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Impact of nurses' uniforms on patient and family perceptions of nurse professionalism
Abstract
Patients and visitors may perceive nurses as professional based on uniform color and style. Nurse image may affect patient and visitor trust and satisfaction with nursing care. Fitted white dresses have been replaced by loose-fitting or scrub white, colored, or patterned pant sets.
This study examines nurse professionalism by assessing the nurse image traits of eight pant uniforms as perceived by pediatric patients, adult patients, and adult visitors. We also examined if uniform preference is congruent with nurse image traits.
A convenience sample of 499 patients and visitors were surveyed at a large Midwestern tertiary health care center. Subjects viewed photographs of the same registered nurse identically posed in eight uniforms and rated each by image traits. Kruskal-Wallis, Steel-Dwass multiple comparison method, and Wilcoxon signed-rank sum tests were used to test for differences in the Nurse Image Scale (NIS) score by uniform style and color and subject demographics.
Subjects were 390 adult patients and visitors (78%) and 109 pediatric patients (21.4%); 66% were female, and 78% were Caucasian. In adults, NIS scores for white uniforms (two styles) were higher than NIS scores for uniforms with small print, bold print, or solid color (all p < .001). White uniform NIS score increased with subject age (all < or = .007). In pediatric patients (7-17 years) and young adults (18-44 years), the highest uniform NIS scores did not differ significantly from the others. Uniform preference was different from NIS score in pediatric and adult subjects, reflecting noncongruence between the perception of nurse professionalism by uniform and uniform preference.
With aging, adults create perceptions of nurse professionalism based on uniform color and style. Traits of nurse professionalism were highest in white uniforms. Future research is needed to determine if transition to white nurse uniforms improves patient and family satisfaction with nursing care.
... To date, studies involving nurses' uniform design have focused on the design preferences (Kim, 2004), functional aspects (Kim, 2002;, and effects of nurse uniforms on nurses' self-image (Albert et al., 2008;Mangum et al., 1991). However, these studies have all employed a quantitative approach; as such, they are limited to understanding female nurses and ignore male nurses' attitudes toward uniforms. ...
... The pant waist is designed with an elasticated drawstring or a string fastening (without elasticity) for convenience . Scrubs are primarily known for their functionality, in addition to their androgynous style, having both feminine and masculine traits (Albert et al., 2008). ...
... While the importance of a professional image has been identified by analyzing nurse uniforms (Albert et al., 2008; examined actual uniform designs beyond the functional aspects of uniforms using a quantitative approach (Han et al., 2012;Joung & Chi, 2001;Kim et al., 2011). An in-depth understanding of nurses' attitudes toward the uniforms they wear still needs further investigation. ...
... Studies report numerous effects, almost always positive, starting with those who exhibit a significant improvement in the relationship between nurses and children through fear and discouragement decrease (14-16, 18, 26). In several other cases, the children-adapted uniforms seem to improve the perception of the children and their parents: they would seem to be able to elevate expectations (29)(30)(31), to contribute in establishing a better and more reliable professional image (16,27) and to create a more relaxed atmosphere and environment (32). In conclusion, although the field of research on this specific topic is not so wide, the indications transposed in literature would support the use of nursing uniforms adapted to pediatric patients. ...
... We transcribed the expressed preferences on paper and later, at the end of the daily inquiries, on electronic format (Excel database). It was eventually considered appropriate to reach a sample of 107 children, based on previous studies conducted in literature on this topic (14,16,31). ...
... Regarding the most cited, the term "professionalism" is the most frequently expressed both for nurses with pediatric affiliation (22,15.0%) and not (31,20.0%); the second most cited term is "identity" that was reported 21 times by both groups (14.3% vs 13.5%). ...
Background and aim:
The nursing uniform represents a non-verbal mean of communication which in the case of children can arouse positive or negative emotions. The first study conducted on a sample of 107 children, aimed to define their preferences on different models of decorated nursing uniforms; the second one conducted on 101 nurses to understand the preferences, the meanings attributed to the uniform and their availability to adapt it according to the preferences expressed by the children.
Methods:
We conducted an observational study with a qualitative approach. For the first objective with the children, a visual stimulus was used, showing 6 models of uniform: the traditional plus 5 models of different colors and themes (cartoons characters and videogames). For the second objective with the nurses, in addition to reproducing the same visual stimulus, a semi-structured questionnaire was used.
Results:
Children and nurses seem to be in perfect accord, because in both groups, color models were the most chosen. Nurses defined their uniform with terms of particular moral, intellectual and professional value and declared themselves available to align with the preferences of the children.
Conclusions:
This study leaves little doubt about preferences; it also represents the true originality of the study because almost never in the literature have been compared the point of views of children and professionals, generally favoring the comparison between children and care givers. Our findings could represent a further landmark for guiding the choices of health organizations on currencies to be adopted in the pediatric field. (www.actabiomedica.it).
... Respondents of the study comprised adults and children. Age constituted an independent variable, by means of which the difference in the perception of nurses shown in photographs was presented [7]. Among adults, the highest score (25%) was obtained by white attire of nurses, while the lowest score was obtained by the attire where one could see clearly the texture of the fabric. ...
... Among adults, the highest score (25%) was obtained by white attire of nurses, while the lowest score was obtained by the attire where one could see clearly the texture of the fabric. Different results were obtained in the group of pediatric patients, the highest score (22%) was obtained by a textured top with white or blue trousers [7,8]. ...
... Respondentami badania byli dorośli oraz dzieci. Wiek stanowił zmienną niezależną, za pomocą, której przedstawiono różnicę w percepcji pielęgniarek przedstawionych na fotografiach [7]. Wśród dorosłych najwyższy wynik (25%) uzyskało białe umundurowanie pielęgniarek, najniższy wynik natomiast mundur, na którym można dostrzec wyraźny wzór tkaniny. ...
Introduction. Professional image of the nurse in the opinion of the patient community is conditioned by many variables, including professional attire. A worthy representation of the nurse profession is the responsibility of all those who care for the patient.
Aim. Determining the impact of dress code on shaping the professional image of nurses in the opinion of patients.
Material and methods. Non-systematic review method of the literature available. The data was obtained by searching online databases, such as: Google Scholar, PubMed, CINAHL Complete as well as electronic resources of nursing magazines.
Results. In the perception of hospitalized patients, the nursing dress code affects the level of trust in those who care for patients, it also constitutes an important element in assessing their professionalism, knowledge or confidence when performing specific medical interventions. Adapted to the needs, a suitably selected style of professional attire of a nurse employed in a given health care facility enables her proper identification of them against the background of other members of the therapeutic team or administrative employees. In addition, the comfort of nurses is a significant factor for patients in dress code strategy planning; it often determines professionalism and quality of services provided.
Conclusions. There is a relationship between the external appearance of nurses and their professional image and the patients’ perception of their professional skills as well as the level of their professionalism. Dress code in a health care facility may constitute a significant element of image policy for both a health care facility itself and a group of nurses.
... The color white, on the other hand is perceived as the symbol of cleanliness and pureness and leads to a more receptive attitude (Mazlum, 2011). A review of studies conducted on patients and patient relatives in different cultures reveals that white uniforms (Albert, Wocial, Meyer, Na, & Trochelman, 2008;Hartmann & Butz, 2012;Skorupski & Rea, 2006;Sebo, Herrmann, & Haller, 2014) are frequently preferred. White uniforms are preferred for a number of reasons including insuring easy recognition and accessibility (Miller, Mann, & Grim, 2010;Hartmann & Butz, 2012), representing cleanliness, hygiene and reliability (Loveday et al., 2007;Albert, Wocial, Meyer, Na, & Trochelman, 2008;Yalcin, Torun, & Kadıoglu, 2014), traditionally being the common color of uniforms (Keyser et al., 2003) and representing professionalism and power (Albert, Wocial, Meyer, Na, & Trochelman, 2008;Yalcin, Torun, & Kadıoglu, 2014;Sebo, Herrmann, & Haller, 2014). ...
... A review of studies conducted on patients and patient relatives in different cultures reveals that white uniforms (Albert, Wocial, Meyer, Na, & Trochelman, 2008;Hartmann & Butz, 2012;Skorupski & Rea, 2006;Sebo, Herrmann, & Haller, 2014) are frequently preferred. White uniforms are preferred for a number of reasons including insuring easy recognition and accessibility (Miller, Mann, & Grim, 2010;Hartmann & Butz, 2012), representing cleanliness, hygiene and reliability (Loveday et al., 2007;Albert, Wocial, Meyer, Na, & Trochelman, 2008;Yalcin, Torun, & Kadıoglu, 2014), traditionally being the common color of uniforms (Keyser et al., 2003) and representing professionalism and power (Albert, Wocial, Meyer, Na, & Trochelman, 2008;Yalcin, Torun, & Kadıoglu, 2014;Sebo, Herrmann, & Haller, 2014). ...
... A review of studies conducted on patients and patient relatives in different cultures reveals that white uniforms (Albert, Wocial, Meyer, Na, & Trochelman, 2008;Hartmann & Butz, 2012;Skorupski & Rea, 2006;Sebo, Herrmann, & Haller, 2014) are frequently preferred. White uniforms are preferred for a number of reasons including insuring easy recognition and accessibility (Miller, Mann, & Grim, 2010;Hartmann & Butz, 2012), representing cleanliness, hygiene and reliability (Loveday et al., 2007;Albert, Wocial, Meyer, Na, & Trochelman, 2008;Yalcin, Torun, & Kadıoglu, 2014), traditionally being the common color of uniforms (Keyser et al., 2003) and representing professionalism and power (Albert, Wocial, Meyer, Na, & Trochelman, 2008;Yalcin, Torun, & Kadıoglu, 2014;Sebo, Herrmann, & Haller, 2014). ...
