Professional comportment: nurses, patients and family survey

The aim of the study was to survey nurses, patients and families regarding their perceptions of nursing attire, identification and professional image.

Recent changes in uniform policies have made it difficult for patients to identify the nurse.

A convenience sample of nurses (RNs, RPNs) and patients and families from an acute care facility in Canada were surveyed. Surveys included a combination of forced-choice questions and open text boxes. Quantitative data were analyzed, and a thematic content analysis was conducted.

The nurse survey resulted in a 64% (n=642) response rate; the patient/family survey response rate was 70% (n=30). Fifty-three per cent of the patient/family advisory team members reported that the nurses did not look professional in comparison to 95% of the nurses who indicated they did. Three key themes emerged: professional image, nurse identification and adoption of a standardized uniform.

Professional comportment of nurses includes attire suitable for the clinical area that reflects a professional image and allows patients and families to identify the nurses.

This study identified the need to engage nurses, patients and families to ensure professional comportment when uniform polices are developed.