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Perception of nurse caring, skills, and knowledge based on appearance
Christine M Thomas1, Abigail Ehret, Briana Ellis
1West Chester University, Pennsylvania, USA. cthomas@wcupa.edu
The Journal of Nursing Administration
|October 28, 2010
Summary
Nurse attire impacts patient and peer perceptions of skill and knowledge. Solid scrubs and limited body art enhance perceived professionalism, while T-shirts and extensive body art may detract from it.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Healthcare Professional Appearance
- Patient Perception
Background:
- Societal tendency to judge individuals based on appearance.
- Evolving dress codes for nurses prompt an examination of stakeholder perceptions.
- Investigating the influence of attire and body art on professional image.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate how patients, nurses, faculty, and students perceive nurse caring, skill, and knowledge.
- To determine the impact of different attire (scrubs, T-shirts) and visible body art on these perceptions.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive comparative study surveyed 240 participants (patients, nurses, students, faculty).
- Participants rated perceived nurse caring, skill, and knowledge based on visual scenarios.
- Multivariate analyses of variance assessed differences related to scrub type and body art levels.
Main Results:
- Solid scrubs were rated higher for skill and knowledge than print or T-shirt attire.
- Extensive visible body art (piercings, tattoos) was associated with lower ratings in caring, skill, and knowledge across all groups.
- Nurses and students perceived nurses with more body art as more caring compared to patients and faculty.
Conclusions:
- Nurse appearance significantly influences perceptions of competence and professionalism.
- Dress codes in acute care should consider the impact of attire and body art on patient and peer judgments.
- To be perceived as skilled and knowledgeable, nurses are advised to wear solid uniforms with minimal visible body art.
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