In this paper, ıt was studied to determine the importance of the design and colour of selected uniforms of psychiatric nurses and evaluate their effects and implications for patients. In this descriptive study, a questionnaire developed by the researchers and a nursing uniforms catalogue were used during the data collection stage of the research. 40.9% of the participants told that the design and colour of a nursing uniform is important and 31.5% of the participants selected white uniform colour from the catalogue for psychiatric nurses and 33.9% of the patients expressed that they find white nursing uniforms comforting.
... Though individuality and NURSING CARE PREFERENCES self-expression must be respected, it often conflicts with the uniform and professional image of the nurse. Patients are able to distinguish a nurse wearing white who has a recognizable registered nurse (RN) name tag with much more ease compared to a similar uniform in a different color (Albert, Wocial, Meyer, & Trochelman, 2008). Nurse professionalism traits are associated with white uniforms (Albert et al., 2008). ...
... Patients are able to distinguish a nurse wearing white who has a recognizable registered nurse (RN) name tag with much more ease compared to a similar uniform in a different color (Albert, Wocial, Meyer, & Trochelman, 2008). Nurse professionalism traits are associated with white uniforms (Albert et al., 2008). Though uniforms have been studied thoroughly, an aspect of attire that has not been determined is the preferred appearance of the nurse in regard to tidiness, neatness, and orderliness. ...
... Nurse's Skill Interpersonal skill (e.g., friendly, cheerful, happy, smiling, caring, compassionate, a good listener, and funny) Technical skill (e.g., inserting IV needle and monitoring equipments) Nurse professionalism traits associated with white uniforms (Albert et al., 2008) and were identified in white uniform with cap (Lehna et al., 1999); Positive impact in wearing white with older patients (Albert et al., 2008;Tolbert & Beilstein, 2010); Patients and families choose nurses dressed in white uniforms with caps (Newton & Chaney, 1996); 64% thought nurses should be allowed to wear any color uniform, 28% said nurses should wear all white (Windel, Halbert, Dumont, Tagnesi & Johnson, 2008); Today, many nurses think nothing of wearing clothing adorned with cartoon characters (Cohen, 2007); Need to easily recognize the nurse (Windel et al., 2008;Tolbert & Beilstein, 2010) Nurse attire The patient prefers a nurse in white uniform The patient prefers a nurse in white uniform with cap The patient prefers a nurse in any colored uniform The patient prefers a nurse in scrub suits with cartoon characters Empathy was inferred to the patient through eye contact, tone of voice, and giving time (Baillie, 1996). ...
While nursing care has been investigated in the context of patient satisfaction, health care delivery, nursing skill, and patient centered care, elderly patients’ nursing care preferences have not been fully explored nor identified from the lens of utility analysis. This study is a purposive sample of 300 Filipino geriatric patients from the regions of Calabarzon and National Capital Region (NCR) participated and were asked to rank cards from 1 to 12 relative to the following five attributes: waiting response time, nursing uniform, empathetic capacity through time spent and eye contact, and nursing skill based on their preferences. Results of conjoint analysis via Sawtooth Software 18 indicated that nurse attire was the most important attribute (57.26%) while empathetic capacity through eye contact was least important to Filipino elderly (2.27%). Significant differences were found in the respondents’ profile. Among the given attributes, nursing uniform had the most impact in determining an elderly choice of services. Conversely, eye contact had minimal importance. In the health care setting, utilization of this study would allow nursing care to refocus nursing care delivery to maximize satisfaction and hospital loyalty. Future research may explore the cultural and regional differences in terms of preferences among the elderly.
... Adult patients, for example, have more often rated RNs dressed in white pantsuits in photographs as competent, confident, efficient and reliable than they have done so with regard to RNs dressed in coloured and print smock-style uniforms. 12,14 Within today's hectic health-care environment, encounters between the RN and patient are apt to be brief and infrequent. The patient's first impression of the RN is critically important for establishing the nurse-patient relationship, which is integral to all nursing care service delivery. ...
... We partially replicated a prospective comparative design conducted by American nurse researchers Albert, Wocial, Meyer, Na, and Trochelman. 14 Albert et al. 14 surveyed 499 adult and paediatric patients and their visitors to investigate if RN uniform style, colour and pattern affected perceptions of nurse professionalism. Study participants viewed photographs of the same RN dressed in different uniforms and, using the Modified Nurse Image Scale (MNIS) of 10 traits associated with nurses' professional image, rated how caring, competent, confident, attentive, efficient, approachable, professional, reliable, cooperative and empathetic she appeared in each photograph. ...
... We partially replicated a prospective comparative design conducted by American nurse researchers Albert, Wocial, Meyer, Na, and Trochelman. 14 Albert et al. 14 surveyed 499 adult and paediatric patients and their visitors to investigate if RN uniform style, colour and pattern affected perceptions of nurse professionalism. Study participants viewed photographs of the same RN dressed in different uniforms and, using the Modified Nurse Image Scale (MNIS) of 10 traits associated with nurses' professional image, rated how caring, competent, confident, attentive, efficient, approachable, professional, reliable, cooperative and empathetic she appeared in each photograph. ...
Patients have expressed difficulty accurately distinguishing registered nurses (RNs) from other hospital personnel because standardized uniforms are no longer worn by RNs. According to American studies, such complaints are widespread; moreover, patients' perceptions of nurse caring and competence and of other traits associated with nurses' professional image have been negatively affected by casual, non-conventional attire. As there are no published Canadian studies, we conducted a pilot study to examine patient perception of the nurse uniform. Adult patients viewed photographs of the same RN dressed in eight different uniforms and rated each uniform according to 10 traits associated with nurses' professional image. The white pantsuit scored higher for professionalism than uniforms with small print, bold print, or solid colour, and most patients preferred that the RN dress in white. Our preliminary findings suggest that RN attire warrants further investigation, and we are planning a large-scale, fully powered study to inform patient-driven change to existing uniform policies.
... Position of nurse practitioners, [58,79] type of organization, [87][88][89] organizational culture, [69,90,91] the appearance of nurses in the workplace, [92][93][94][95][96] caregiver employment status, [1] work place, [1] existence of a reward system, [81,97] lack of staffs, [98] increasing the number of patients, [98] the existence of standards of activity, [99] lack of time, having stress and fatigue, [41] patients, clinicians, managers, and co-workers, [84,85] the gap between education and clinical practice, [22] and expectations of health care organizations, [22] all have been mentioned as precursors to professionalization in the reviewed studies. ...
... Professional satisfaction and organizational commitment, [4] professional freedom and independence and motivational factors, [78] belonging, knowing, and acknowledging, [100] suppor t and guidance, acceptance, willingness, responsibility, and trust, [101][102][103] altruism, [104][105][106][107][108] and professional identity [93] have shown a significant relationship with professionalization. Studies showed belonging to a team, answering the questions of the patients and their families, and valuing the work do affect the understanding and meaning of students from professionalization. [22,93] In general, although several internal and external factors are associated with the level of professionalization in nursing, for becoming a true professional, the experience of working and an educational background are very effective factors. ...
... Professional satisfaction and organizational commitment, [4] professional freedom and independence and motivational factors, [78] belonging, knowing, and acknowledging, [100] suppor t and guidance, acceptance, willingness, responsibility, and trust, [101][102][103] altruism, [104][105][106][107][108] and professional identity [93] have shown a significant relationship with professionalization. Studies showed belonging to a team, answering the questions of the patients and their families, and valuing the work do affect the understanding and meaning of students from professionalization. [22,93] In general, although several internal and external factors are associated with the level of professionalization in nursing, for becoming a true professional, the experience of working and an educational background are very effective factors. ...
Professionalism is an important feature of the professional jobs. Dynamic nature and the various interpretations of this term lead to multiple definitions of this concept. The aim of this paper is to identify the core attributes of the nursing professionalism.
We followed Rodgers' evolutionary method of concept analysis. Texts published in scientific databases about nursing professionalism between 1980 and 2011 were assessed. After applying the selection criteria, the final sample consisting of 4 books and 213 articles was selected, examined, and analyzed in depth. Two experts checked the process of analysis and monitored and reviewed them.
The analysis showed that nursing professionalism is determined by three attributes of cognitive, attitudinal, and psychomotor. In addition, the most important antecedents concepts were demographic, experiential, educational, environmental, and attitudinal factors.
Nursing professionalism is an inevitable, complex, varied, and dynamic process. In this study, the importance, scope, and concept of professionalism in nursing, the concept of a beginning for further research and development, and expanding the nursing knowledge are explained and clarified.
... Indeed, a nursing home is not a hospital and residents should feel at home. Most studies have highlighted that street clothes seem to play a role in the perception of staff regarding their professional image, skills and professionalism (Albert, Wocial, Meyer, Na, & Trochelman, 2008;Newton & Chaney, 1996;Thomas et al., 2010). We can assume that not wearing a uniform is less of a reminder of a medical environment (disease, medicine and incapacity) for residents and creates an impression which is closer to what they might experience at home. ...
... The clothing that an individual wears participates in forming an individual and professional identity and serves as a sign of belonging to the group (Albert et al., 2008;Bicchieri, 2006). Therefore, further investigations are required to explore the overall implications of implementing the wearing of street clothes in a nursing home. ...
