I am a big fan of nurses wearing a uniform but an even bigger fan if the uniform identifies them as a nurse, and there lies the challenge. For me the whole reason for wearing a uniform is so that patients can identify us as a nurse.
Nurse’s uniforms over the years have seen more changes then Michael Jackson’s face. Nowadays, it is becoming increasingly difficult to identify the who’s who of the hospital staff. Do you believe that nurses in your hospital are easily identifiable? If they are not identifiable now, when do you believe they were (if ever)?
I liked it when I wore a nurse’s tunic with the buttons on the side and up to the neck. This was a useful article of clothing for male nurses as it made them quickly and easily identifiable as a nurse. While it may not be practice to go retro in the nurses uniform’s fashion stakes, my concern is that the recent titillations to nurse’s uniforms have done little to make them stand out as nurses.
From the patient’s perspective hospital staff’s uniforms are all blending in to a montage of fabric patterns that the untrained eye can barely distinguish. Nurses can now be easily be confused with a member of the domestic or cleaning staff that are often on the wards. Recently I was in a hospital in Brisbane and the staff that were the easiest to identify were the student nurses from university. It was such a simple idea but it works really well the nurses had a embroided insignia that identified them as a student nurse. Maybe all our uniforms should be embroidered front and back so to identify the wearers’ role. It wouldn’t matter then if there were variations or different options in the uniform range as everyone role would be clearly plastered on their chests.
Would this simple idea work in your hospital or nursing home or are you already using it? Specialist nurses that work in the hospital but those who don’t wear a uniform can easily be confused for doctors. ID badges are too small for most patients to read easily so offer little insight into who the staff are and what they do. Maybe a system of fabric vests like workmen wear (but not fluoro colour) worn over their clothing and with the nurses’ role printed onto the front and back of the vest would help (eg “Nurse: Diabetic Educator”).
Nurses’ uniforms need to be comfortable to wear, easy to maintain (wash & wear) and make the wearer feel that they are able to carry out their duties while maintaining a professional appearance. I believe it is also vital for the uniform to identify the wearer’s role in an unambiguous way.
What do you think?
Written by: Rich Williams (aka MrNetNurse)
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Uniforms – why go back? What about forward?? Scrubs are commonly utilised in the US in all wards (not just critical care units as seems to be the case in NSW)and with a written insignia, such as “Nurse” could easily differentiate from doctors and physios etc; they are comfortable and you don’t look like a slob; which is one of my complaints about the current NSW generic uniform for nurses. Is it that hard to get a good quality material in a sporty, functional design that has a degree of professionalsim associated with it…and Ye Gods…made in Australia? Surely a designer could have been approached for this task?? I would love for the NSWNA to approach the DoH and have the issue of the uniform design and quality re-approached. Let’s go forward and obtain something that helps the public ID us…and makes us feel good wearing it – and supports Australian industry.
Nurses Uniform As a nurse with 23 years of experience working on the wards, I have seen the development of patients confusion over the nurses uniform debate. When I first started nursing we still wore caps and were easily indentified as nurses. these were then phased out and the patients began to question who were the nurses and who were the sisters. Nowadays with the different coloured tops for Enrolled Nurses, Registered Nurses and Nursing unit managers and so on patients appear more confused than ever. The patients I feel most sorry for are the little old dears with poor vision and just give up in the end and call everyone ‘nurse.
totally agree with scrubs I am in total agreeance regarding the uniform confusion, in our hospital RNs and ENs wear the same colour, light blue, and we often get mistaken in the street or at big w for big w workers, who have the same colour and similar design. I think we should be able to wear scrubs with our title embroidered on them. I am also a midwife and when i work in maternity i wear purple scrubs with midwife on them, in easily read letters. I have noticed the women accessing maternity identify who is who therefore they don’t feel confused and don’t ask questions of staff who are unable to fully respond to their needs. Bring in scrubs!!!
srubs are great I currently wear scrubs in my area and i love them.
they are comfortable (we often refer to the pants as PJ pants) and they are very practical for nursing work
i think they also help to identify the nurse too.
Scrubs Survey? It seems to me from your comments that you like the scrubs a lot. I have noticed their popularity is growing at many hospitals that I visit. Maybe it would be worthwhile posting a survey here on the blog to gauge your support or disapproval for the scrubs suggestion. What do you think?
