# Can we please bring back traditional white nurses uniforms??? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 8, 2019, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-please-bring-back-traditional-white-nurses-uniforms/833642 "2019-05-08T00:18:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stuntman\_Mike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stuntman_mike/32/334_2.png) [@Stuntman\_Mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuntman_Mike)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-please-bring-back-traditional-white-nurses-uniforms/833642/1 "2019-05-08T00:18:18Z")
These gals are all wearing different colored smocks and scrubs these days, which is confusing as fuck to me. I don’t need this headache when trying to identify a nurse. Who the hell is who around here?? Take my blood… please. _(Tongue firmly in cheek, BTW… before anyone accuses me of having a loose wire)_ ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-please-bring-back-traditional-white-nurses-uniforms/833642/2 "2019-05-08T00:36:10Z")
What was that weird little front flap folded back, pinned to the back of the head, pilgrim-y woman type of nurse’s cap all about anyway? Did anybody really wear those? ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-please-bring-back-traditional-white-nurses-uniforms/833642/3 "2019-05-08T00:47:03Z")
gals? ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-please-bring-back-traditional-white-nurses-uniforms/833642/4 "2019-05-08T00:58:02Z")
> [@Stuntman\_Mike](#): > > Can we please bring back traditional white nurses uniforms??? I don’t think the nearly 10% of US nurses who are male are going to be too happy about being expected to wear that white dress. Not to mention the nylon pantyhose. Seriously, though, if nurses find scrubs and colored smocks more comfortable and practical than a white dress and stockings, then that’s what they should wear. A nurse experiencing discomfort and inconvenience from her/his uniform is a nurse who is being distracted from caring for patients. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-please-bring-back-traditional-white-nurses-uniforms/833642/5 "2019-05-08T01:28:15Z")
> [@Stuntman\_Mike](#): > > These gals are all wearing different colored smocks and scrubs these days, which is confusing as fuck to me. > > I don’t need this headache when trying to identify a nurse. Who the hell is who around here?? Take my blood… please. > > _(Tongue firmly in cheek, BTW… before anyone accuses me of having a loose wire)_ There are male nurses, you sexist f\*ck! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-please-bring-back-traditional-white-nurses-uniforms/833642/6 "2019-05-08T01:35:19Z")
Hey, if “[Guinness World Record (GWR) rules](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/may/05/nurse-in-trousers-told-her-london-marathon-record-is-invalid) stipulate that a nurse’s uniform must include a blue or white dress, a white pinafore apron and a traditional white nurse’s cap.” it’s good enough for me. Actually, they just [relented](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/07/nurse-in-trousers-awarded-marathon-record-after-outcry) so scrubs _are_ okay. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-please-bring-back-traditional-white-nurses-uniforms/833642/7 "2019-05-08T01:40:59Z")
> [@Stuntman\_Mike](#): > > These gals are all wearing different colored smocks and scrubs these days, which is confusing as fuck to me. > > I don’t need this headache when trying to identify a nurse. Who the hell is who around here?? Take my blood… please. > > _(Tongue firmly in cheek, BTW… before anyone accuses me of having a loose wire)_ I KNOW! You run the risk of confusing them for real people, like Doctors\*!! 😛 ETA \*Man doctors, that is. Woman doctors should know their place and be nurses. Heavy on the starch! ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-please-bring-back-traditional-white-nurses-uniforms/833642/8 "2019-05-08T01:54:26Z")
I dunno what you’re complaining about; nurses in scrubs are gorgeous. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-please-bring-back-traditional-white-nurses-uniforms/833642/9 "2019-05-08T01:59:23Z")
Maybe they could print the word NURSE!! in big friendly letters all over their nice comfy scrubs. I’m sure my (female) doctor friends would approve of this too ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-please-bring-back-traditional-white-nurses-uniforms/833642/10 "2019-05-08T02:02:41Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > I dunno what you’re complaining about; nurses in scrubs are gorgeous. Ayup. The C-store I stop at most mornings is right down the road from a hospital AND a vet clinic or two. Scrubs can be very flattering, especially on a woman with curves. Guys who work out can wear them really well too. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-please-bring-back-traditional-white-nurses-uniforms/833642/11 "2019-05-08T02:04:36Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > There are male nurses, you sexist f\*ck! > > 🙂 So are you saying that men are too good to wear the traditional uniform? Why is the assumption that a man doing something women would do is degrading to men, but not vice versa? > [@Spiderman](#): > > Hey, if “[Guinness World Record (GWR) rules](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/may/05/nurse-in-trousers-told-her-london-marathon-record-is-invalid) stipulate that a nurse’s uniform must include a blue or white dress, a white pinafore apron and a traditional white nurse’s cap.” it’s good enough for me. > > Actually, they just [relented](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/07/nurse-in-trousers-awarded-marathon-record-after-outcry) so scrubs _are_ okay. The [current male record holder](http://guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/fastest-marathon-in-a-nurses-uniform-(male)) for fastest marathon in a nurse’s uniform didn’t think he was above [wearing a traditional nurse’s