Aims and objectives:
To examine the impact of caregivers' street clothes on people living in special care units (SCUs). We hypothesised that caregivers wearing street clothes would improve residents' relationships with other residents and caregivers and, as a consequence, would improve their quality of life.
Background:
Environmental factors have been recognised as important elements in the care of people with dementia. Among these factors, the importance of the caregivers' appearance and more particularly their street clothes has been raised.
Design:
The Street Clothes study (STRECLO) was designed as a multicentre crossover observational study.
Method:
This study was conducted in two volunteer nursing homes. It involved videotaping residents (N = 24) over a 6-month period: caregivers wore uniform and then street clothes for two consecutive three-month periods. Three outcome measures were observed as follows: (a) behaviours of residents, (b) contents of conversations and (c) proximal interactions between residents and caregivers. The STROBE checklist was used to ensure quality reporting during this observational study.
Results:
When caregivers wore street clothes, we observed the following: (a) greater solicitation and less anxiety in residents, (b) content of conversations between residents and caregivers included more personal and less health information, and (c) more proximal interaction between caregivers and residents.
Conclusion:
To our knowledge, this is the first study which investigated the long-term effects on residents of SCU caregivers wearing street clothes. Our study demonstrated the potential benefit of not wearing uniform on the quality of life of institutionalised people with dementia.
Relevance to clinical practice:
Given the budgetary constraints faced by nursing homes, wearing street clothes for caregivers could be readily applied to clinical practice and represents a promising way to increase the quality of life of dementia residents and their families.
... The uniform and accessories worn represented rank and authority (Baly, 1980). Several researchers also found that nurses in uniform are more likely to be perceived as smarter and more competent, and thus, service users would have higher confidence towards their judgements and care (Albert, Wocial, Meyer, Na, & Trochelman, 2008;Rowland, 1994;Sparrow, 1991). However, some research highlights that professionalism should be represented by a "total package," not merely a uniform. ...
... These views are also supported by some of the earlier literature on the subject; for example, Larson and Ellsworth (1996) and Brown (1961) reported that only small perceptual changes of nurses resulted from changes in nursing attire. Some researchers have also more recently identified that although uniform might provide an image of professionalism, caring and understanding, it does not actually equate with them and that nursing attitudes are probably the most important issue (Albert et al., 2008). ...
Introduction:
A non-uniform policy was recently adopted in selected Hong Kong rehabilitation wards to align with the philosophy of the Recovery Model. The change in policy is relatively novel in Asia, where no previous studies have reported how this may influence nursing care and service users' recovery.
Aim:
To explore Hong Kong mental health nurses' views about wearing non-uniform within an in-patient rehabilitation unit in regards to facilitating service users' recovery process.
Method:
A qualitative descriptive study was conducted, utilizing individual in-depth semi-structured research interviews.
Results:
A total of 12 interviews were conducted with nurse participants. The analysis process identified 3 main themes and 9 sub-themes. Main themes were 'building up rapport with service users', 'non-uniform helps deinstitutionalization' and 'different approaches to maximize the benefit and to minimize the risk'.
Discussion:
Despite some concerns, the majority of nurse participants positively viewed the policy of wearing non-uniform and felt it was potentially beneficial to service users' recovery process.
Implications for practice:
Nurses perceived that wearing non-uniform may facilitate meaningful therapeutic engagement, and may help to reduce the self-stigma and develop the self-esteem of service users. Other inpatient units in Hong Kong and similar Asian settings might consider adopting the policy.
... When age groups were compared, some affirmative states showed a difference, while many affirmative states did not. In the results of a study by Albert et al. [17], the young generation showed lower and higher likability for white nursing clothes and for bold-print-top/blue pressed pants. ...
... In a survey of patient perceptions of nurse attire in adult patients by Porr et al. [18], white nurse attire showed higher scores regarding professional items than did the scores for other colors and designs. Similarly, in a survey performed with adults by Albert et al. [17], white nurse uniforms showed higher scores regarding professional items; in a study performed in patients in the department of psychiatry by Küçük et al. [19], the highest response for the expected color of nurses' uniforms was white (33.9%) because it was comforting; this finding is supported by the result of our study that the "capable" score for W was higher than that score for I, P, and G. ...
... They either reduce stress in uncomfortable situations leading individuals to adopt healthy and adapted behaviors or they are perceived as obtrusive, leading to maladaptive behaviors. 14,15 Although several studies have shown how attire could positively affect perception of professional image, skills, and professionalism, 9,16,17 other studies have shown deleterious impacts of attire. In any case, it is important to understand the social processes involved in wearing uniforms in a community service context, taking into account the situation, symbolic meaning, and the expectations of peoplewith or without dementia and their families. ...
... In similar contexts, they can prove useful in maintaining the order and hierarchy needed for medical procedures to be carried out efficiently and effectively. In a study on the impact of nurses' uniforms on perceptions of nurse professionalism, Albert and colleagues 16 show that pediatric populations and their adult visitors did not judge competencies of nurses based on their attire, although, in a medical context, warmth of the attire was preferred. All these studies suggest that the impact of uniforms must be carefully considered before uniforms are worn in a caring, educational, or even pedagogical context. ...
Objectives:
In certain health care facilities, the staff commonly wear uniforms for dementia care. Wearing uniforms are often believed to improve the well-being of institutionalized people with dementia (PwD) by facilitating orientation and preserving hygiene. However, when studied more thoroughly, it appears that their use counters to person centeredness. This study aims to investigate the impact of wearing uniforms on the quality of life (QoL) of institutionalized PwD.
Method:
A natural experimental design was operated in 4 special care units (SCUs) in France. Two SCUs served as an experimental group (caregivers wearing street clothes except when performing hands-on physical care; N = 13) and 2 served as a comparison group (caregivers wearing uniforms; N = 14). The QoL of PwD was measured using the QoL-Alzheimer's Disease scale, and focus groups were carried out with caregivers.
Results:
Overall and significantly enhanced QoL scores were observed for the experimental street clothing staff group when compared to the uniform group. Caregivers also reported subjective impressions of overall beneficial outcomes for PwD when the caregivers were not wearing uniforms and reported feeling more at ease when interacting with them.
Conclusion:
Results are discussed in terms of intergroup relationships, living and working conditions, and ethical issues.
... The impact of nurses' uniform style on a nursing image is controversial and has created debate in the literature [41]. The original reason for designing the uniform was to reflect the image of neatness and cleanliness [42]. The most important conflicting problem with clothing style is the similar uniforms worn by different healthcare professionals and nonprofessionals. ...
Nursing has been in existence since the first human beings and has changed and improved in parallel with globalization.
Like all professions, nursing is significantly influenced by the specific society it serves. Even more, the nurse’s
public image appears to be negative in countries where strong cultural traditions strongly restrict women’s involvement
in occupations outside the home. Although the society looks at nurses with some disrespect so that individuals
were afraid of joining nursing even if they like it. The negative image was shaped due to the lack of expansion in
nursing education. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the nursing profession faces significant challenges, including;
failure to recruit high academic students into nursing education, poor nursing identity, and lack of awareness about
the nursing profession. Furthermore, the nursing profession’s community awareness and public image are critical to
recruiting and retaining students into nursing education and improving nurses’ sense of identity.
... The evidence from this research shows that nurses wearing visible tattoos does not adversely affect the therapeutic relationship, although it has highlighted a conflict between the view of the NHS Trusts in England and the societal view (represented by the participants in the interviews). The presence of visible tattoos on nurses bodies does present a challenge for both the employer and the nursing profession, as the uniform is a recognisable object from the point of view of patients (Pearson et al, 2001;Albert et al, 2008;Fogle and Reams, 2014), clear messages should be conveyed to employers in the form of NHS Trusts, and the nursing profession as to the purpose of the uniform, and sensitive understanding of the autonomy of the individual for self-expression in the form of visible tattoos. Whilst the presence of visible tattoos does not directly affect the therapeutic relationship, there is evidence that the content of tattoos may raise concerns with some patients and there is a need for this to be recognised by the nursing profession. ...
This thesis explores the affect visible tattoos on nurses have on the therapeutic relationship. Using photo-elicitation interviews, data was collected and analysed using qualitative thematic analysis. In addition, a content analysis was carried out of almost 90% of dress codes and uniform policies from NHS Trusts in England to gain the organisation view of visible tattoos.
... Black (2013) (2019), Nelson and Bowen (2000). Professionalism Skorupski and Rea (2006), Lehna et al. (1999), Pearson et al. (2001), Nelson and Bowen (2000), Skorupski and Rea (2006), Shaw and Timmons (2010), Albert et al. (2008), Mangum et al. (1997) Sparrow (1991. ...
Uniform creates a corporate image in organizations and gives a message to the society. Especially airline companies see the biggest visual identity carriers of their image, culture , corporate identity and status as the flight attendants and their uniforms who spend the longest time with the passenger. The purpose of this study is to develop a scale suitable for determining the dimensions of the attitudes and behaviors of the uniformed flight attendants perceived by the passengers. Data were obtained using the survey technique. The scale of uniform components was developed by researchers. Explanatory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were applied to the data. Reliability analyzes were conducted to determine the internal consistency coefficients (Cronbach's alpha) of the scales. The confirmatory factor analysis results confirmed the structure of the two-dimensional Flight Attendants Uniformed Attitudes-Behavior Scale developed during the study. As a result of the validity and reliability analysis, it was concluded that the developed scale is a reliable and valid data collection tool.
