I'd had been working the night shift at the hospital for a few weeks. I say it was a hospital but mainly it was a rest home for old people. We actually only had the one ward left - most of the hospital being shutdown due to 'cost savings' and that most of the ill patients had been moved to a newer modern hospital elsewhere.

The night shift was quite good pay for a student nurse. It was always peaceful as it was only me and one elder nurse: Sister Jane. The shift was long, 12 hours from 7 in the evening until 7 at night, but it sutied us well. The other nurses left at latest a 9 once the drug rounds all the evening duties had been completed leaving us with usually very little do other than the usual night calls of the old folks. After 11 at night they were all sleeping and myself and Sisten Jane left with paperwork, preparing the next day's drugs and the occasional call.

Despite Sister Jane's informality and easy going manner she was a stickler for certain conventions. While I worse the so called modern trousers and tunic, she always wore the belted blue dress of a sister. She even had the white frilly cuffs too! She would often make comments about the lax attitudes of modern nurses and made well sure that I learnt my craft as a nurse well. Her thoughts on scrubs on the ward as well as trousers were always forthright and even commented at me that my uniform wasn't to her liking, but such is the modern way she often would say.

It was one evening when we had very few patients, only half the number that Sister Jane said to me that tonight she would teach me in some of the older ways of nursing - back when matron was to be fearer she said, though she did admit that she really did learn in those days.

"I've prepared your uniform" she announced,"Go change and we can continue"

"Change? I've already changed"

"Do as I say and we can continue" she answered

I went to the chaning room and there hanging up was a traditional light blue dress. On the seat below were a pair of black tights, proper black shoes and a belt.

"She can't be serious?" I asked myself and gingerly went out to ask her but as soon as I showed my face it was clear that she was.

I did have second thoughts, but something said that this was somehow right. I took off my trouser and tunic and changed into the dress, putting the white belt around my waist. Tights and shoes felt strange but they were the right size which suprised me a bit. I looked in the mirror, I had never worn the dress before and as weird as it felt, it did feel right. I went out.

"Good!" said Jane

"Um, is this some kind of joke or..."

"Joke? No, this is the uniform of a nurse. Wear it with pride."

I gulped

"Anything wrong?" she queried

"No" I said, sort of resigned to my fate.

"Our first task is to go through the empty beds, clearing the sheets and preparing them. Then we prepare the drugs and get all the paperwork done. Then when called we act in our capacity of nurses to give the most precious care, that of compassion."

Sister Jane, looked around, "now I don't want you getting the dress dirty, so please use the disposable aprons" and she placed the apron over my head, turned me around and tied it at the back. I smoothed it down so that it hung just above the hem line of the dress. The white plastic apron contrasting in texture and colour with the blue cotton dress.

"Now, all nurses are identified by the hat"

"Oh boy!" I though to myself and started to blush. Jane placed the paper hat so beloved of the NHS on my head and place hairpins to secure it in place.

"Short hair" she exclaimed, "but we'll manage" and after a minute and quite a few hairpins the cap was firmly placed on my head.

"White cap, no black bands, this signifies that you are a student nurse" she said and continued,"Now, just in case I want you to wear a surgical mask" and handed me a blue surgical mask. I placed it over my nose while Jane tied it behind my head. "Often a little awkward with the cap, but the top ties over over your ears" she said as she tied it on me.

I stood there still in a little shock and more than a little embarrased.

"Good. Now, on to the ward and let's get to work"

"What is someone sees?" I asked

"Then you just have the traditional uniform that's all...nothing wrong with that?"

I was flummoxed for an answer.

That night we worked with the beds, made the drug preparations and did all our duties. I even answered a few calls from the patients, though fortunately they were all too, how shall I say, out-of-it, to really notice what I was wearing. One did comment that it was nice to see a real nurse however. For some reason this made me feel good. I did feel like a real nurse - something that doesn't always happen when you're a student aiming to be a 'real' nurse one day.

My mask and apron were changed at each break, being very careful not to disturb the cap.

"Take care of that, it is a badge of honour" Jane reminded me each time.

As the night ended, Jane instructed me to change back to my normal uniform for the last hour before the day staff came in. I did so actually with a note of disappointment. Trousers and tunic just don't complete with the dress and hat for a professional feeling. I placed everything in my locker as Jane instructed - would it be the same the next night I wondered?

I went home feeling a little strange. Wearing the dress and cap was a revelation. I think I grew as a nurse greatly that night.

The next evening after the last of the day staff went home Jane instructed me to change once again, though I must admit I did prompt her - this made her smile in a manner which suggested that I had gained the respect of such a senior nurse.

I came out, already wearing the apron and surgical mask, but with cap in hand, "Could you help?"

"Certainly" she answered and with the deft skill and matronly manner she placed once again that cap on my head.

Regrettable my time on night-shift with Jane came to an end as my work placement there ended after a few weeks. Only once was Jane away and then I didn't dare to change to my dress.

One the last morning, before I changed back to trousers and tunic I gave Jane a small gift to show my deep appreciation and admiration and for all that she had taught me about nursing; and how much I apprecaited the traditional ways. Jane hugged me and wished me all the best in my career ensuring that I would do well only if I never forgot the traditional ways.

When I got changed back for the last time I packed the dress and cap into my bag. Walking out Jane stopped me and asked "Do I have everything?" and handed me another bag containing masks and aprons to ensure that I never get my dress dirty, thought I had to admit I would need practice putting the cap on without her help.

I look back on those weeks as a wonderful time for me. It isn't often that a young, male student nurse gets to dress in a 'real' nurse's uniform....