Rich
Working in a paediatric setting for 15 years, we have gone from hospital specific corporate uniforms to non uniform (wearing brightly coloured polo shirts ) and now it seems we will once again return to a state wide uniform. Whilst wearing a uniform is easy, it is not neccessarily ideal in our setting. The children respond much better to nurses that have no specific standard colour scheme. We have received lots of positive feedback about our non uniform policy from parents and older patients and it is such a shame that due to a new state wide ruling that we will not be able to continue this. We have never had issues with parents or patients not knowing who we are as we always introduce ourselves as well as wearing lanyards and easily identifable name tags.I thought nursing was a field that wanted to move with the times but it seems time is standing still somewhere in the dark ages.
Uniforms I’ve been nursing for a long time and, while I wouldn’t want to go back to the days of starched aprons (yes, I did say a long time) and veils, the current version of the nurses’ uniform leaves me cold. The fabric is cheap, the fit is appalling and, as someone else has said, we could be shop assistants in Target or Big W, depending on the colour of the blouse. I personally wouldn’t want to go down the non-uniform route and I’m not a fan of scrubs because I just think they look scruffy. Scrubs would be better than the current uniform, though.
New Uniforms please our current uniforms look like what the staff at Big W wear. Patients cannot differentiate each types of staff. They look most unprofessional.
Polo the wy to go? Are polos popular at your hospital? Are they once a month special or all the time
Time for a change Ducking into a store on the way to work yesterday I was approached by an middle-aged man who mistook my uniform for one of the supermarket workers and asked me where he might find a particular product. I had a bit of a laugh about this incident, but on the serious side, I am often asked for clarification of my exact position by my patients. I have also often overheard patients and visitors asking domestic and kitchen staff questions, clearly mistaking them as nurses due to their similiar uniforms. I think a more professional uniform is required (scrubs are okay in some areas, but should clearly identify the exact role of the employee) and clearer identification of the position of the staff member in the particular uniform is essential as patients often like to know (and have the right to know) who is looking after them and what their qualifications are i.e. AIN, EN, or RN. I believe if we as nurses want to go forward and be recognised as professionals, we have to look the part in well-fitting, professional, yet functional apparel which not only distinguish us to outsiders as nurses; but also distinguish the positions more distinctly.
Uniform rant I agree with many of the comments made here. I am one of the younger nurses and it is a definite NO to going back. I get disgusted at the tainted, stereotypical image of nurses in the white uniform. It also signifies nursing’s subordination to medicine, and also, female subordination. Just read the plethora of literature. I feel very strongly about this issue. Nurses have worked so hard to be seen as professionals, so why go back to making us look like hand-maidens?
If identity really is an issue, then why do doctors not wear uniform? (nurses’ subordination again). Patients do want to know who the doctors are too. I, myself, also feel very uncomfortable when a doctor from another team, that I do not know, and in plain civilian clothes, comes and asks about my patient’s current condition, or that I find them freely looking through my patient’s confidential notes. They could be anyone.
And yes, WHO on earth are designing these I-work-in-GO-LO uniforms? I also agree with the appaling fitting. A sumo wrestler could fit into what is supposed to be a size 8.
I agree that scrubs are more professional looking and it definately identifies you as a staff member. To distinguish between roles, different colours or embroidery are usually used. If its consistent throughout the hospital, patient’s will be able to easily identify the staff member that they want to approach. Also in terms the worsening MRO situation, the scrubs (and whatever bugs you have collected from your patient and the surroundings) are taken off in the hospital premise at the end of the shift.
Comment from Rubyoc
Rubyoc wrote:
I prefer things to go back to the old d ays – when you were issued with a certain amount of uniforms that you picked up from the hospital where you worked and more importantly you were paid an allowance.
Recently our uniform allownce was taken from us, But this year we were informed that we wouldn’t be receiving our allocation ? So I definately think that our uniform allowance should be reinstated,
Transferred Rubyoc’s comments from the Thank You page to this post
Comment from Judymooney
judymooney wrote:
I think it would be beneficial to return to a more identifiable uniform for nurses. It would help restore some of the pride in being a trained nurse (The uniform my workplace currently uses is also worn by2 other local businesses that have nothing to do with medical care). It would also prevent confusion. When visiting another hospital it is impossible to identify who is an R.N, an E.N., A.I.N, AHP, clerical or domestic staff. The materials used are often of poor quality and not specifically designed for a physically demanding job. Scrubs are comfortable but look sloppy. Surely there is an alternative that can be designed to suit all body types and still be comfortable but not look like a pair of P.J.’s and in a material that ‘breathes’. Maybe NSWNA could run a competition for nurses’ uniform designs. I wouldn’t want to see a return to white dresses but something that looks a bit more professional and more identifiable as a nurse’s uniform. Uniforms that would enable clients and the general public to easily identify staff roles could save time and minimise confusion.
