About White Uniforms in Nursing

Nurses have traditionally worn white uniforms.

Even though many nurses no longer wear white uniforms and almost none wear caps anymore, many people still picture a nurse dressed in white and wearing a white cap when they hear the word "nurse." Nursing uniforms have evolved over time, though, and today many nurses wear scrubs instead of white.

History

The first nurses in the U.S. wore gray or blue dresses. White dresses become popular in the early twentieth century. In the 1970's nurses began wearing white pantsuits more often than dresses and they later began wearing colored scrubs, like the kind surgeons wear, instead of whites.

Cleanliness

One reason nurses traditionally wore white uniforms is because they look clean. They can be laundered with bleach, too, to disinfect them. However, many nurses dislike wearing whites because they stain so easily.

Comfort and Convenience

Nurses often prefer pantsuits or scrubs to dresses because they are more comfortable and it is easier to lift patients and do other physical labor when dressed comfortably. Scrubs may be more convenient than white uniforms because they are easier to launder and do not stain as easily.

Identification

It used to be easy to tell which staff people were nurses because nurses wore white uniforms and caps. Now that most nurses wear scrubs and many other hospital workers wear scrubs as well, patients may have difficult distinguishing nurses from aides, technicians, dietary workers and housekeepers.

Patient Preference

Patients typically report that they do not care what nurses wear as long as they are neat and clean. They do like to be able to identify which staff members are nurses, however, and like nurses to wear name tags that clearly identify them as RNs.

References

• American Nurse Today: Professional Dress
• Center for Nursing Advocacy: The White Dress