Perceptions of White Uniform in the Nursing Profession

This study determined the perceptions of professional nurses towards the color white as the standard color for hospital uniforms. The specific objectives are the following: 1.To determine the profile of the registered nurses according to: age, gender, length of clinical experience, clinical area, position, hospital policy in terms of hair, shoes, and color; 2. To determine their perceptions whether Pro-White or not and their reasons. Using a descriptive design, personal interviews were conducted on 30 nurses- 10 each from Polymedic General Hospital, Maria Reyna Hospital, and JR Borja Hospital. Respondents are Generation Yers which according to studies prefer uniforms with print to make them look approachable. Regarding gender, majority of nurse-respondents are females consistent with the observation that nursing is in itself a female-dominated course and profession. A wide range of clinical practice in respondents could be noted. Majority served from less than a month to five years and assigned in the Medical Ward. Most are staff nurses and a few trainees and one senior nurse. Based on Benner’s model, it could be said that the staff nurses are competent. JR Borja strictly adheres with the policy of wearing white uniforms compared to Polymedic General Hospital and Maria Reyna Hospital. In PGH, nurses wear colored uniforms and only trainees wear the traditional white uniform without cap. In MRH, station nurses wear white uniforms. In the ER, NICU, ICU, green or blue scrub suits are worn and no cap. The hospitals differed in their policy for hair. Hair should be kept tidy but not necessarily in a bun. Tying hair is very common in PGH. In the other two, hair must be fixed in a bun. Male nurses should sport a clean haircut. All hospitals mandate the wearing of white shoes. Personal views of the white uniform as standard attire in hospitals were associated with neatness or cleanliness. The respondents claimed that a white uniform is significant to the nursing profession for it represents virtues/attributes of effective nurses which include cleanliness/purity, respect, professionalism, passion for work and profession/commitment, trademark of profession, smartness, beauty, elegance, patience, nobility, pride, honor, self-discipline and honesty. In conclusion, white uniforms play a vital role in protecting the image of nurses. These views were constructed from culturally and socially-based definitions and images of nurses which led patients to hold them at a highly-esteemed position for their professionalism and compassion.

 

Keywords: white uniform, standard, Polymedic General Hospital, Maria Reyna Hospital, JR Borja Hospital