# Why are Nurses "Sexy"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 22, 2008, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-nurses-sexy/450185 "2008-05-22T01:12:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-nurses-sexy/450185/41 "2008-05-23T00:59:25Z")
[QUOTE=guizot] You know, you’re talking about both my mother and one of my sisters. Watch your tongue. [/QUOTE] Well, I know for a fact your mom is NOT a virgin! ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-nurses-sexy/450185/42 "2008-05-23T01:03:45Z")
[QUOTE=lobotomyboy63] Well, I know for a fact your mom is NOT a virgin! [/QUOTE] Cite? ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-nurses-sexy/450185/43 "2008-05-23T01:04:26Z")
[QUOTE=eleanorigby] Some hospitals do allow nurses to wear X uniform or default whites. Some even let the nurse still choose the pattern/color of scrubs! Such variety and choice would boggle me mind… 🙂 [/QUOTE] You might almost think you were civilians or something… ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-nurses-sexy/450185/44 "2008-05-23T01:07:29Z")
[QUOTE=guizot] Cite? [/QUOTE] Let’s just say I know and leave it at that… ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-nurses-sexy/450185/45 "2008-05-23T01:10:12Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] You might almost think you were civilians or something… [/QUOTE] Funny, but sad, true story. How the wearing of whites ended for us: The admin decided to Make a Change and chose uniforms as a way to Make Things Better (they NEVER choose to up staffing, which would make 90% of things better, but I digress). This was a big issue, but nursing admin, in its attempt to be an advocate and voice for the nurses put it to a vote about 5 years ago, _then closed the voting when they could see that the bulk of votes was against their executive decision_. This is a true story. And we ended up with “ceil blue.” At another suburban hospital in the 90s, I had to wear navy blue–and no V necks. This was because some of the nurses (this is what I was told) were “top heavy” and when they leaned down, their cleavage showed. This was unseemly per the ICU head nurse. (most pts in ICU are not aware of cleavage in the least). Navy was good–it looked crisp and didn’t show dirt. Personally, my favorite scrub color is chestnut brown, but that’s because I look my best in chestnut brown! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-nurses-sexy/450185/46 "2008-05-23T01:22:02Z")
[QUOTE=guizot] Watch your tongue. [/QUOTE] That’s what your mom said. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-nurses-sexy/450185/47 "2008-05-23T01:26:28Z")
[QUOTE=friedo] That’s what your mom said. [/QUOTE] How did YOU know? You’re aren’t some kind of NSA employee, are you? ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-nurses-sexy/450185/48 "2008-05-23T01:38:35Z")
[QUOTE=lobotomyboy63] Let’s just say I know and leave it at that… [/QUOTE] Uh-oh!!! ---
**Author:** ![whistlepig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/73ab20/32.png) [@whistlepig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whistlepig)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-nurses-sexy/450185/49 "2008-05-23T01:40:24Z")
In the late 1990’s I had job that involved going to all the small nursing homes in eastern Montana to explain a provision of the Olmstead act. The provision said that anyone in a nursing home who was there because they were mentally retarded and had been there for a certain number of years now had the opportunity to stay in the nursing home or move to a group home for the retarded. I had script written by the Feds that I had to read from, then I showed a 10 minute video, then I had a script to read from and only then I could I act like a real human being and tell the people with mental retardation, the nursing home staff and the person’s family that no changes HAD to occur, they could stay in the nursing home. One day I read my script and started the video. While the video was playing a very attractive nurse in her early 40’s came in and sat down on a tall stool in the back. She was wearing the classic white nurse’s outfit with a skirt. When she crossed her legs I saw she was wearing a garter belt with white stockings. :o Nurses are sexy. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-nurses-sexy/450185/50 "2008-05-23T02:04:35Z")
[QUOTE=guizot] Well, I wasn’t really asking for an explanation, just a rhetorical question to express my point of view. However, **kunilou** ’s explanation (post #10), while technically correct, is taking rationality to the extreme. [/QUOTE] I suppose I should have noted in my original post that my mother was also a nurse (although I NEVER asked her about this particular part of the nursing stereotype.) She graduated in 1940 and, from what I could tell from her reminiscences, the “nurses are hot” stereotype was already established. In fact, it may all date back to Charles Dickens and Sairey Gamp. > [@](#): > > The face of Mrs Gamp – the nose in particular – was somewhat red and swollen, and it was difficult to enjoy her society without becoming conscious of a smell of spirits. Like most persons who have attained to great eminence in their profession, she took to hers very kindly; insomuch, that setting aside her natural predilections as a woman, she went to a lying-in or a laying out with equal zest and relish. With stereotypes like that, Florence Nightingale and Clara Barton had their work cut out for them. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-nurses-sexy/450185/51 "2008-05-23T05:44:14Z")