... The impact of nurses' uniform style on a nursing image is controversial and has created debate in the literature [41]. The original reason for designing the uniform was to reflect the image of neatness and cleanliness [42]. The most important conflicting problem with clothing style is the similar uniforms worn by different healthcare professionals and nonprofessionals. ...
... There was incidence of stereotypes in 100% of the localized studies, the main ones being low status (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20) , careerist (12,14,16,(20)(21)(22)(23) , angel of mercy (14,24) subordination to medicine (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)25) . Regarding the evidence of stereotypes of the 14 included documents, 57.1% showed low incidence of negative stereotypes, 35.7% high incidence of negative stereotypes and 7.2% did not find negative stereotypes. ...
Introduction: nursing has been moving towards the formation of its own body of knowledge through increased research and technological advances. However, the social image of the profession identified in society seems to reflect an invisible professional with an outdated professional image associated with negative stereotypes. Aim: to analyze the presence of negative stereotypes associated with nurses’ social image in the literature. Method: integrative literature review study that included scientific articles published from 2007 to 2013, in the databases: BVS, CINAHL / EBSCO, MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science. Results and Discussion: fourteen studies dealing with the image of nursing met inclusion criteria, 57.1% showed low incidence of negative stereotypes, 35.7% showed high incidence of negative stereotypes and 7.2% did not find negative stereotypes. Negative stereotypes such as low status and subordination to the medical field were evidenced. However positive stereotypes such as careerist were also identified. Closing Remarks: the results indicate the possibility of improvement in the social image of nursing. These stereotypes about the profession remain in the social imagination, causing anachronism, making difficult the recognition and appreciation of this profession.
... Previous studies in other healthcare settings have also shown preferences for attire with a professional look. A study on nurse professionalism demonstrated that middle-aged and older A. Eikelenboom-Boskamp et al. patients admitted to an American tertiary healthcare center preferred a white uniform compared with colored or patterned uniforms (Albert et al., 2008). Another study of patients' perceptions of nursing attire in an American hospital setting showed different perceptions among four generations of patients. ...
Background
: In Dutch nursing homes, healthcare workers’ attire has been the subject of debate for years. White uniforms and professional white jackets are increasingly being replaced by casual personal attire. Many nursing homes have made this choice because they want to create a homey atmosphere. However, with regard to infection control, casual personal attire is far from ideal. It is unknown what attire is preferred by residents.
Objective
: To determine both residents’ preferences regarding nurses’ attire and nurses’ perceptions of these preferences.
Design
: Cross-sectional.
Setting
: Nursing homes, the Netherlands.
Participants
: Residents and nurses.
Methods
: Between February and October 2019, a convenience sample of 94 participants were surveyed across 10 Dutch nursing homes among residents with physical impairments and nurses caring for them. A standardized data collection tool included color photographs of a female nurse dressed in: 1) casual attire; 2) professional polo shirt with blue jeans; 3) professional white jacket with blue jeans; and 4) completely white uniform. Six randomly composed photosets of two different types of attire were shown to each participant. Participants had to select one out of two displayed photographs (forced choice method) guided by two propositions regarding ‘comfort preference’ and ‘care preference’. The propositions for residents were: 1) I feel most comfortable with this nurse, and 2) I would prefer to be cared for by this nurse. The propositions for nurses were:) I think residents feel most comfortable with this nurse, and 2) I think the residents would prefer to be cared for by this nurse. Some demographic data and personal characteristics of the participants were collected. (Perceived) preferences for nurses’ attire were calculated in estimated marginal means (preference per type of attire compared to the other three types of attire) with 95% confidence intervals. Differences were tested with the Chi-squared test.
Results
: In total, 92 participants were included in the analysis. Overall, the strongest (perceived) preference was for a professional white jacket with blue jeans, compared to the three alternative types of nurses’ attire for both propositions in both groups. Casual attire was the least preferred. Residents of 85 years or older and nurses who had been working for two years or fewer were more likely to choose more formal attire.
Conclusion
: Residents preferred more professional attire, which conforms to infection control requirements.
Tweetable abstract
: involve nursing home residents in determining nurses’ attire, a professional white jacket should be one of the options @AEICP
... Whilst theoretically this is feasible, the practicalities need consideration due to infection prevention and control concerns and it would have to be a temporary item of clothing that could be donned and removed for appropriate incidents only (a tabard perhaps). Paediatric nursing staff have altered their clothing to improve the experience of children for many years, with brightly coloured uniforms preferred by children [59][60][61][62] which reduce anxiety [63,64] and increase positive emotions, for example feeling calm, relaxed or happy [61]. There is potential for similar benefits in the prehospital setting. ...
Background Pain is a highly complex sensory and emotional experience. When a child suffers acute pain through illness or injury, they are often transported to hospital by ambulance. Pre-hospital pain management in children is poor, with 61% of children receiving suboptimal pain management. Consequences of poor pain management include the risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder and altered pain perception. We aimed to identify clinicians’ perceptions of barriers, facilitators and potential improvements for the management of pre-hospital acute pain in children.
Methods Qualitative face to face semi-structured recorded interviews were performed in one large UK ambulance service. Audio files were transcribed verbatim with thematic analysis used to generate themes. NVivo 12 was used to support data analysis. Findings were combined with existing evidence to generate a driver diagram.
Results 12 ambulance clinicians participated, including 9 registered paramedics and 3 emergency medical technicians. Median (IQR) age was 43.50 (41.50, 45.75) years, 58% were male, median (IQR) experience was 12 (4.25, 15.50) years and 58% were parents. Several themes relating to barriers and facilitators were identified, including physical, emotional, social, organisational, environmental, management, knowledge and experience. Improvement themes were identified relating to management, organisation and education. These data were combined to create a driver diagram; the three primary drivers were 1) explore methods to increase rates of analgesic administration, including utilising intranasal or inhaled routes; 2) reduce fear and anxiety in children, by using child friendly uniform, additional non-pharmacological techniques and more public interaction and 3) reduce fear and anxiety in clinicians, by enhancing training and optimising crew mix.
Conclusions The quality of care that children receive for acute pain in the ambulance service may be improved by increasing rates of analgesic administration and reducing the fear and anxiety experienced by children and clinicians. Future research involving children and parents would be useful to determine the most important outcome measures and facilitate intervention development.
... Reducing the fear and anxiety experienced by children during an ambulance call-out is likely to reduce their perceived level of pain by disrupting this cycle. Paediatric nursing staff have altered their clothing to improve the experience of children for many years with brightly coloured uniforms preferred by children (Festini et al., 2009, Wocial et al., 2010, Albert et al., 2008, Albert et al., 2013 which reduce anxiety (Pakseresht et al., 2019, Roohafza et al., 2009) and increase positive emotions for example feeling calm, relaxed or happy (Albert et al., 2013). There is currently no evidence regarding the use of brightly coloured paediatric tabards for use in ambulance services to reduce fear and anxiety suffered by children. ...
Download thesis at: https://eprints.lincoln.ac.uk/id/eprint/45827/
Background
Pain is a highly complex sensory and emotional experience; the biological, psychological and social aspects must each be considered. The intersection between the phenomenon of pain, the unpredictable pre-hospital environment and children is highly convoluted. Studies have shown that pre-hospital pain management in children is poor, despite access to pain management being considered a fundamental human right. Without effective pain treatment, children may suffer long-term psychological changes (e.g. altered pain perception) and are at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder. The aim of this thesis was to identify predictors, barriers and facilitators associated with effective pre-hospital pain management in children suffering acute pain and to identify ways to improve the quality of care.
Methods
A postpositivist paradigm was adopted for the study, with a critical realist ontology and a modified objectivist epistemology. A mixed methods sequential explanatory design was adopted, informed by a systematic mixed studies review. The initial quantitative study employed a multivariable logistic regression analysis using routinely collected clinical data to identify predictors of effective pain management. The final qualitative study used face-to-face semi-structured interviews with ambulance clinicians to help explain the identified predictors, identify barriers and facilitators and explore ways to improve the quality of care. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim with thematic analysis used to analyse the data.
Results
The systematic mixed studies review included 13 studies (8 quantitative and 5 qualitative) and highlighted the importance of analgesic administration. The initial quantitative study included 2312 clinical records; only 39% of children suffering acute pain achieved effective pain management. Predictors of effective pain management included children who were younger, administered analgesics, attended by a paramedic or living in an area of low or medium deprivation. The final qualitative study included 12 ambulance clinicians (9 paramedics and 3 emergency medical technicians) who provided possible explanations for these disparities. Novel barriers and facilitators were also identified along with ways to improve pain management. Meta-inferences were developed which provided a more comprehensive understanding of this complex phenomenon. To improve pre-hospital pain management in children, the following recommendations were made; 1) explore methods to increase rates of analgesic administration, perhaps by utilising the intranasal and inhaled route; 2) reduce fear and anxiety in children, perhaps by using child friendly uniform, non-pharmacological techniques and more public interaction and 3) reduce fear and anxiety in clinicians, by enhancing training, optimising crew mix and developing a more pragmatic pain assessment tool. A theoretical model of pre-hospital pain management in children was developed as part of this thesis.
Conclusion
Pre-hospital pain management in children may be improved by increasing rates of analgesic administration and reducing the fear and anxiety experienced by children and clinicians. Future research should explore the experience of the child and determine the most important outcome measures. Robust clinical trials are needed to determine the efficacy and safety of intranasal (fentanyl/ketamine) and inhaled (methoxyflurane) analgesics in the pre-hospital setting. Investment in future research and intervention development is imperative; we need to make children’s pain in the pre-hospital setting matter.
