First impressions of the nurse and nursing care

Patient perception of orthodontists with different stereotypes: development, psychometric properties, and application of an assessment instrument

INTRODUCTION

This research aimed to develop and validate a questionnaire that considers social judgments and, through its application, assesses whether the presence of piercings, tattoos, beards, and loose hair visible in the face and neck region reflect on the patient perception regarding characteristics of the orthodontist's professional scope.

METHODS

The developed questionnaire had its psychometric properties evaluated and was applied to 220 young people and adults, aged 18-70 years, who responded according to their perception of 12 manipulated images of orthodontists with different stereotypes, considering the following items: hygiene, care, punctuality, experience and knowledge in orthodontics.

RESULTS

The developed questionnaire showed high acceptability, confirmed reliability and validity of the construct, and satisfactory internal consistency. The stereotype interfered with the perception of professionalism (P <0.01), in which the orthodontist with combined characteristics (beard/loose hair, piercing, earrings, and tattoo) obtained the lowest mean scores, both for each item of the questionnaire individually (P <0.01) and in total (P <0.01). Health professional (P = 0.427) and educational level (P = 0.285) status did not influence the perception; however, there was a significant difference for the age groups (P = 0.041).

CONCLUSIONS

The developed questionnaire proved to be valid and reliable for application. Orthodontists with piercings and tattoos on the face and neck were considered less professional. Being a health professional and educational level status did not influence the perception. However, older subjects (aged 51-70 years) were more critical in judging stereotypes than younger subjects (aged 18-30 years).

Nurse uniform wearing practices and associated factors among nurses working in Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional institution based study

Background

Wearing uniforms help in the formation of professional identity in healthcare. It fosters a strong self image and professional identity which can lead to good confidence and better performance in nursing practice. However, most nurses in Ethiopia are not wearing nursing uniforms and the reasons remain unclear. Therefore, the aim of this research is to assess nurse uniform wearing practices among nurses and factors associated with such practice in hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April, 2014 in five hospitals located in Northwest Ethiopia. A total 459 nurses participated in the study. Data was collected using a pre-tested self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were analyzed in order to characterize the study population. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression models were fitted. Odds ratios with 95 % confidence intervals were computed to identify factors associated with nursing uniform practice.

Results

Nurse uniform wearing practice was found to be 49.2 % of the total sample size. Around 35 % of the respondents that did not implement nurse uniform wearing practices stated that there was no specific uniform for nurses recommended by hospital management. In addition to this, nurse uniform wearing practices were positively associated with being female [AOR = 1.58, 95 % CI (1.02, 2.44)], studying nursing by choice [AOR =3.16, 95 % CI (2.03, 4.92)], and the appeal of nursing uniforms to nurses [AOR = 3.43 95 % CI (1.96, 5.98)].

Conclusion

Nurse uniform wearing practices were not exceptionally prevalent in Northwest Ethiopian hospitals. However, encouraging students to pursue interest-based careers and implementing a nurse uniform wearing policy may have the potential to improve such practices.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12912-015-0117-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Patient perception of contemporary nurse attire: a pilot study

Patients have expressed difficulty accurately distinguishing registered nurses (RNs) from other hospital personnel because standardized uniforms are no longer worn by RNs. According to American studies, such complaints are widespread; moreover, patients' perceptions of nurse caring and competence and of other traits associated with nurses' professional image have been negatively affected by casual, non-conventional attire. As there are no published Canadian studies, we conducted a pilot study to examine patient perception of the nurse uniform. Adult patients viewed photographs of the same RN dressed in eight different uniforms and rated each uniform according to 10 traits associated with nurses' professional image. The white pantsuit scored higher for professionalism than uniforms with small print, bold print, or solid colour, and most patients preferred that the RN dress in white. Our preliminary findings suggest that RN attire warrants further investigation, and we are planning a large-scale, fully powered study to inform patient-driven change to existing uniform policies.

Nursing professional attire: probing patient preferences to inform implementation

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to increase understanding of patient perceptions of nursing professional image, appearance, and identification to inform implementation of professional clinical attire.

BACKGROUND

There is growing evidence of patient preference for and organizational implementation of professional clinical attire.

METHODS

A total of 350 randomly selected inpatients were surveyed using the professional image and patient preferences survey prior to a revision of the dress code for nursing.

