Nurses’ uniforms have undergone many changes since they emerged in the 1800s. From the days of floor-length dresses with aprons to today’s variety of colorful scrubs, the design of the uniforms has changed based on functionality, professionalism, and the role of the nurse.
Prior to the foundation of modern nursing in the 19th century, nuns provided nursing care to sick and injured people. So the first nurse uniforms were derived from the nun’s habit.
Florence Nightingale’s efforts during the Crimean War helped turn nursing into a respected occupation, and in the late 1800s, she established a nursing school. Thereafter, the nurse’s uniform began to look more professional in order to distinguish trained nurses from those who were not. It was actually one of Nightingale’s students who designed the first recognizable nurse’s uniform, which included a long dress with an apron and a frilly cap.
- See more at: http://source.southuniversity.edu/the-evolution-of-nurse-uniforms-41153.aspx#sthash.nmJf6RPy.dpuf