uniform.](https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-the-mall-london-uk-24th-april-2016-2016-virgin-london-marathon-guinness-102901005.html?pv=1&stamp=2&imageid=4DE445E0-29AA-49EC-A206-9DC028D24F05&p=184630&n=0&orientation=0&pn=1&searchtype=0&IsFromSearch=1&srch=foo%3dbar%26st%3d0%26pn%3d1%26ps%3d100%26sortby%3d2%26resultview%3dsortbyPopular%26npgs%3d0%26qt%3dalistair%2520smith%26qt_raw%3dalistair%2520smith%26lic%3d3%26mr%3d0%26pr%3d0%26ot%3d0%26creative%3d%26ag%3d0%26hc%3d0%26pc%3d%26blackwhite%3d%26cutout%3d%26tbar%3d1%26et%3d0x000000000000000000000%26vp%3d0%26loc%3d0%26imgt%3d0%26dtfr%3d%26dtto%3d%26size%3d0xFF%26archive%3d1%26groupid%3d%26pseudoid%3d%26a%3d%26cdid%3d%26cdsrt%3d%26name%3d%26qn%3d%26apalib%3d%26apalic%3d%26lightbox%3d%26gname%3d%26gtype%3d%26xstx%3d0%26simid%3d%26saveQry%3d%26editorial%3d1%26nu%3d%26t%3d%26edoptin%3d%26customgeoip%3d%26cap%3d1%26cbstore%3d1%26vd%3d0%26lb%3d%26fi%3d2%26edrf%3d%26ispremium%3d1%26flip%3d0%26pl%3d) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-please-bring-back-traditional-white-nurses-uniforms/833642/12 "2019-05-08T02:07:11Z")
You can’t tell who’s an orderly or janitor or a nurse. I think different colors for different job duties would work. With a key posted on the front door. What happened to lab coats, btw? ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-please-bring-back-traditional-white-nurses-uniforms/833642/13 "2019-05-08T02:08:17Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > Maybe they could print the word NURSE!! in big friendly letters all over their nice comfy scrubs. > > I’m sure my (female) doctor friends would approve of this too The hospital where I spend a lot of time hanging out requires their staff to wear ID cards with their titles in big, clearly visible letters. Unfortunately, nearly all of the nurses and other staff wear them turned around so you can’t see them. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-please-bring-back-traditional-white-nurses-uniforms/833642/14 "2019-05-08T02:10:22Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > So are you saying that men are too good to wear the traditional uniform? No, I’m saying the traditional uniform is crap. Especially since it seems to be designed for women. And there are men nurses. Which belies the use of the term “gals” in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-please-bring-back-traditional-white-nurses-uniforms/833642/15 "2019-05-08T02:21:31Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > You can’t tell who’s an orderly or janitor or a nurse. I think different colors for different job duties would work. With a key posted on the front door. > What happened to lab coats, btw? I was actually in an emergency department not so long ago. They gave me a card explaining ER procedures. One of the things on there was that nurses wear a certain shade of blue and patient care technicians wear a different shade of blue. (I forget what the exact shades were.) I honestly was in no condition to differentiate subtle differences in blue. And I always thought white coats were for doctors, but some nurses and therapists wore white coats over their scrubs. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-please-bring-back-traditional-white-nurses-uniforms/833642/16 "2019-05-08T02:24:17Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > No, I’m saying the traditional uniform is crap. Especially since it seems to be designed for women. And there are men nurses. Which belies the use of the term “gals” in the OP. So designing something for women makes it crap? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-please-bring-back-traditional-white-nurses-uniforms/833642/17 "2019-05-08T02:27:11Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > So designing something for women makes it crap? No, designing “something” for women doesn’t make it crap. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-please-bring-back-traditional-white-nurses-uniforms/833642/18 "2019-05-08T02:30:11Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > The hospital where I spend a lot of time hanging out requires their staff to wear ID cards with their titles in big, clearly visible letters. Unfortunately, nearly all of the nurses and other staff wear them turned around so you can’t see them. Why do they turn them around? That seems counterproductive. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-please-bring-back-traditional-white-nurses-uniforms/833642/19 "2019-05-08T02:43:12Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > Maybe they could print the word NURSE!! in big friendly letters all over their nice comfy scrubs. Oooh, good idea; that way they won’t get confused with the prisoners that are in the ER, who also happen to wear scrubs & have “PRISONER” in big letters but only on their back. > [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > The [current male record holder](http://guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/fastest-marathon-in-a-nurses-uniform-(male)) for fastest marathon in a nurse’s uniform didn’t think he was above [wearing a traditional nurse’s uniform.](https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-the-mall-london-uk-24th-april-2016-2016-virgin-london-marathon-guinness-102901005.html) Looks kinda like a naughty nurse uniform. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-please-bring-back-traditional-white-nurses-uniforms/833642/20 "2019-05-08T02:43:52Z")
[ul] [/ul] > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Why do they turn them around? That seems counterproductive. Maybe every now and then they get a little bit tired of listening to the sound of their tears Or maybe every now and then they get a little bit nervous that the best of all the years have gone by Or maybe every now and then they get a little bit terrified… And then they see the look in your eyes… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-please-bring-back-traditional-white-nurses-uniforms/833642.md?page=2)