History of the Nurses Cap

The white cap we associate with nurses immediately commands respect.  Those who have survived nursing school have their opinions about the cap's functionality and usually prefer to work in a setting with more lenient dress code, most commonly today colorful scrubs.  Still, one could bet they are still proud of the day they stood before family and friends in that cap signifying the culmination of all that hard work and dedication to their chosen field, ready to begin the career they have long prepared for.

Many don't know the history of that white cap but would likely find that quite interesting, as I did.

The nurse cap originated in the early Christian Era as a head covering for deaconesses that cared for the sick.  It is patterned after a nun’s habit to keep the hair neatly in place.  Religious organizations often provided nurse training to nuns, who acted as the first groups of organized nurses in medieval Europe.  This type of headdress was worn to show that they worked in the service of caring for the sick.  The head covering was more like a veil, but it later evolved into the nursing cap in the Victorian era.  During the 1800's head covering evolved into the more familiar white cap that was first used by Florence Nightingale.  Although this clothing item has long been phased out as it is known to carry pathogens, some countries still use this as part of the female nurses’ outfit.  Present day, the nursing cap is usually worn only for ceremonial purposes.

-excerpts from http://www.onlyanurse.com/nursingtopics/2015/6/20/the-history-of-the-nurses-hat 

If you've been to our office for training, you have probably seen our collection of antique medical equipment and memorabilia.  Among those items, you'll find a couple of different examples of nurses' hats dating back to the second World War.  

If you're a lover of antiques and history like we are, be sure to come check out our collection sometime...or, better yet, schedule a class with us at our office and update your life-saving skills while you're here!

#nursinghistory #nurse #smallbusiness #cpr #aha

- Ginger Davis

Heratland CPR, llc

405-603-6666

www.HeartlandCPR.com