I found Judymooney’s comment in the Thank You page so I transferred it here
Proud non-uniform nurse! Way to go Naz – a nurse after my own heart. I have worn the starched uniform with caps/veils, the shop assistant uniform, the scubs, the cleaners uniform, the corporate uniform, the polo t-shirts and hated them all!
I also think uniforms represent “the handmaiden to the doctor image” and nurses really need to just get rid of that image once and for all. I respect that many nurses like and want to wear a uniform, but I think it needs to be one that looks professional, practical, attractive but not restrictive. Maybe there should be a competition for nurses, so that nurses can decide their own look.
In the meantime I haven’t worn a uniform since the early 1990′s – I chose a specialty where I didn’t have to wear one because I don’t believe I need a uniform to identify myself as a nurse. I go smart casual, wear an ID badge and introduce myself with my name and designation so there is no mistaking who I am and what I do.
Uniforms! Why consider uniforms to be “nurses subordination” to doctors? Are you anti-doctors??? Nursing is a profession, and though doctors were viewed as ‘superior’ years ago, not all nurses accepted that, and worked accordingly. We are meant to be health professionals, working as part of team, and this ‘subservient’ attitude is a nail in the coffin in the system. I respected doctors (if they earnt it!) and treated them accordingly. I started in a uniform initially grey & grey, then barber’s jackets, and so on. Uniforms though ugly serve a purpose – that the public and all others know what you are. You are NOT supposed to wear a uniform outside the facility. As for the ‘subservience’ comment re doctors…. In the 70′s, all doctors had a uniform, which was a white coat that reached to their knees, much as a scientist wore. I once had a female doctor who ordered I clean up a mess (caused when she stood on a full urine drainage bag with her high heels!), so I grabbed the white sheet on the bed and threw that down to sop up the mess, but then she saw the pens fall out of the pocket, because yes, I used her coat! She should have worn it! Uniforms serve a purpose.
Today, many nurses see nursing uniforms as a fashion accessory, and embellish them with extra jewellery, and belts of all colours.
Laugh! – I went to a ward to visit one of the patients I looked after in the intensive care unit. At the ward, as i arrived, the NUM commented : ” about time you turned up! – we’ve been waiting for you for an hour!” then asked me to turn two of the patients in her ward….. so I did! …. and as I was leaving, she stopped me to comment that the nurses told her I was the best wardsman they had! _ Now I can get another job! That’s why we need better uniforms, that distinguish the ranks!
I actually liked my uniform from back in the day at Royal North Shore. I was a dress, it washed and wore well and even though I got mistaken for a high school girl (I was only 18 anyway) that was all good because nobody ever asked to see a concession card, so I got cheaper public transport. I would be more than happy to go back to a hospital supplied cotton dress.
I really dislike the new uniforms. They don’t breathe well, they don’t look nice on and they’re uncomfortable fabric. I was in Franklins yesterday and I had a customer ask me where an item was. I explained to him that I don’t work there and even then it wasn’t my regular supermarket and I had no idea where the item was, he didn’t believe me. He even asked me again. When I got to the checkout I realised that here I was in my nurses shirt (albeit not the new uniform but a shirt from the old corporate days) and it was essentially a very faded version of the Franklins one. You can’t win though as I have been accosted in Big W wearing the new uniform.
State wide uniforms- A step backwards I don’t believe clinical nurses were consulted when the materials and patterns were chosen for the state wide uniform. I am still confused what pastel coloured line camouflaged by dark vertical lines, represents what job title. If I have difficulty, what chances does the patient have of identifying a nurse? The polyester shirts look nice, my favourite colour is blue, so I wear these more often. However, on a hot day they are the most uncomfortable piece of clothing. The cotton shirts are cooler, but not by a lot. The shirt style limits movement and swims on slim nurses. How long are the sleeves! They almost reach my elbow.