RESULTS

Patients gave high scores for nursing image, appearance, and identification, with no support for color-coded uniforms.

CONCLUSIONS

Organizations should assess patient perceptions before implementation of a dress code for nursing.

Perception of nurse caring, skills, and knowledge based on appearance

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to assess differences among perceptions of patients, nurses, nursing faculty, and nursing students regarding nurse caring, skill, and knowledge based on attire and level of visible body art.

BACKGROUND

People often make judgments (positive and negative) based on how a person appears. Given somewhat more flexible dress codes for nurses, we wondered what type of perceptions a variety of stakeholders would have of nurses in different levels of attire.

METHOD

A descriptive comparative design was used. A convenience sample of 240 patients, nurses, students, and faculty were surveyed regarding their perceptions of a nurse based on appearance. Multivariate analyses of variance were calculated to determine if participants' perception of nurse caring, skill, and knowledge differed by scrub type or level of body art.

RESULTS

For the entire sample, the nurse wearing the solid scrub was rated significantly more skilled and knowledgeable than a nurse wearing print or T-shirt attire. Students rated the nurse wearing the solid scrub and print scrub significantly more skilled and knowledgeable. They rated the print scrub higher, with faculty rating it lower. Nurses rated the T-shirt attire more caring than faculty. Patients rated the T-shirt attire more skilled than faculty and students. All subjects rated the nurse with the most body art (piercings and visible tattoo) the least caring, skilled, and knowledgeable. Nurses rated the most amount of body art more caring than patients and faculty. Students rated the most amount of body art more caring than patients and faculty.

CONCLUSION

The conflict between the right to self-expression and professional role expectations during nurse and patient interactions is a difficult one. However, because a nurse's appearance can impact perceptions during an encounter, dress codes in the acute care setting should take this into account. To be perceived as skilled and knowledgeable, nurses should wear a solid colored uniform with limited visible body art.

Clinical nurses find a voice: how nursing practice councils succeeded at one hospital

A not-for-profit community hospital created nursing practice councils, both hospital-wide and on individual units, giving clinical nurses the power to implement evidence-based practices.

Patient preferences for dental clinical attire: a cross-sectional survey in a dental hospital

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

This cross sectional descriptive study was designed to survey patient opinion towards dental clinical attire, name badges and commonly used cross-infection control measures.

METHOD

Patients attending a dental hospital for a consultation appointment were asked to complete a questionnaire accompanied by photographs of models portraying a range of clinical attire. A representative sample of patients completed 188 questionnaires over a four week period.

RESULTS

The study found that the majority of patients felt clinical attire was important and that they preferred dental professionals to wear name badges. The majority of patients also preferred dentists to use both safety glasses and face masks. When asked to indicate which clinical attire was most appropriate for a consultant/specialist to wear, the overwhelming opinion was that of smart dress accompanied with a white coat. In addition, most respondents wished their dentist to wear a traditional white, dental tunic.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

It is hoped that this study will be informative for the dental team and that the results will be taken into consideration when considering appropriate clinical attire in accordance with patient opinions.

Patients' perceptions of today's nursing attire: exploring dual images

OBJECTIVE

To determine what image is conveyed to patients by 3 different nurse uniforms.

BACKGROUND

With the shift from the historical "single note" white nursing uniform to the current cacophony of uniforms, it is difficult to recognize the registered nurses. Uniforms are nonverbal messages sent to patients, making it critical to know what images patients associate with different uniforms.

METHODS

One hundred eighty patients (convenience sample) in a Pacific Northwest hospital completed a 13-item survey asking for perceptions of 3 nursing uniforms. Participants selected 1 of 3 nurse uniform photos that best reflected each of 10 characteristics and 3 overall images.

RESULTS

Using descriptive statistics and multivariate analyses, 2 themes for images emerged; the first is described professional and the second, approachable. When demographic variables were included, 4 generational-age strata yielded these same themes. However, different uniforms were selected for the various characteristics by age. Patients in the Seniors category consistently chose the white uniform for both themes, whereas Generations X, Y, and Baby-Boomers chose a uniform with a print as being approachable.

CONCLUSION

The dual images of nursing present a challenge for nursing leaders deciding whether uniforms should be standardized for nursing staff. Complicating this issue are differences in perceptions among the 4 generational ages.