. Thanks to Florence Nightingale, the classic white uniform became the go-to look for nurses during the Crimean War in the 1860s. The first nurse to create standards of education, infection control, and practice, Nightingale also standardized the dress code by introducing long-sleeved dresses and aprons. These uniforms were designed to protect nurses and symbolize the care and professionalism they brought to their work.

The white cap, another historic nursing staple, has also evolved over time. Nightingale initially fashioned this headwear after nuns’ habits, and they were worn to mitigate infection. In the late 1800s, Massachusetts General Hospital began requiring these caps, and eventually they became a symbol of the nursing profession. During the second half of the 19th century, they evolved from covering the whole head to perching on the back of the head and sometimes featured a horizontal line.

Things started to change during World War II when practicality took over. Shorter dresses and sleeves became the norm to keep up with the demands of the time, like material shortages and the need to move quickly.

This shift away from the old-school feminine styles continued into the 60s and 70s, paving the way for scrubs in the 80s — a nod to the growing number of male nurses, and the changing face of the profession. Around the same time, caps were falling from favor. They were more hassle than they were worth, often ending up in the wrong places (like the toilet). By the mid-80s, most hospitals had ditched them entirely.

What do nurses wear now? Scrubs are the uniform of choice for nursing professionals and other healthcare workers. They’re comfy, practical, and come in a variety of colors and patterns. White uniforms and scrub caps still hold sentimental value for many experienced nurses who remember wearing them during capping ceremonies and at work. But the move towards more casual, practical dress is generally perceived as a good one.

What Do Nurses Wear to Work: FAQs

Why do nurses wear scrubs?

The simple answer is practicality. Scrubs are comfortable, designed to move with your body, and are easily cleaned between shifts. They typically have pockets for storing saline flushes, pens, notebooks, and other nursing supplies. Many nursing professionals have a favorite brand of scrubs that they prefer for their fit, function, or color.

Aside from their functionality, scrubs are often required by hospitals, post-acute facilities, home health agencies, and other employment areas. Scrubs have become a modern symbol of medicine and care, and they help designate that someone is a healthcare professional whether they are on a med-surg unit or in a school.

What do nurses wear in different roles?

Depending on where nurses work, some nursing uniforms might be slightly different from what the rest of the staff wears in a hospital or medical facility. For example,

• Pediatric nurses often wear scrubs with fun patterns or cartoons to comfort young patients.
• Surgical nurses typically wear hospital-provided green scrubs to maintain a sterile environment.
• Nurse executives, like chief nursing officers, often wear business-casual attire while doing office tasks, but might switch to scrubs when on the floor.

What shoes do nurses wear?

Nurses often have strong opinions on footwear — after all, the typical floor nurse walks between four and five miles each shift. Here are the most common shoes seen in nursing units today:

• Running shoes and sneakers
• Clogs
• Slip-on shoes
• Mary Janes

What color scrubs do nurses wear?

That depends on where they work. Healthcare facilities often require a specific color of scrubs to designate a healthcare professional’s role. For example, registered nurses might wear navy scrubs while nursing assistants might wear maroon. This standardized practice helps professionals know everyone’s roles at a glance and assures patients that staff is organized and professional.

What is nurse dress code?

Dress code for nurses is dictated by the hospital dress code, so what a nurse wears (or doesn’t wear) at work depends on the setting and facility. Clothes and scrub colors aren’t the only thing to be aware of when it comes to nurse dress code. Hair, for example, typically needs to be neat, and some facilities require that nurses have hair that is a natural color.

Tattoos can also be a part of a facility’s appearance guidelines; some workplaces require that they be completely covered when you come to work. Nails can be regulated by dress code as well, since longer nail length is associated with an increased risk of infection. Close-toed shoes and minimal jewelry and makeup are also sometimes required.

While these requirements might sound stringent, the dress code for nurses is more relaxed than ever. Many facilities have moved away from requiring nurses to cover tattoos in the workplace — a stance that is still controversial to some. Relaxed dress codes have arisen as the general consensus around professional dress has become more casual — and some facilities even allow costumes around the holidays.

What Do Nurses Wear in Your Dream Job?

If you’re ready to find your next workplace, IntelyCare has roles for you. Whether you’re a CNA, LPN, RN, or NP, you can learn more about fresh nursing opportunities in your preferred specialty and care setting.