Debate Topic of "Wearing Uniform Enhances Nursing Profession?"

Aellyssa · Apr 13, 2005

sorry vevina, didn't mean to be obtuse :imbar could also be cultural and idiomatic problems. (damn where is that kangaroo smiley?) i mean the word cost not in monetary terms but in personal cost.

let me see if i can clarify it.

when a patient sees a white uniform, they usually think that they can trust the person wearing it. that's good, they relax and help with their own healing.

but

when we as nurses put on a white uniform, it comes with all of the adverse effects of wearing a uniform.

so

the questions are:

do we have to put up with all of the adverse effects of wearing a uniform because it (the white uniform) causes the patient to trust us?

is the patients' trust = or > than our distaste for uniforms.

do the patients' needs always come before our own?

aellyssa

PamRNC · Apr 13, 2005

when a patient sees a white uniform, they usually think that they can trust the person wearing it. that's good, they relax and help with their own healing.

but
when we as nurses put on a white uniform, it comes with all of the adverse effects of wearing a uniform.

so

the questions are:
do we have to put up with all of the adverse effects of wearing a uniform because it (the white uniform) causes the patient to trust us?

is the patients' trust = or > than our distaste for uniforms.

do the patients' needs always come before our own?

aellyssa

i believe that the professionalism should refer to our knowledge base and use thereof, and is not born out of how a nurse is dressed. i don't believe that patient's needs should come before our own - after all there are patients who think they need their nurse in lingerie or looking like something from and "adult" flick. patient's need caregivers with knowledge, who are educated, and provide individualized, culturally sensitive, timely, research driven care. if patients' needs always came before our own, when would we have time to care for ourselves and our loved ones?

as an educated professional we should know how to dress appropriately to provide a image of a competent, caring and educated professional. having options for our working clothes, whether to wear white, slacks, skirts, or other paraphernalia should be up to the individual's discretion, not the hospital or some other organization.

trust is something earned, the quality of our interactions with patients will determine the level of trust they have of us, and it won't matter what we are wearing when we make or break that trust.

to the op: if your organization is wasting time on a debate about uniforms, what are the truly important issues to nursing care, that are being swept under the carpet so that you and your colleagues can demonstrate to the rest of the staff at your organization how sillyand divided the nurses must be that they have to debate what to wear to work?

VEVINA · Apr 13, 2005

I read from the journals that nurses have to be assertive in introducing urselves to the patients and families during their stay and by wearing the name badges clearly in view. But, I really wonder do these methods really help? Any better way for easy identification during emergency, especially in hospitals where all staff wear srcrubs?

VEVINA · Apr 13, 2005

I believe that the professionalism should refer to our knowledge base and use thereof, and is not born out of how a nurse is dressed. I don't believe that patient's needs should come before our own - after all there are patients who think they need their nurse in lingerie or looking like something from and "adult" flick. Patient's need caregivers with knowledge, who are educated, and provide individualized, culturally sensitive, timely, research driven care. If patients' needs always came before our own, when would we have time to care for ourselves and our loved ones?
As an educated professional we should know how to dress appropriately to provide a image of a competent, caring and educated professional. Having options for our working clothes, whether to wear white, slacks, skirts, or other paraphernalia should be up to the individual's discretion, not the hospital or some other organization.
Trust is something earned, the quality of our interactions with patients will determine the level of trust they have of us, and it won't matter what we are wearing when we make or break that trust.
To the OP: If your organization is wasting time on a debate about uniforms, what are the truly important issues to nursing care, that are being swept under the carpet so that you and your colleagues can demonstrate to the rest of the staff at your organization how sillyand divided the nurses must be that they have to debate what to wear to work?

Because, this debate topic is a training for us, nurses whom are newly introduced to nursing debate in Singapore. Therefore, this is a warming up practice for us. And not much of the articles in local context too. But, I really appreciated for all your replies.

:balloons:

VEVINA · Apr 13, 2005

OP here . . .

Thanks for the replies and dialogue! Keep the comments coming! :yeah:

elliemae12 · Apr 13, 2005

Today is the first I have seen this site.

The uniform question is very interesting to me. Our hospital is currently planning to institute navy scrubs for all RN's. We are trying to show professionalism, let patients know who RN's are, MD's know who RN's are increase pride in our nurses... We are also planning to have nurse techs in ceil blue. Currently, everyone wears different colored/print scrubs. The RN's look just like housekeeping, lab, pharmacy, dietary....What do you think. Does anyone work in a hospital that has a dress code. Has anyone changed from no dress code to a fairly strict one?? How has this helped or hindered a work environment???

celticqueen · Apr 14, 2005

The hospital where I am working, will be holding an in-house debate for nurses. And I am in one of the team. Our topic is "Wearing Uniform enhances Nursing Profession." We happened to be the opposition team, so we are against of wearing uniform. Though this is an old and on-going topic for a long time, I would still like to ask you all to give some strong pointers for us to rebuttle back my opponents.

I'm always surprised about how many nurses don't think that nurses uniforms are important. One hospital that i worked at wanted us to wear normal trousers & polo shirts, the patients (as well as most of the staff) were in practical uproar. One patient was disgusted at the fact that nurses would look like "swimming pool assistants". a petition was signed against the polo shirt idea, and the management folded.

Most nurses are proud of the fact that they are nurses and are proud of our nursing heritage, and identity.

I am all for uniforms, as long as they are practical. Patients, as well as staff need to identify who each member of the MDT they are working with. Yeah we should be wearing a name badge, but when you are wearing a uniform you can tell at a distance who is who.

Scrubs are cool. I just don't like the thought of our nursing identity being taken away. Uniforms ensure that we always look smart, which adds to our professionalism. I really don't think they make us look like doctors hand maidens. Well that my opinion anyway, albeit abit babbling on..........

Heartman · Apr 14, 2005

I'm a guy.

Wearing white and have always worn white.

In my hospital just about anything goes. There is a dress code but no one seems to enforce it. All the rest of the staff wear colors instead of white.

We are all high quality competant nurses so it doesn't seem to make much differance what you wear.

However I like to be identified as a nurse. My pt. population is frequently elderly and I like to give them all the clues I can as to who is who and who will be taking care of them. I have my name embroidered in large block letters on my shirts to to help them remember my name and identify me. (frequent poor eyesight and poor memory)

Works for me.

Just my .02

Walter :redbeathe