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On a recent glance through some old nursing school papers a peculiar document jumped out at me. It was a signed copy of our school's uniform requirements which were aggressively enforced with weekly uniform inspections. Since I'm just going to copy the agreement, this post will have a more cohesive narrative arc than my usual foolish ramblings. I guess it's about time for a clean linear narrative that's more coherent than my dementia fueled posts!
UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS
The uniform of the school of nursing should be worn with dignity, respect. and in strict accordance to the following regulations. The complete uniform is worn only in the buildings of the hospital. If worn with a lab coat, the complete uniform may be worn to and from the mailbox at Wellington and Dayton. (With no quick stops at the Wellington Ave liquor store.) Sorry sometimes my foolishness just pops out!
Students are in complete uniform when they are wearing the following:
1. The blue school dress which may not be shorter than the midpoint of the knee.
2. The white school apron, with it's hemline two inches above the hemline of the dress, it is to be worn in all clinical areas except the operating room, obstetrics, pediatrics, and isolation wards.
3.The white school cap (beginning after capping ceremony,) which is to be clean, Argo starched, and properly folded. Seniors are to wear a 5/8 wide black velvet band. The band is placed parallel to the very last row of stitching. The cut edges are folded under the band at their terminus. the cap is secured by white bobby pins and may never be worn outside the hospital.
4. Hair is to be clean, neat, simply styled and away from the face. No loose strands of hair shall contact the face. Hair must not touch the uniform collar. It may be secured by a barrette if the appliance is totally inconspicuous. Pincurls,curlers, or hair ornaments are never to be worn with the cap.
5.Under clothing must be clean, white and in good repair. foundation garments must be serviceable and inconspicuous. Condition of under garments is subject to verification at uniform inspections. (Hmm...maybe that's why I was always rejected when I volunteered to assist with uniform inspections)
All students in complete uniform must wear white clinic shoes, polished and in good repair. Laces are to be clean and white.
Wear hosiery that is white clean and in good repair.
Hands must be clean, and the nails cut short (the optimal subungual space is 1 mm.) No nail polish including clear may be worn. When going off duty a lotion should be applied to the hands-a dermatitis makes the proper cleansing impossible, thus rendering hands unsafe for duty.
Not wear decorative jewelry (this includes wires or plastic appliances for pierced ears.) Name pins are to be worn on the upper left chest.
Each student must carry accessories to complete the uniform. these include a red and black pen, notebook, a watch with accurate second hand, and a bandage scissors.
The student nurse who is properly attired in her uniform has an air of vigor and a joy for the privilege of caring for others.
As usual, male students got a break when it came to uniform regulations. We wore a white scrub top and white cotton pants. I never attended a uniform inspection!
