History of Nurse Uniform Styles in Nigeria and in the World

There are at least two routes to becoming a nurse in Nigeria, and both of them have benefits. Nevertheless, this article will tell you a story not about their profession, but about their uniform. Today, you will take a look at how the nurse uniform transformed in the country throughout the years.

NURSE UNIFORM DESIGN

Let’s imagine that you ask your friend to dress as a nurse, what would she wear? The white dress, cap and apron are instantly recognizable by any person not only in Nigeria but the whole world.

The nursing uniform has gone through many alterations. It should also be mentioned that various medical facilities in Nigeria also has different color and styles for the nursing uniform.

The nurse’s cap, apron, and dress are subjected to be the element of pride in every way possible. It represents peace. In the various societies across the globe.

To understand the peculiarities and position of the uniform in Nigeria, it’s necessary to understand history of the nursing uniform in the world. The modern nursing uniform can’t be understood without a slight piece of history!

THE HISTORY OF THE DRESS AND APRON

As it’s known, nursing came to Nigeria with western medicine. Nigerians were introduced to the ideas of nursing and nursing clothes at the very beginning of colonization,

The very process of nursing was created and standardized according to nurse uniform dress by Florence Nightingale, she brought professionalism to the position of the medical worker.

Florence introduced the proper professional approach to nursing and better hygiene practices. Her ideas are welcomed in the all medical universities of Nigeria. There is no nurse in our country who doesn’t know the contribution of this woman.

The long-sleeved, full-length dresses with aprons were meant to protect nurses for various illnesses. The interesting fact that nurses didn’t have medical masks and gloves to protect their skin for microbes and potential illnesses. These very first dresses with long sleeves also came to Nigeria. At that time, Nigeria was a part of Great Britain and African nurses were also trained according to the standards of the Great Britain nurses.

It also included the white dresses that were introduced to Nigerians at the beginning of the century. The main idea was the introduction of the first medical aid to the locals. During World War II, the shorter dresses and sleeves were introduced to the world. The main idea was mobility and practicality. The two factors were heavily influenced by the war.

Nigeria was a part of Great Britain during the World War Two. Therefore, Nigerian nurses just copied the nurse uniform dress traditions. However, with independence, Nigerian nurses got some freedom of choosing their own style of dresses.

At the same time, these styles copied the world tendencies, which provided the more feminine dresses in the 1960s and the influx of male nurses in the 1970s.

The nurse pantsuits and all-too-brief appearance were introduced in the 1970s. It was given away to scrubs in the 1980s.

THE CAP

The caps were originally fashioned by nuns and were meant to cover the hair of nurses. It was necessary not only for patients but for nurses also. The caps were customary for women in the 19th century. The perfectly white hats caps became the part of the nurses’ uniform at the beginning of the 20th century.

The capping ceremony for today is the right of passage for nurses. It’s the symbol of their profession.

NURSE UNIFORM DESIGN TODAY

From the beginning of the 1990s, the uniform for all nurses in Nigeria was white short dresses and short sleeves. Nevertheless, throughout different universities in Nigeria, it’s possible to find different variations of dresses.

Private hospitals in Nigeria created their own designs of dresses. They may come in different colors and shapes.

Still, they stay on the path of the more practical way of implementation. It should also be noticed that the fabric of the Nigerian nurse uniforms is pretty thin to provide the maximum ventilation which is needed for the African weather conditions.

The nurse uniform Nigeria, has come a long way in the history. It all started with the European countries. They provided the standards of the medicine for Nigerians. The era of standardized nurses’ dresses that we see today can be over. The various clinics provided their own version of clothes that may come in different colors and shapes. At the same time, they all correspond the necessities of practicality.