A Nationwide Survey on Nursing Uniforms for Women in Japan

Abstract

In recent years, the design of nursing uniforms, employing a variety of colors and patterns, has placed emphasis on their impression of being the least intimidating and forbidding to patients as well as their functionality and hygiene. The present study, including a survey of 469 hospitals nationwide, aimed to identify the optimal design of nursing uniforms for both patients and nurses, focusing on nursing uniforms as a medium of expression. A total of 87.8% of the surveyed hospitals had nursing uniforms, and 89.5% viewed them as one of the elements that add to the appeal of a hospital. “Combination of a white tunic and pants” and “white one-piece type” were the most common uniforms. When adopting new uniforms, 90.3% of the hospitals incorporated the opinions of nurses, selecting opaque, stretch material with a soft texture and a combination of tunic tops of appropriate length and pants so that they could move freely. Whereas some hospitals favored white, which conveys an image of cleanliness and reliability, others chose subtle, warm, and soft non-white colors; opinions were divided over the color of white. A total of 65.7% of the hospitals were planning to introduce new nursing uniforms. Based on the results of the current study it is important to select designs and colors that help reduce patients' anxiety and strain while presenting an image of trust and cleanliness.