Nursing Students' Perspectives on Current Nursing Uniform in Iran: A Cross-sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Professionalism
• Medical Sociology

Background:

• Professional identity and recognition are significantly influenced by uniforms in healthcare settings.
• Lack of distinct nursing uniforms in Iran causes dissatisfaction among patients and nurses.
• This study addresses the need to understand nursing students' views on uniforms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore nursing students' perspectives on nursing uniforms in Iran.
• To identify student preferences for specific uniform types (scrubs vs. white coats).
• To assess the impact of uniforms on professional identity, comfort, and public image.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 457 nursing students in Isfahan, Iran.
• Data were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire from April to May 2024.
• Descriptive and analytical statistics were employed, with significance set at p < 0.05.

Main Results:

• A majority of students preferred scrubs over white coats for appearance (70.70%), comfort (78.10%), professional identity (68.50%), and self-confidence (65.20%).
• Student preferences were also influenced by infection control (54.30%) and the nursing image (58.90%).
• Age, academic semester, and degree level showed significant associations with uniform type selection (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Nursing students favor scrub uniforms for multiple practical and psychological reasons.
• The study highlights the need for distinct uniform colors across different hospital units.
• White coats were deemed unsuitable for all nursing roles, emphasizing the need for standardized, differentiated uniforms.