In short, this radical change in the history of nursing came about due to changing views on gender bias, comfort and hygiene. Hygiene was the most significant factor. Early nurses’ uniforms and tunics were not hygienic, at least not to our current standards. Of course, nurses washed their uniforms, and they did their best to keep operating rooms clean. But these early uniforms were not made of fabric specifically designed for a healthcare setting, nor were they form-fitting.