[QUOTE=kunilou] In fact, it may all date back to Charles Dickens and Sairey Gamp. [/QUOTE] Anybody who quotes Dickens owes my eternal reverence. Thank you so much, **kunilou**. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-nurses-sexy/450185/52 "2008-05-23T06:07:41Z")
> [@](#): > > . RNs are required to wear “ceil blue” at my hospital; aides are in purple (gag) and secretaries are in black (depressing). Radiology techs/lab/respiratory therapists etc all have a different color scrub to wear. Nursing suffers from a lack of distinction since the old uniform has gone– I’m thinking who ever came up with this worked on an aircraft carrier for some reason. Declan ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-nurses-sexy/450185/53 "2008-05-23T06:24:42Z")
I’m going to have to go with them taking care of you. When I was in Basic there was this one civilian girl who worked the chow hall line. She was kinda cute, I guess. If I saw her now I probably wouldn’t look twice at her, but she was nice to us. Always had a smile, a cheery hello, and when you’re in Basic no one is nice to you. At all, except her. And with that, she because the hottest girl I have ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-nurses-sexy/450185/54 "2008-05-23T07:04:20Z")
I will not be referred to as a matronly auntie, thank you very much cite [http://www.flickr.com/photos/26870187@N02/2515860660/](http://www.flickr.com/photos/26870187@N02/2515860660/) ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-nurses-sexy/450185/55 "2008-05-23T12:51:54Z")
[QUOTE=outlierrn] I will not be referred to as a matronly auntie, thank you very much. [/QUOTE] No problem, just as long as you don’t refer to your husband as “hubby.” I would divorce any wife who called me that immediately, and I’m pretty sure I could find a legal ground that would support me in that. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-nurses-sexy/450185/56 "2008-05-23T12:58:58Z")
Apparently old age has set in and I repeat myself. Sorry about that. I’m not an old matronly auntie, either, but maybe I’m getting scatty what with the repeating posts… (and it wasn’t even a double post–I must have been very tired last night). The other thing about the color coordinated job category stuff is that it just doesn’t work. They say they’ll send any nurse home to change, but honestly? how can they? And then there are the “agency” nurses–the temps that come and help our staffing. They may be told to wear ceil blue, but often they don’t. So, now we have most nurses in ceil blue, some in Looney Tunes prints, some in maroon or peach or teal, and the rest of the rainbow. It’s ridiculous. Those whites linked to are ok, but why are the models wearing black high heels? Very jarring. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-nurses-sexy/450185/57 "2008-05-23T13:01:12Z")
[QUOTE=1920s Style “Death Ray”] You mean like [this?](http://www.metermaids.com) (yes they really are meter maids.) [/QUOTE] Dang. Why can’t we have meter maids that look like that here? And I don’t care how small the picture is, the lovely [Ashton](http://www.metermaids.com/girls/ashton/ashton.htm) is taking over for Shannyn Sossamon as my desktop wallpaper. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-nurses-sexy/450185/58 "2008-05-23T13:18:09Z")
[QUOTE=eleanorigby] They say they’ll send any nurse home to change, but honestly? how can they? [/QUOTE] They can’t, because nurses are in such short demand. I’d say being a nurse is probably one of the most “hirable” jobs you could have right now in the U.S. And they have unions. I’m still kicking myself for not going to nursing school. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-nurses-sexy/450185/59 "2008-05-23T13:43:51Z")
Also, nurses in the media are quite often portrayed by sexy or at least attractive actors. So the idea is continued and spread. I would guess that most people see nurses more on TV than in real life. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-nurses-sexy/450185/60 "2008-05-23T13:51:11Z")
You guys are reading way too much into this. They used to have a sexy uniform - just like “French” maids. People remember the uniform, and it makes a good Hallowe’en costume. FTR, female nurses in UK hospitals are still called “sister” AFAIK. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-nurses-sexy/450185.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-nurses-sexy/450185.md?page=4)