When you hear professional behavior images are conjured up of a persons dress code. The business suit and or uniform. But professionalism is so much more than just how you dress. In nursing our attire is just one part but it is an important part. People need to be able to identify the nurse. Adult patients are easily able to identify nurses by the traditional white uniform because it has long been associated with the profession.
However, patient preference and the perception of nurse approachability favor a bright color. Most hospitals and doctors offices are color coded so patients can tell the people who are taking care of them apart. Professionalism can be defined by attire and by personal interaction between nurses and patients and family members. The literature showed that patients believe they are receiving better care if their nurses look professional. (Jennifer Sulanke, https://www.americannursetoday.com)
When it comes to hair, makeup and fingernails. The public would view a nurse that has unbrushed or unkept hair, ill-fitting scrubs and lazy, unorganized and worst of all uncaring. If you don’t care for yourself how can you care for someone else. Keeping your hair pulled back or in a shorter cut so it is not distracting or gets in the way of your job. You wouldn’t want to be working on someone and have your hair fall onto the patient. Makeup you want it to looks natural and lively not heavy and caked on, everything in moderation. Fingernails, this is your first line of defense when it come to disease and treatment.
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The guidelines from the CDC are simple. artificial nails or nail extenders should not be worn by nurses who treat patients. Artificial nails harbor pathogens that can cause nosocomial infections. Three unusual surgical site infections were recently linked back to an operating room staff member who wore artificial nails. (https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/hand-hygiene/cdc-nails-nurses) Most medical facitlitites will allow fingernail polish , not gel that is clear, or a modest color with absolutely no chips. The chips in the nail polish could harbor bacteria.
When it comes to shoes, it comes down to comfort, whether it clogs or tennis shoes. Most nurses start out their careers in white. The shoes stayed black until white leather came on the market: Then white leather shoes for nursing were born, and nurses were decked head-to-toe in starched white textiles. (Emily Johnson, nursingshoeheaven.com) The traditional whites portrayed cleanliness and sterility.
Jewelry should be kept to a minimum and should not interfere with your tasks set forth by your job. You don’t want to wear anything a patient can grab a hold of. Especially something around your neck that they can choke you with .
When it comes to professionalism and dress code perception is reality. Patients feel more satisfied with the care they receive from doctors if they wear white coats during rounds, rather than just scrubs or other clothing. They also see white coats as more professional.
While strict dress codes have gone by the wayside at many facilities, it could be time to hold staff to more consistent standards, especially as patients’ perceptions start playing a bigger role in reimbursement through patient satisfaction surveys.
References
- White, Jess; http://www.healthcarebusinesstech.com/nursing-dress-code/
- Jennifer Sulanke What works: Implementing an evidence-based nursing dress code to enhance professional image https://www.americannursetoday.com/works-implementing-evidence-based-nursing-dress-code-enhance-professional-image/
- https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/hand-hygiene/cdc-nails-nurses CDC Nails Nurses
- https://nursingshoeheaven.com/history-white-nursing-shoe/ Emily Johnson October 12, 2017