I wear surgical scrubs for half my working hours. I think they are unbeatable for comfort, movement, infection control (washed after every wear). On these days, I am correctly identified as a nurse, and not asked to mop the floor.
Blue scrubs for nurses, green for Interns/ Residents and Maroon for registrars. Why shouldn’t medical personnel be outfitted differently from receptionist, cleaners and orderlies?
Uniforms – why go back The real issue here is that when Nurses were Identified as Nurses the assaults against Nurses were way down – the most hardened patient would defend a Nurse if attacked as many of the older Nurses must remember – It was not just the uniform it was the attitude that went with it – pride and the feeling of self worth – you felt to be able to wear a nurses uniform was a matter of showing the world you were somebody – you had surpassed all the hardships of training and to be able to wear the badge of honour that we all work hard for to-day more so than ever and not to be mistaken for a cleaner or an office worker – apart from the older uglier uniforms that had pockets that were easily accessible for all the Nursing Paraphernalia we have to carry around with us
just been away in Brisbane, and back to the comments! Last comment had the phrase “badge of honour” and that probably summed up nursing best, but that was in a time gone bye! The uniform was a pose, more so for the girls, whose uniforms often stood out better, and the styles showed which major hospital they came from, and ultimately, which training school. Today there doesn’t seem to be any ‘honour’ feeling at all, because university training has created a dissociation with the training facility idea of nursing. The pride can’t be there, as there is really no longer any ‘there’ to be proud off, or to ‘show off’ to the public.
And yes, I am mistaken for the wardsman (by other nurses) or for a doctor ( by elderly patients, because I’m male – many still do think nurses are female, doctors are male!). Years ago, everyone knew the difference by the uniforms.
Scrubs are meant for war-time, not for a hospital during peacetime. Are we at peace? They are a lazy way to dress, and not professional, unless you are in the theatre ( or as a replacement when your uniform gets covered in someone else’s blood etc ).
Australia had a reputation for the highest level of nursing/health care in the 1970′s and much of that was also linked to the professional look of the staff. The only nurses who complained about the uniforms then were those who had NO pride whatsoever in nursing anyway, and only did this as a ‘JOB’, and NOT a vocation. We were better off without them. They are probably also among the group of nurses who sat on their bums while the real nurses worked.
I agree with Bernhard The male nurses uniforms really need to be changed – like some female uniforms you really do not know to whom you are conversing with.
The only people who can bring pride back into the profession is ourselves – different uniforms for different departments and more accountability for the privilage.
For too long we have been complacent – the government wants us to wear the legalities of our profession but with out the acknowledgement of our skills hiding the Nursing staff in walls of obscureity.
Stand up for what we are regardless of how old or where we trained we all are Nurses some more highly trained some just ground floor troops or cannon fodder if you like have uniforms that say who we are and where we work ( department wise)
decent uniform As we fall head first into national registration, should we move to a national uniform or at least national colours for our occupations.
We have probably all been to meeting where a rep from a uniform suppler will bring the best in corporate uniform round, designed for office or catering and we have the choice of nothing for working on the floor.
I am a fan of the Polo as its wash and wear. would dearly love places to put things, like watch, scissors, pens, tapes, a place for the keys.
Working with a lanyard carrying all your tools your ID and protocol information hanging around your neck has to be an infection control issue not to mention the danger of scissors round the neck.
The cargo pants that tradies use are good as there are places for your tools of trade, but many hospitals prefer a tailored look and frown on the cargo.
The joey is a great idea but for a male nurse not a good look, the pickpocket is good, the pouches ambulance offices use are wonderful but don’t give the right image for the ward.
I’m not a fan of scrubs, but I understand they have a place.
Identity vests in A and E and during major incidents as a fast identifier area good idea but I would challenge making ward staff look like a netball team by having Nurse, doctor and ward clerk is practical and safe with infection control and the problem of who would control them and clean them.
There are enough of us to have warrant a proper designed, functional uniform with easily identifiable colours to denote occupation.
Maybe something with hand rails, so when people ride you to do more they can do with safety.
