Perceptions of nurses' uniforms.

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Administration
• Medical Sociology

Background:

• The appearance of healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, influences patient perceptions and trust.
• Uniforms are a significant component of a nurse's professional image, potentially impacting patient-provider relationships.
• Previous research has not extensively explored how different nursing uniform styles are perceived by patients, nurses, and administrators.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how patients, nurses, and administrators perceive the professional image conveyed by various nursing uniform styles.
• To identify specific uniform characteristics that enhance or detract from a nurse's perceived professionalism.
• To determine if there are significant differences in perception among these three groups regarding nursing attire.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted with 100 patients, 30 nurses, and 15 administrators at a regional medical center.
• The Nurse Image Scale (NIS) was utilized, presenting images of the same nurse in diverse uniform styles.
• Respondents rated the professional image associated with each uniform presentation.

Main Results:

• Significant differences were observed in how patients and healthcare professionals (nurses and administrators) rated the professional image of certain uniforms.
• All respondent groups agreed on the uniform most preferred for a nurse providing care (dress with stethoscope).
• A consensus also existed among all groups regarding the least preferred uniform (white pants with a colored top).

Conclusions:

• Patient and healthcare professional perceptions of nursing uniform professionalism are not always aligned.
• The traditional dress with a stethoscope is perceived positively by all groups, suggesting its value in professional image.
• Specific uniform choices, like white pants with colored tops, may negatively impact perceived nursing professionalism across all stakeholder groups.