NURSES’ UNIFORMS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20541, 16 February 1935, Page 11

NURSES’ UNIFORMS.

Would a Change Be for the Best? CONFLICTING VIEWS. Do nurses at the Christchurch Public Hospital desire a change of uniform in summer? If a ballot were taken among those concerned it might produce interesting results, for while many of the probationers do not favour the bonnets, | cuffs, cravats, and general starchy appearance of the fully-qualified sisters, the sisters are just as emphatic on the point that they would not change their uniforms for any others. A correspondent, signing himself “ A Mere Man,” writes to the editor as follows: “ Dear Sir, —During the recent warm spell I have been in our Public Hospital, and I must say that the nurses whom I met there are really a wonderful lot of young women, especially the matrons and sisters, who, in addition to the heat, must surely suffer great inconvenience and discomfort owing to the nature of their queer, uncomfort-able-looking bonnets and cuffs and cravats. In fact, I am sending you this letter in the hope that someone more able than myself may perhaps bring forward a practical suggestion for an improvement on the present stiff, starchy apparel of this wonderful, hard-working band of ladies, as I feel sure that if the attention of the powers that be were drawn to this matter of the uniforms they would doubtless take steps to effect an improvement in the working apparel of their huge staff, nufnbering, I was told, three or four hundred altogether.” Retention Favoured. * I never felt very hot, although the uniform was awkward at first, especially my chin, which was all' tied up,” said one ex-nursing sister. “ But afterwards I thought it splendid, as it certainly adds dignity to the position. Nurses have to have something on their heads, and the only alternative appears to be the flowing veil and smock adopted in other hospitals. With a veil, you always have trouble, as it is always liable to get in the way. Starched cuffs and collars do not trouble you, as they are the correct size. I never wanted a change of uniform, and I do not think those in the profession to-day would. The uniform may look old-fashioned, but it is f#r more dignified than the smock and veil,” she concluded. “ We get used to' our uniform and would bitterly oppose any change; in fact, so fond do we become of it that something in the nature of a wild riot would occur if any attempts were made to change it,” said another nursing sister who was voicing the opinion for several of her friends. On the other hand, the probationers have different ideas. “ Stiff collars and cuffs are very stiff for these days, although it must be conceded that they look very nice,” said one probationer who favoured the smock and veil adopted in other hospitals. Still a more advanced view was given by another probationer. “ We wear pink, and it is much more attractive than the styles adopted by our seniors,” she said. “ The greatest thing to be said in favour of the standard uniforms in vogue at present is that they ensure uniformity, but the nurse loses her own personality which is absorbed in her job. The modern young woman is given too much thought in 'the preparation of, shall we say, her beauty, but when joining the .nursing profession this must go by the board. I doubt whether this is altogether a good thing.” A doctor favoured changes, especially in hot weather and when nurses were in attendance in the operating theatre. Short sleeves and a modified type of uniform with the retention of the bonnet found his approval.