... To them, the uniform incited the perception that nurses in INST look "in charge" (a sign of authority, or control) to their patients, which strengthened an invisible power (Cutcliffe & Happell, 2009) necessary to disrupt the therapeutic relationships. However, although findings from the literature confirm the potential for uniforms to communicate professionalism, knowledge and skills of the nursing profession, as well as help to create an identity (Albert, Wocial, Meyer, Na, & Trochelman, 2008;Lehna et al., 1999;Timmons & East, 2011), Bright (2014 cautioned about the different messages uniforms could convey to an observer. Thus, an individual's perceptual ability was an important factor necessary to derive meanings from uniforms, with emphasis on prospective threat to effective communication necessary to build trust, depending on what uniforms meant for patients (Bright, 2014): ...
To a large extent caregivers perceive stigma through their social and community interactions by virtue of their association with persons with mental health problems. Meanwhile, evidence on their strategies for coping with potentially undesirable experiences linked with stigma is limited. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, the present study explored affiliate stigma among mental health professionals and family caregivers of persons with mental illness. Data, collected through one-on-one interviews with 10 mental health professionals and 10 family caregivers, were examined with content analysis. Findings revealed that, although stigma attached to mental illness was largely directed at sufferers and family caregivers, professionals sometimes had their fair share. To manage the negative impact of stigma, caregivers adopted various strategies including the use of realisation, tactical or planned ignoring, self-motivation, acceptance and religion. Implications of the findings necessitate the intensification of mental health education among the general populace, which must be targeted at demystifying mental illness.
... Future research is needed in our country to determine if this applies to our society. 18 According to Verma, personal grooming is just as important as what is worn. Neglecting personal hy-giene can ruin the image you wish to present. ...
Objective
The B.Sc. Nursing has limited hours dedicated to grooming and personal development. A smartly turned out, trained empathetic and efficient nurse helps in alleviating the miseries of the patients. The objective of this study was to see the acceptability and perceived usefulness of a course on grooming and etiquette.
Methods
A proforma based qualitative study was carried out at College of Nursing, AFPGMI & National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), Rawalpindi, from Jan to Dec, 2017. An eight week course, with weekly lectures was conducted for first to fourth year classes. At the end a semi-structured proforma with simple open ended questions was administered. The questions were both in English and Urdu. The results were analyzed by finding percentages of positive and negative responses. The descriptive responses were grouped in recurring themes and analyzed for content and their constructive value.
Results
There were 186 nursing cadets who completed the course and filled the proforma (55, 52, 45 and 34 from first year to fourth year, respectively). Out of 186, 98.9% (184) thought that this was a useful course. All topics were considered useful. Most liked were communication skills, teaching visits to wards, hostels and balancing home and work. About 7% disagreed about the strict dress codes, but agreed with the proper demeanor. Many suggested that senior nurses also have a dire need of these grooming lectures as many used derogatory language. Also pointed out was absence of a mechanism to report a lapse in ethical conduct seen in a colleague or a senior.
Conclusion
Nursing is a demanding profession. It is important that our training includes sensitization to the non-technical attributes. They have to be groomed to become role models for young talented girls to join this noble profession. Even a short course may help to sensitize these young ladies to a very important aspect of their lives and profession.
... Clothing has been frequently used as a cue when depicting occupational and gender groups (Glick, Wilk, & Perreault, 1995). While considerable attention has been devoted to identifying the style and color of nursing uniforms that create a professional and caring impression (e.g., Tolbert & Beilstein, 2010;Wocial et al., 2010), work on military uniforms has tended to prioritize the practical utility of fiber and fabric (e.g., Schutz, Cardello, & Winterhalter, 2005) rather than extending focus to the social implications of the uniform. and what type of nonverbal behavior (most) effectively provides individuating information. ...
While first impressions are often based on appearance cues, little is known about how these interact with information from other channels. The present research aimed to investigate the impact of occupational stereotypes, evoked by attire, as well as posture on person perception. For this, computer animation was used to create avatars with different types of attire (nurse, military, casual) and posture (open, closed). In Study 1 (N = 164), participants attributed significantly more empathy to avatars wearing a nurse versus a military uniform or casual outfit. When adding posture as an additional cue, Study 2 (N = 312) showed that ratings of empathy and dominance were affected by both attire and posture. This effect was replicated in Study 3 (N = 163) for female avatars, in the sense that open postures in nurses increased empathy ratings and decreased dominance ratings, which both in turn led to greater perceived competence. By contrast, for male avatars, posture did not affect attributions of competence directly. Rather, attire predicted perceived dominance directly, as well as through perceived empathy. The present findings suggest that both posture, and occupational information evoked by attire, are used to infer personal characteristics. However, the strength of each cue may vary with the gender of the target.
... Some studies have suggested that uniforms may contribute to children's fear in an unknown environment (Hsu, 2004). Albert, Wocial, Meyer, Na, and Trochelman (2008) found that children feared white uniforms, while positive emotions were associated with bold colourful patterned tops. Festini et al. (2009) found that children preferred multi-coloured uniforms to a single block colour and that this was linked with increased perceptions of reliability of the nurse by parents. ...
Background:
A study was designed to understand the experiences and needs of children within the public spaces of the Outpatients Department of New Zealand's national children's hospital, Starship Childrens' Directorate.
Aim:
To find out from children what they thought about the outpatient environment.
Design:
A participatory art based methodology was used.
Methods:
Based around the key areas of the physical environment, wayfinding, noise, and uniforms, art-based methods (draw and tell and letter writing) were used to collect data from 175 children ages 5-16 whilst they attended outpatient clinics. The drawings and letters were analysed using descriptive/thematic analysis.
Results:
The findings show that children are very aware of their environment and are able to clearly voice what is important to them. Children appreciate environments that are child friendly, and inclusive of colour and artwork; however, wayfinding remains a challenge for many families. Although the environment was seen as important, children placed significant value on the people who demonstrated warmth and care within these environments.
Conclusion:
Participatory art based approaches offer a child centred approach to finding out what children perceive is important in the design of hospital environments.
... (Field Note S3D1 80) In contrast, Site 2 was calm, quiet, relaxed and physically tidy; nurses were visible; they also moved with purpose but not as quickly as those at Sites 1 and 3. The general appearance of nurses has been found to relay competency and quality assurance (Albert, Wocial, Meyer, Na, & Trochelman, 2008;Wocial et al., 2010;Wocial, Sego, Rager, Laubersheimer, & Everett, 2014), however there is a competing argument that a nurses appearance is not an indicator of clinical competence (Temara, 2015). In a recent integrated review Hatfield et al. (2013) confirmed that there is a dearth of research enquiry into the significance and impact of nurses appearance on patients perception of skills and judgments of the health professional caring for them, noting that extant research in this area supports the notion that a nurse's appearance increases the perception of professionalism and cultivating therapeutic relationships. ...
ABSTRACT
Distinctive humanistic values are foundational in professional nursing practice, commonly shared by members of the profession and the mainstay of how nurses act. The foundational values of the nursing discipline are balanced with clinical knowledge and technical skill. Nursing values presuppose nurses’ responsibility to nurture and protect, to heal, to cultivate healthy behaviours and attitudes, and to be present (physically and intellectually) during times of vulnerability, illness or injury.
The rationale for this study came from the recognition that nursing has changed, so too have the characteristics of patients and the way healthcare is operationalised. Nurses are challenged on a daily basis to negotiate between meeting the complex needs of patients whilst addressing healthcare priorities and attending to their own personal and professional requirements. There is a growing philosophical debate about whether the healthcare climate is dehumanising health care professionals’ encounters with patients, including those of nurses, and creating a culture where enacted values are inconsistent with professionalism.
The purpose of the research was to explore the values of professional nurses practicing in medical ward environments and how these values are lived in day-to-day practice. Case Study methodology was used to capture the contextual conditions of nursing values in nurses’ daily practice. Data collection was carried out in three medical wards in New Zealand; data were triangulated using observations, focus groups, interviews, burnout survey and theoretical application. The major theoretical and philosophical influences on the research, which were used to explore the data, were those of Isabel Menzies’ defences against anxiety and Edith Stein’s phenomenological theory of motivation and value.
Key findings indicate that healthcare environments obstruct the enactment of humanistic nursing values stimulating value dissonance for nurses between how they want to practice and how they actually practice.
Conflict arises from nurses experiencing systems that foster managerialism and cultures of anxiety. In order to cope with value dissonance, nurses enact unconscious defence mechanisms; resulting in constrained nursing practice, exhaustion, cynicism and burnout.
This thesis challenges the nursing profession to acknowledge and address the visibility of nursing values in contemporary practice, as well as acknowledge the dissonance that exists between the values of nursing and the values that drive healthcare delivery. Humanistic nursing values remain important to practicing nurses. This study identifies in detail the every-day difficulties nurses face in seeking to enact their values and the managerial challenges that confront them. This information offers a trustworthy analysis of the challenges the nursing profession faces in addressing this problem. It also offers a basis for developing approaches that could strengthen nurses’ ability to enact the humanistic values they are professionally committed to provide.
