When I first got into the Army Nurse Corps, I thought that I'd have to wear a big camouflage suit with a matching helmet. Instead I was handed a bundle of women's clothing and a cotton nurse's cap. Even if I wore a specific uniform, army nurses all over the world wore different fashions and styles. Though this was a very common style, it focuses only on summer wear (worn 8 months of the year).
- Dress- blue or olive colored cotton shift dress; collared; front/rear buttons or side closure; multiple pockets; military-inspired; stripes denoted rank of nurse; shorter sleeves, hems than earlier nursing uniforms; worn only when on duty.
- Cap- color matching remainder of uniform; cotton; opens flat; forms easily; held in place with self-lacing in back; wrinkle-proof; worn only when on duty.
- Jacket- for wear with cotton dress uniform; worn for street wear off-duty, two open pockets; one front button closure; open collar; corresponding color.
- Cape(not pictured)- wool barathea Cape; two layers; newly designed collar; buttoned tab closure; in Olive Drab Shade No. 51 or blue.
- Shirt(not pictured)- cotton shirt-waist; convertible collar; one-button closure; two-buttoned flap pockets, long shirt-type sleeves with buttoned cuff closure; for wear with matching Slacks; on or off duty wear; in blue.
- Slacks(not pictured)- cotton slacks; for wear with matching Shirt; with pleats and darts at waistline; left side opening with slide fastener closure; for on or off duty wear; slash pocket at right side seam, in blue.
- Bag- leather handbag; pockets; change purse; olive-drab cotton poplin lining; adjustable and removable strap; in Army Russet Color or blue.
- Necktie(not pictured)- rayon faille fabric necktie; for wear with waist-shirt and jacket, in Maroon Shade No. 57.
The Uniforms came in two sizes and were meant to fit loosely and be easy for nurses to bend down, move around, lift heavy objects, and make quick movements as easily as possible. Each nurse only was assigned one uniform, but could receive a new one whenever needed. Usually each piece of clothing had some kind of identification: a name, a patch, the hospital's troop number. Some hospitals even had their nurses embroider a identification name or number right on their own uniform.
Flight nurses wore different hats and jackets, and navy nurses wore different hats and scarves. Even if nurses from two different hospitals stationed in two different hospitals didn't have the same uniform, it was still easy to tell that they were a part of the Army Nurse Corps. Some hospitals didn't receive uniforms or ran out when the hospital was overpopulated and needed new nurses. US hospitals with nurses of color working in them weren't given full uniform sets. Though the nurses didn't all look alike or wear the same uniform they all still had the same spirit: to help anyone who needed it.
Flight nurses wore different hats and jackets, and navy nurses wore different hats and scarves. Even if nurses from two different hospitals stationed in two different hospitals didn't have the same uniform, it was still easy to tell that they were a part of the Army Nurse Corps. Some hospitals didn't receive uniforms or ran out when the hospital was overpopulated and needed new nurses. US hospitals with nurses of color working in them weren't given full uniform sets. Though the nurses didn't all look alike or wear the same uniform they all still had the same spirit: to help anyone who needed it.