Her obituary says she "was the photo icon of the national recruiting campaign for nurses during World War II."

That's a Nice Parker Pen, possibly a pencil, clipped to her Jumper. The arrow clip was used on top of the line Vacumatic models.

In the early 60s while my inventor uncle was recuperating in the hospital he overheard the nurses complaining how they had to launder, starch, and fold their caps...He borrowed a cap from one of the nurses and while there invented a snap together one made of fabric covered plastic.

a starched apron.

Years ago you could tell where a nurse went to school by her cap. Now you can look up Babies' Hospital but from that cap I can tell she is at Columbia Presbyterian. If you come across any photos from about 5 years earlier, please post them. They may be of my mom.