It is critical that any attempt to embed nursing values into clinical nursing practice is founded on a strategy that recognises and mitigates against dysfunctional organisations and organisational constraints. Drawing on findings from this thesis, it is recommended that the articulation and development of nursing values in acute clinical environments is responsive to organisational factors. Through this, the nursing community can develop, articulate and operationalise nursing values.
http://researcharchive.vuw.ac.nz/handle/10063/6358
... I giovani pazienti hanno indicato il rosso quale colore tradizionalmente associato a emozioni sia positive (quali romanticismo e amore) sia negative (quali la lotta e il sangue). In un precedente studio statunitense (Albert NM, et al., 2008), a 499 pazienti e visitatori, in età sia adulta sia pediatrica, era stato chiesto di valutare quale uniforme, tra le otto proposte (differenti per stile e colore), era più professionale; i dati hanno mostrato come gli adulti, a differenza dei bambini, hanno una percezione diversa dell'infermiere a seconda della sua divisa e quella di colore bianco è risultata quella capace di comunicare maggiore professionalità. Il risultato è in linea con la letteratura ed è riconducibile al fatto che la divisa bianca è tradizionalmente associata all'immagine dell'infermiere (Kaser M, et al., 2009). ...
The recent introduction of red tabards aimed at avoiding interruptions during medication rounds has generated scientific and media debate, which is still ongoing. The principal aim of this study was to evaluate patients' perceptions of 3 different red tabards; the secondary aim was to explore individual factors associated with the negative perceptions that emerged.
Eligible patients had to be admitted to the selected general surgical department and give written informed consent. A total of 104 patients were interviewed. Three real-sized red tabards, made with laminated paper and displaying different messages, were shown over 3 days to each patient involved.
Despite displaying different messages, from asking everyone not to disturb to allowing only patients to interrupt, patients perceived the tabards as directed at themselves. A different risk of preventing patients from communicating urgent needs emerged. The first tabard I am administering medication-Please do not interrupt me was most at risk to inhibit the patient. A negative impact was reported by 44 patients (42.3%) for the first tabard, 50 (48.0%) for the second tabard, and 40 (38.4%) for the third. In the logistic regression, only 2 independent factors were significantly associated with the negative perception of the message reported on the tabards: a positive attitude to interrupting nurses and receiving medication during their time in hospital. However, the variance explained by these factors ranges from 9.4% to 18.3%.
On the basis of the findings that emerged, the adoption of the tabards should be evaluated considering the benefits already documented, and the potential negative effects that emerged on patients, which may be influenced by cultural and linguistic aspects. Wearing the tabard with the message reported on the back, directed to the staff and not the patients, may have less negative effects on patients; in addition, using a different color not to alarm the patients may be useful. In addition, comparing the red tabard effects with other strategies introduced to deal with avoidable interruptions (e.g., "no interruption zone") to gain a comprehensive picture regarding benefits/harm is also important.
... Anecdotally, the resultant confusion about "who is who" is often lamented by the recipients of care. Empirically, nurses who have studied the impact of the trend away from a "uniform" uniform among nurses have found these anecdotes to be supported (Albert et al. 2008;Tolbert and Bilstein 2010). In the Albert (2008) study, white uniforms rated very high among older adults, aligning with attributes such as confidence, competence, attentiveness, professionalism and caring. ...
... Race may also be a factor, as one study of potential accountants-for-hire found evidence of an interaction between formality of clothing and race of the target (Khan et al., 2011). There is also evidence that the effect of clothing on impression formation varies based on the demographic characteristics of the perceiver, such as gender (Harris & Bays, 1973) and age (Engstrom, 1996;Albert, Wocial, Meyer, Na, & Trochelman, 2008). ...
Whether or not a librarian appears approachable in public service environments is critical to providing excellent service, conveying a welcoming space, and encouraging library users to engage with one of the key intellectual venues on our campuses. This study used an image-rating method to assess the influence of affect and attire on patron impressions of librarian approachability. Findings suggest that librarian behaviors do matter, with specific treatments resulting in increased or decreased perceptions of approachability. These findings not only support common sense assessments that an attentive and welcoming environment is essential to encouraging patrons to engage with librarians; they also provide information on specific behaviors that affect approachability, allowing librarians to distinguish between a range of presentation styles that can be readily employed in public service.
Aim
This study examines the impact of nurse uniforms, the coronavirus pandemic, and the image of nurses and the nursing profession on the career choice of young Muslim Arab women in nursing, with a focus on policy implications.
Background
The global nursing shortage poses significant challenges, including in Israel. Attracting young Muslim Arab women to nursing careers is vital. Understanding how nurse uniforms, the pandemic, and perceptions of nurses and the nursing profession shape their career decisions can inform policy interventions.
Methods
A cross‐sectional study utilized digital questionnaires administered to 200 Muslim Arab women aged 20–30 in Israel. The study adhered to the EQUATOR checklist for cross‐sectional studies.
Results
Only 29.2% of participants expressed interest in studying nursing. Findings revealed a positive correlation between the pandemic's impact and intention to pursue nursing. A linear regression analysis shows the impact of the white uniform, the image of nurses, and the image of the profession on the choice of a career in nursing.
Discussion
The study emphasizes the significance of nurse uniforms, the image of nurses, and the image of the nursing profession in shaping young Muslim Arab women's career choices in nursing. Policy interventions should raise awareness about nursing roles, expand responsibilities, and highlight nurses' contributions to society.
Conclusion
Strategies to attract young Muslim Arab women to nursing careers should address nurse uniforms, the image of nurses, and the image of the nursing profession.
Implications for policy
Policy interventions should prioritize diversity, promote positive images of nurses and the nursing profession, and raise awareness of nursing roles and contributions among young Muslim Arab women.
Background:
Nursing is a humanitarian and social field that provides health services. It combines science and art and has a rich history. Despite fundamental changes in the provision of medical services and nursing education, the concept of "good nurse" is still unclear.
Purpose:
The purpose of this article is to investigate the characteristics of a good nurse from the nurses' perspective.
Research design and method:
A qualitative study was applied using conventional content analysis. The participants were 30 nurses that selected with purposive sampling method. Data were collected through unstructured interviews and simultaneously analyzed via the conventional content analysis approach of Graneheim and Lundman.
Ethical considerations:
This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
Findings:
The study revealed that personal characteristics (Adherence to ethical and human principles, Physical health, Attractive appearance, and Ability to communicate properly); and professional characteristics (knowledge - clinical skill - nursing roles) are essential to being a good nurse.
Conclusion:
Coming to know the distinctive features of a good nurse as perceived by nurses themselves creates an opportunity for nurses to rethink their profession and to reflect on the characteristics of the good nurse.
Academic abstract:
Clothing, hairstyle, makeup, and accessories influence first impressions. However, target dress is notably absent from current theories and models of person perception. We discuss three reasons for this minimal attention to dress in person perception: high theoretical complexity, incompatibility with traditional methodology, and underappreciation by the groups who have historically guided research in person perception. We propose a working model of person perception that incorporates target dress alongside target face, target body, context, and perceiver characteristics. Then, we identify four types of inferences for which perceivers rely on target dress: social categories, cognitive states, status, and aesthetics. For each of these, we review relevant work in social cognition, integrate this work with existing dress research, and propose future directions. Finally, we identify and offer solutions to the theoretical and methodological challenges accompanying the psychological study of dress.
Public abstract:
Why is it that people often agonize over what to wear for a job interview, a first date, or a party? The answer is simple: They understand that others' first impressions of them rely on their clothing, hairstyle, makeup, and accessories. Many people might be surprised, then, to learn that psychologists' theories about how people form first impressions of others have little to say about how people dress. This is true in part because the meaning of clothing is so complex and culturally dependent. We propose a working model of first impressions that identifies four types of information that people infer from dress: people's social identities, mental states, status, and aesthetic tastes. For each of these, we review existing research on clothing, integrate this research with related work from social psychology more broadly, and propose future directions for research.
