Nurses’ uniforms: what do scrubs say about the nursing identity?

The latest Nursing Standard podcast looks at the history of nursing uniforms and what it says about the changing nature of the profession

Whatever gripes nurses may have about modern uniforms, they may reflect that they at least have it better than previous generations.

Nurses at NHS trusts that will adopt the new national uniform in England will be wearing a smart scrub or dress in a lightweight fabric in one of various shades or blue, purple and red.

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New scrubs in stark contrast to past nursing uniforms

That is in stark contrast to nursing uniforms of the past, which have included items such as thick tights, starched collars, frilly caps, cuffs and corsets.

In this podcast we get an overview of the history of the nursing uniform, from the 1860s to the modern day, and how it is linked to the nursing identity.

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Pros and cons of the new national NHS uniforms

Podcast host and RCNi features editor Alistair Mason talks to Manchester University senior lecturer and nursing historian Jane Brooks about what the uniform says about the changing nature of nursing and where the role fits in society.

Then two retired nurses, Janet Hargreaves and Sarah Rogers, who trained in the 1970s and 1980s respectively, discuss their experiences with various different uniforms throughout their careers.

They also touch on previous attempts to bring in a national uniform in the NHS – and discuss the pros and cons of the new national uniform.

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