Nursing professional attire: probing patient preferences to inform implementation

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Administration
• Patient Experience

Background:

• Growing evidence supports patient preference for professional clinical attire.
• Organizations are increasingly implementing standardized dress codes for nursing staff.

Purpose of the Study:

• To understand patient perceptions of nursing professional image, appearance, and identification.
• To inform the implementation of professional clinical attire policies.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 350 randomly selected inpatients.
• The survey assessed patient preferences regarding nursing professional image and attire.
• Data collection occurred prior to a nursing dress code revision.

Main Results:

• Patients reported high satisfaction with the current nursing image, appearance, and identification.
• Survey results indicated no patient support for the implementation of color-coded uniforms.
• Patient perceptions did not favor specific uniform colors.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare organizations should evaluate patient perceptions before revising or implementing nursing dress codes.
• Patient feedback is crucial for the successful adoption of professional clinical attire.
• A one-size-fits-all approach to nursing attire may not align with patient expectations.