Elektrokardiogram (EKG) merupakan suatu sinyal yang terbentuk sebagai hasil dari aktivitas listrik jantung, sinyal ekg mempunyai bentuk spesifik sehingga dapat dijadikan sebagai acuan untuk menentukan kondisi kesehatan jantung. Pemeriksaan EKG pasien diharuskan membuka baju, di mana hal ini mengakibatkan pasien kurang nyaman. Hasil wawancara terhadap pasien yang akan dilakukan EKG, semua responden mengalami rasa malu atau kurang nyaman ketika pemasangan EKG terutama pasien perempuan karena daerah dada dibuka. Salah satu tindakan untuk meningkatkan rasa nyaman dengan menggunakan baju ANT-VGAR yang digunakan untuk menutupi area dada pasien. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh baju ANT-VGAR terhadap rasa nyaman pasien pada pemeriksaan EKG. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain quasy exsperimen dengan pendekatan intact group comparison. Sampel penelitian ini adalah pasien yang akan dilakukan pemeriksaan EKG dengan teknik purposive sampling sebanyak 30 responden yang dibagi dua kelompok, 15 responden kelompok intervensi dan 15 responden kelompok kontrol. Instrumen yang digunakan adalah Standar prosedur Operasional (SPO) baju ANT-VGAR dan kuesioner rasa nyaman untuk mengukur kenyamanan responden saat pemeriksaan EKG. Hasil penelitian didapatkan nilai rerata rasa nyaman pasien pada kelompok intervensi 22,53 dan pada kelompok kontrol 19,86. Hasil uji Man Whitney didapatkan perbedaan yang signifikan rerata rasa nyaman pada kelompok kontrol dan kelompok intervensi dengan p-value (0,023). Baju ANT-VGAR meningkatkan rasa nyaman pasien pada pemeriksaan EKG. Kata Kunci : rasa nyaman; baju ANT-VGAR; pemeriksaan EKG ANT-VGAR CLOTHING FOR PATIENTS’ COMFORT ON ELECTROCARDIOGRAM EXAMINATION ABSTRACT Electrocardiogram (ECG) is a signal that is formed as a result of electrical activity of the heart; ECG signal has a specific shape so that it can be used as a reference to determine the condition of heart health. ECG examination requires the patient to undress that’s causing the patient feel less comfortable. The results of interviews with the patients who would have an ECG examination showed that all respondents feel embarrassed or uncomfortable when installing an ECG, especially female patients because the chest area is opened. Using ANT-VGA cloth to cover chest area was an effort to reducing uncomfort feeling for patients. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of ANT-VGAR clothing on the comfort of the patient during the examination.This study used quasy exsperiment with an intact group comparison approach. The respondents used in this research were the patients of ECG examination with purposive sampling . A total of 30 respondents were divided into two groups, 15 respondents in the intervention group and 15 respondents in the control group. The instrument used was the Standart Operational Prosedure (SOP) ANT-VGAR shirt used during the ECG examination and a comfort questionnaire to measure the respondents' comfort during the ECG examination. The mean value of comfort in the intervention group was 22.53 and in the control group were 19.86. Whitney Man test results obtained significant differences in the average comfort in the control group and the intervention group with p-value (0.023). The results of this study concluded that there is an influence of the ANT-VGAR shirt on the comfort of the patient during the ECG examination. Keywords: patient comfort; ANT-VGAR shirt; ECG examination
Historically, the White Coat Ceremony has had a medical school connotation. While not exclusive to the discipline of medicine, the White Coat Ceremony is a recently adopted ritual embraced by a variety of health care professions. The white coat serves as a symbol of achievement into one's professional program. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the White Coat Ceremony as an emblematic transition into professional nursing education, to provide context of the use of symbolic ceremony in nursing, to describe the details of a White Coat Ceremony currently in place in a nursing college, and to discuss suggestions for replication. A survey to elicit student responses to the ceremonial event was achieved through an IRB study. Results obtained through a student survey were strongly favorable to the personal meaning as to participating in a White Coat Ceremony. The authors endorse the use of such a ceremony in professional nursing education settings.
Giriş: Çocuk hastaneye yattığında hastane personelini, kullanılan malzemeleri, yapılacak işlemleri bilmemektedir. Bu durum çocuğun hastaneye ve tedaviye uyumunu, sağlık personeliyle iletişimini ve sonraki hastane deneyimlerini etkilemektedir. Amaç: Hastanede yatan okul çağı çocukları tarafından hastanenin ve hemşirelerin algılanma durumunu incelemek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Yöntem: Araştırma, bir üniversite hastanesi Çocuk Sağlığı ve Hastalıkları Servisinde, ölçüt örnekleme yöntemi kullanılarak belirlenen7-12 yaş 15 çocuk ile yapılmıştır. Araştırmada veriler çocuk ve aile hakkında genel bilgiler toplamayı sağlayan 'Hasta Bilgi Formu' ve görüşmeyi yönlendiren yarı yapılandırılmış 'Görüşme Formu' ile toplanmış, veriler kodlanarak temalar oluşturulmuştur. Bulgular: Araştırma sonucunda Bilgi ve Düşünceler-Hastane/ Hastalık (Hastalık, Hastane Ortamı, Girişimler, Bilgi Kaynakları, Hastanenin Olumlu/ Olumsuz Yönleri), Hemşire (İlk Karşılaşma, Profesyonel Kimlik)-, Öneri ve İstekler-Hastane (Hastane Ortamı, Girişimler), Hemşire (Profesyonel Kimlik, Meslek Tercihi)-olmak üzere iki tema ve alt temalar belirlenmiştir. Çocukların büyük çoğunluğu hastaneye hazırlanmadan yatırılmıştır, hastane ve hemşire ile ilgili hala en büyük bilgi kaynakları televizyon ve büyükleridir. Ağrılı invaziv girişimler, sağlık çalışanlarının kötü muamelesi, fiziksel kısıtlılık ve en çok da sevdiklerinden ayrılığı, hastanenin olumsuz yönü olarak nitelendirmişlerdir. Tüm çocuklar hemşire ile ilk defa hastane ortamında karşılaşmış, hemşireye ve hastaneye karşı, korku, heyecan, utanma ve merak gibi duyguları yaşamışlardır. Hemşirenin profesyonel bir meslek olarak sorumlulukları hakkında bir fikre sahiplerdir ancak büyük çoğunluğu hiç erkek hemşire görmemiştir. Hemşireyi güler yüzlü, mutlu, iyi, ilgili, nazik gibi olumlu özelliklerle tanımlamışlardır. Sonuç: Çocukların bilgilendirilmesi konusunda yetersizlikler olduğu saptanmıştır. Oyun odası, okul en sık ifade edilen isteklerdir. Kendilerine bakan hemşirenin kadın hemşire olmasını ve renkli, desenli formalar giymesini tercih ettiklerini ifade etmişlerdir. Abstract Determination of Knowledge Levels for The Use of Ventrogluteal Site in Intramuscular Injection of Nursing Students Background: When the child hospitalized does not know about the personal staff the materials used, the procedures to be done. This condition affects the child's compliance with the hospital and treatment, communication with the health staff, and subsequent hospital experience. Objectıves: The purpose of the study was to investigate the perception of hospital and nursing by hospitalized school children. Methods: The study was conducted with 15 children aged 7-12 years who were determined using the criteria sampling method in a university of child health and disease service. General information about the children and family in the study was gathered with the 'patient information form' which provided the gathering and the semi-structured ''interview form'' which led the interview. Results: As a result of the research, İnformation and Thought-Hospital/ Disease (Ilness ,Hospital Environment, Interventions, Information Sources, Pozitive /Negative Aspects of The Hospital), Nurse (Initial Welcome, Professional Identity)-, Suggestions and Requests-Hospital (Hospital Environment, Interventions), Nurse (Professional Identity, Profession Preference)-two main themes and sub themes were identified. The most majority of children have been admitted to the hospital before the are prepared, and television and adults are still the greatest sources of information about the hospital and nurse. Painful invasive procedures, maltreatment of healthcare workers physical limitations and most often disagreements were the negative aspectss of the hospital environment, experienced feelings of fear, excitement, embarrassment and curiosity against the nurse and hospital. They have an idea about the responsibilities of the nurse as a Professional profession, but the majority of them have never seen a male nurse. They described the nurse as positive, happy, good, relevant and gentle. Conclusion: It has been determined that there are insuffiencies in informing the children. The playroom, the school is the most frequently expressed wishes. They stated clearly that the nurse looking at them preferred being a female nurse and wearing colorful, patterned uniforms.
Objective:
This quantitative study examined patients' trust of a nurse who represents the Muslim faith by wearing the hijab.
Background:
Presumptions about nurse trustworthiness based on religious affiliation may impede the effectiveness of the nurse-patient relationship and diminish the ability of nursing care to promote patient's feelings of well-being.
Methods:
Hospitalized participants were randomly given a picture of a nurse either wearing the hijab or not. They completed a survey to measure their level of trust considering the nurse in the picture.
Results:
No difference was found in trust of the nurse between groups or in trust analyzed for between-group characteristics. In the hijab picture group, the older the patient, the lower the trust of the nurse.
Conclusions:
The results may reflect the general trust of nurses as an ethical and honest professional group. A high level of general trust may transcend stereotypes toward a Muslim nurse.
Aim:
To explore the expectation that nurses should be role models for healthy behaviours.
Background:
Nurses are expected to be role models for healthy behaviours. Whether this is a realistic and acceptable expectation has not been explored.
Design:
Modified Policy Delphi study with two rounds of data collection.
Method:
Purposive sampling was used to explore areas of agreement and disagreement among six stakeholder groups who influence nursing roles: practising nurses, nursing students, service users, policy makers, workforce development leads and stakeholders working in nurse education. Two rounds of a modified Policy Delphi study were conducted between February - June 2015. The first round used telephone interviews for an open exploration of opinions. The second round used attitude statements to explore convergence and divergence of opinions across stakeholder groups. Responses were analysed thematically.
Results:
Policy and professional discourse that asserts that nurses should be healthy role models was seen as unrealistic and unhelpful. Contrary to the view that nurses should epitomize and demonstrate healthy behaviours to encourage patients and to be credible in advice, stakeholders agreed that it was more important to be seen as 'human' and understand the challenges of health behaviour change. Student and practising nurses did not see role modelling healthy behaviours as a reasonable professional expectation.
Conclusions:
The findings challenge the assumptions underpinning the argument that nurses be healthy role models. Further research is needed to understand the views of frontline nurses and to further explore avenues by which health services staff health can be improved.
Background: Professionalism in health care comprises adherence to professional values and ethical codes, discipline-specific standards of practice and competencies, and specific expectations about appearance and social standing. Specialisation in a particular area of practice further increases expectations of professionalism and competency-based standards.
Objective: To investigate, in an Australian setting, patients’ and physiotherapists’ perceptions of the features and value of professionalism in specific physiotherapy practice contexts.
Major Findings: The professional standing of physiotherapists was similar to that of chiropractors, with judges, general practitioners and solicitors more highly regarded by both patients and physiotherapists. Participants had similar views about the importance of several elements of professionalism. In response to questions about professional appearance, both patients and physiotherapists preferred business attire for male physiotherapists, whereas opinions varied for female physiotherapists. Patient/therapist views diverged regarding the link between specialisation and professionalism. Patient participants presented with a list of physiotherapists with differing nomenclature/titles to treat their back pain indicated they were more likely to select a physiotherapist with a special interest in back pain and factors such as location of the physiotherapy service and recommendations from a friend influenced their choice of physiotherapist. In contrast, physiotherapist participants responded that postgraduate qualifications, years of experience and facilities were more important in the choice of a physiotherapist.