Uniforms Do Matter Its geat to see all the conversations about uniforms and in particular the male nurses uniform. I agree with baffi in that with national registrations national uniforms or at least colours would be good. Rich
uniforms personally,and i came out of uni wearing the white dress,i think scrubs are perfect.they allow movement and the nurses modesty is not compromised.the look good on both men and women.maybe different colours for each designation and an embroidered patch with your classification.i agree about the old people getting more confused.they felt more comfortable when they could identify you easily.the current uniforms are killing me due to the fact that they dont breath and i am going through menopause.i have had to pull out my old ones to wear so i can get through a shift without melting.management is not happy about it but whats the alternative.would support any action that fixes this problem as it is widespread
I would love to have a uniform. After working, for nearly 5 years, I actually look like getting one. My problem is, I wear a size 50 mens shirt, but the uniform provider, does provide a size 50, but most people where I work have to order 2 or 3 size larger then their normal clothes, a work colleague who wears a size 40 has to order a 46 shirt. Myself and and others have tried their made to measure uniforms, they get sent to Fiji to get made and we can not wear them as they come back with smaller measurement then we sent.
This year, I found a few companies on the net where you fill out a 7 or 9 page list with pictures and description on how to measure your best fitting shirt so they can make shirts to that exact measurement. I sent this, to the uniform provider and they called back stating they can not make a shirt from this pages I sent them. After some discussion, they decided to make a size 54 shirt for me to try. After 4 months, I received the shirt, made in Fiji, and fitted fine across the shoulders but under the arms it was pathetic. After having the shirt seen by a PROFESSIONAL tailor, the shirt requires another 15cm in length and they will fix the selves, as they have done this quite a lot over the last few years for many staff members.
Should I be paid a back dated uniform allowance for the last 5 years?
I personally would prefer to wear a polo shirt instead of the tailored work shirts hunter makes us wear. The male pts love the current designed shirts as they can catch a good eyeful with the female nurses.
Moving from Qld to NSW to continue working in palliative care as an RN, I think scrubs look good for acute areas, plain clothes for mental health areas, and as for palliative care, and male, uniforms, well, i really dont know. certainly not scrubs…it runs oppositional to the role altogether. Probably civilian professional yet casual clothes.
Continuing the thought… I recall wearing the ben casey type shirts with the side buttons as a student nurse and as an RN in the hunter and later at westmead and I recall that some people felt they looked ‘cute’ but I really didn’t like them at all. I always felt I looked like a dentist.
I like the idea of a national uniform that has colour coded tops for each role; for example, doctors could be pale grey, nurses blue, Management red, clerical staff green, cleaners apricot etc.
Each colour could be available in either 3-4 different types of material (much easier and cheaper to do if there is no pattern) eg cotton polyester in a heavy or lighter grade, a wash and wear material or as a knit such as for polos. And each colour would come in a variety of styles – suitable for males or females; this could be a fitted style or as a shirt or as a polo or even a scrub top.
The material and styles should be chosen to address any concerns by staff. Bottoms should all be the same colour with various styles and materials available.
Sizes should also be available into the larger or smaller ranges.
This kind of colour coding would make it easier for patients to identify what each persons’ role is (doctor, nurse, kitchen staff etc).
Patients seldom care whether a nurse is an EN or RN, so those kind of sub categories (if required) can be identified with badges or monograms or even scarves or ties (for office areas) and could be area specific rather than through the uniform company.
Alternatively, to identify between different nurses such as Midwives, RNs, EN etc we could use different shades of blue (lilac for midwives, pale blue for RNs, navy blue for ENs, Royal blue for AINs, but this would impact on the cost as the uniform company would be required to provide all these shades of blue in the same number of styles and materials.
Quote: “Patients seldom care whether a nurse is an EN or RN” – Really? In my considerable experience (over 30 years) I would have said the complete opposite.
Could not agree more with the Big W equation why are we being “dumbed down”?
It’s a lack of professionalism that is being forced upon us. It’s not rocket science, dress nurses to look subservient, they will be treated that way. You probably don’t have to pay them much either. It wouldn’t take much to design a professionally looking tailored uniform. Come on NNT. Have you seen the Ramsay uniforms? hideous.
Scrubs do not look lazy and unprofessional as someone posted.
It is better than seeing a nurse who bends over to change dialysis bags or measure drains, and seeing their shirt ride up or their pants go down. Polka dot undies…very professional
Seriously, how anyone can feel “proud” in their ill-fitted Bisley is beyond me