Article 13

Nurses'Caps

Below are two styles of cap worn by nurses at Rauceby Psychiatric Hospital near Sleaford during the latter part of the 20th century. They were donated to the Museum Trust when the hospital was closed in 1997.

Dr Jane Brooks, Lecturer at the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work at Manchester University informs me that nurses' paper caps were probably introduced in the1970s – she remembers wearing one in the 1980s.  Caps were phased out in the late 1980s/early 90s, though they are still worn in some private hospitals. When nurses wore cotton/lace caps they would have been taught how to launder, starch, iron and make them up probably as one of the first tasks they learnt.  They were certainly expected to starch and make them up  themselves, although Jane thinks that the hospitals may have laundered them.

Ceramic cream and blue inhaler inscribed 'Cash, Boots Chemists' on top and 'The Hygeinic Inhaler, Instructions for Use' and 'Boots Dispensing and Family Chemists' on the front, also outlines instructions for use.