Conclusions: Patients and physiotherapists share some views on professional behaviours and values, professional appearance and standing within the community. They differ with regard to perceptions of specialisation and how extra qualifications add to their perception of trust and professionalism.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to determine the views of both individuals attending the mental health services (attendees) and mental health professionals in relation to how attendees and staff should be addressed, how attendees should be described, and how staff should be attired.
Methods:
We surveyed 132 attendees of the West Galway Mental Health Services and 97 mental health professionals in relation to how they prefer to be addressed (first name/ title and surname/ no preference) the description of attendees (patient / client / service user / no preference) and the attire of mental health staff (casual / smart / no preference). We also ascertained how mental health professionals believed attendees would view these issues.
Results:
Attendees preferred to be described as patients rather than clients or service users by all mental health professionals, with 46-54% of attendees preferring this term “patient” compared to 14-17% preferring the term “client”, 11-13% preferring the term “service user” and 20-25% having no preference (p < 0.001). They preferred to address doctors by their title and surname (61%) but other mental health professionals by their first names (60-69%) (p < 0.001). Attendees had a strong preference for being addressed by their first names by all the mental health professionals (86-91%) (p < 0.001). Doctors preferred to be attired formally (88%), compared to nurses (50%) or other mental health professionals (42%) (p = 0.002). Attendees had no preference in relation to the attire of doctors but preferred other mental health professionals to be attired informally.
Conclusions:
The study demonstrates that despite the increased use of several non-medical terms to describe attendees of mental health services; the preferred term of attendees of the psychiatric services in both in-patient and out-patient settings remains ‘patient’. However, this is not universally the case, and the ascertainment of the preference of the attendee at the first encounter with the health professional should be ascertained. We also demonstrated that attendees preferences in relation to both “dress and address” of doctors is significantly different to their preference for nurses or other allied mental health professionals; which may reflect a wish for a less familiar and more formal interaction with doctors.
This study examined the influence of a police uniform necktie and hat on citizen impressions of the officers. A sample of 36 officers was randomly assigned to one control and two treatment groups while responding to calls. Citizens receiving services from these officers were surveyed (N = 363) to determine if the presence or absence of a uniform necktie or hat influenced citizen impressions of the officers. No evidence was found to suggest that these uniform accessories had any influence on citizen impressions of officers on six semantic scales. The findings suggest that uniform hats and neckties are an issue of agency preference, but do not improve or worsen citizen impressions of officers.
This study examines if the uniforms of dental hygienists influence the formation of professional identity. A self-administered survey was conducted on 534 dental hygienists in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon from March 28 to April 15, 2007. The dependent variable was professional identity. The independent variables were the organizational characteristics, uniform characteristics, and attitudes towards uniform. For the data analysis, we used t-test and hierarchical regression analysis. Using a t-test, we found the relationship between the color of the uniform and attitudes towards uniforms. The white uniform turned out to be associated with a positive perception of uniform function and uniform-image fit. The result of hierarchical regression analysis shows that the color of the uniform, perception of uniform functioning, and uniform satisfaction were statistically significant in predicting professional identity. We also tested the same model for two groups, those with and without image concern. The test results show that the significant factors were different for these two groups. This study confirms the function of uniforms in constructing professional identity and implies the need to have broader perspectives in studying uniforms.
The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the meaning of the phrase "image of the nurse" in the context of the desired brand experience of assurance.
A brand is a promise that lives in the minds of consumers. Nurses play a key role in delivering on the brand promise of a hospital.
Using focus groups, the authors applied a deductive approach to generate data. Discussion transcripts were analyzed by establishing codes and identifying themes.
The most frequent comment from participants was that for nurses to communicate assurance, they must 1st be clean, well groomed, and understated in overall appearance. Nurse behaviors that reassure patients include being present with patients, helping patients know what to expect, and demonstrating a consistent team approach.
Overall appearance and behaviors define the image of nurses and contribute significantly to the brand of assurance.
The expanding population of older adults living in rural communities presents a rich opportunity for new clinical experiences for nursing students. The purpose of this research study was to explore the experiences of nursing students working with older adults in rural communities, the experiences of older adults, and the development of relationships. The sample included 96 nursing students and 16 older adults. Using the phenomenological method, we solicited comprehensive descriptions through open-ended questions. The following themes describe the experience of nursing students and the older adults they visited in their homes: (a) Welcoming Presence, (b) Developing a Trusting Relationship, (c) Spending Time Together, (d) Sharing and Listening to Stories, (e) Learning about Growing Old, and (f) Growing Nursing Students. Students believed that this experience was a vital component of their nursing education and it taught them how to develop a therapeutic relationship, learn how to listen, and how to be comfortable with themselves in the role of the student nurse. Students felt that the home setting was a safe environment to learn how to listen, carry out assessments, and receive feedback from older adults. This clinical experience can be easily implemented in a nursing curriculum to better prepare nurses for the challenges of the future.
: The aim of this study was to increase understanding of patient perceptions of nursing professional image, appearance, and identification to inform implementation of professional clinical attire.
: There is growing evidence of patient preference for and organizational implementation of professional clinical attire.
: A total of 350 randomly selected inpatients were surveyed using the professional image and patient preferences survey prior to a revision of the dress code for nursing.
: Patients gave high scores for nursing image, appearance, and identification, with no support for color-coded uniforms.
: Organizations should assess patient perceptions before implementation of a dress code for nursing.
• Traditional views of the nurse see ‘her’ in a nurse’s uniform, whether she be a ‘sex symbol’, ‘angel of mercy’ or ‘battle axe’. Children’s nursing has, over recent years, moved away from the idea of the uniform into more child friendly clothes, though the traditional uniform is still presented to the public by the media.
• The staff members of a Children’s Outpatients Department (COPD) of a large acute hospital requested knowledge of the qualities families required from the uniform of nurses caring for them, prior to any change in uniform. This study aimed to develop an understanding of these qualities via the use of a survey presented to those attending the COPD.
• The findings indicate that there is a complex relationship between the qualities that families wish the uniform to present. A balance is needed between presenting a professional authority figure, providing security for families and suggesting an approachable figure, to allow effective communication between staff and families.
To investigate how nursing attire affects children.
One hundred children ages 3, 4, and 5 years were interviewed. Fifty of the children had previously been hospitalized and 50 had no hospital experience. Five color photographs of a nurse representing five different uniform styles were shown to each child. The children were asked to select a photograph in response to questions.
Fifty-eight percent of the children preferred the smock top. The traditional white uniform was considered frightening by 41% of the children. Chi Square analysis finds the differences in selection of uniforms to be significant at the .001 level.
The children preferred and were least frightened by the colorful smock top uniform style. The least preferred and most frightful attire was the traditional dress uniform.
Patients (N = 100), nurses (N = 30), and administrators (N = 15) in a regional medical center were surveyed about the professional image inherent in different styles of nurses' uniforms. The Nurse Image Scale (NIS) was used as the data-gathering tool with pictures of the same nurse in a variety of uniforms. Results showed that patients rated some uniforms significantly differently for professional image than did nurses and administrators. There was general agreement among all respondents on the nurse they would most like to have care for them (dress with stethoscope) and the nurse they would least like to have care for them (white pants with colored top).
Patients (N = 1,180), nurses (N = 918), and administrators (N = 332) in 22 acute care hospitals across the country were surveyed regarding their first impression of the professional image communicated by nurses' uniforms. The Nurse Image Scale, with pictures of the same nurse in nine different uniforms, was used as the data gathering tool. A comparison of the mean score of each uniform as rated by all respondents (N = 2,430) showed the white pant uniform with stethoscope was rated significantly higher than other uniforms. The white pant uniform with cap, dress with cap, pants suit, and dress with stethoscope scored closely in a second place grouping. The white dress uniform and street clothes with laboratory coat tied for third place. Colored designer scrubs and white pants with colored top scored lowest. Ratings of patients, nurses, and administrators were similar, although patients tended to rank some uniforms significantly differently than nurses and administrators. The nurse in the pant uniform with stethoscope was most preferred for care. Least preferred was the nurse in colored scrubs and street clothes with lab coat. These findings point to the need for nurses to be differentiated from auxiliary health care personnel and to project a professional image in a competitive health care environment.
To determine what image is conveyed to patients by 3 different nurse uniforms.
With the shift from the historical "single note" white nursing uniform to the current cacophony of uniforms, it is difficult to recognize the registered nurses. Uniforms are nonverbal messages sent to patients, making it critical to know what images patients associate with different uniforms.
One hundred eighty patients (convenience sample) in a Pacific Northwest hospital completed a 13-item survey asking for perceptions of 3 nursing uniforms. Participants selected 1 of 3 nurse uniform photos that best reflected each of 10 characteristics and 3 overall images.
Using descriptive statistics and multivariate analyses, 2 themes for images emerged; the first is described professional and the second, approachable. When demographic variables were included, 4 generational-age strata yielded these same themes. However, different uniforms were selected for the various characteristics by age. Patients in the Seniors category consistently chose the white uniform for both themes, whereas Generations X, Y, and Baby-Boomers chose a uniform with a print as being approachable.
The dual images of nursing present a challenge for nursing leaders deciding whether uniforms should be standardized for nursing staff. Complicating this issue are differences in perceptions among the 4 generational ages.