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Medical uniforms have evolved from fitted white dresses and hats to comfortable scrubs. The white coat is still worn by physicians and nurse practitioners, and badges are important to indicate hospital employees. Scrubs now come in various prints and colors, and healthcare workers often buy their own uniforms.
Medical uniforms, especially for nurses, were subject to very strict standards. It’s hard to forget the fitted white dresses and white hats of nurses in years gone by. More recently, however, most nurses and doctors tend to wear scrubs. Scrubs are a pair of cotton or cotton/polyester drawstring trousers, accompanied by a short-sleeved V-neck top of the same material.
Occasionally medical uniforms still include the white coat indicating that one is a physician or nurse practitioner (NP). In teaching hospitals, coat length can indicate whether you are speaking to a licensed physician, nurse, or intern. Usually a longer coat means one is more highly skilled, although this can vary in different hospitals.
Often, white coats make up the medical uniforms worn by various trained professionals such as radiologists or sonographers. The white coat is intended to protect the ordinary street clothes that are most often worn by those who do not have all day, close contact with patients.
In general, if a doctor, NP or intern is not scrubbed, they are not wearing medical uniforms but are adhering to a dress code. Normally, those who don’t wear lab coats will wear what might be called business casual: slacks, button-down shirt, and tie. Female workers may wear a blouse and trousers, a skirt or a dress.
Hospitals may provide specific recommendations for medical uniforms, but generally the most important part of medical uniforms is not the clothing one wears, but the badge, which indicates that a person is an employee of the hospital. Not wearing a badge is considered a serious offence, since in the past hospital staff posing as have stolen medications, injured patients and on very rare occasions attempted to take children. If you are hospitalized and see an employee without a badge, you should ask to see him before allowing any medical procedures.
Scrubs have become the popular choice in medical uniforms because most doctors and nurses work exceptionally long hours and should have access to comfortable clothing. Surgeons and surgical nurses always wear a gown when in the operating room. They may also need to change quickly if they are exposed to blood or other bodily fluids. Early scrubs tended to be green or blue. Nurses often wore a more feminine color like peach or pink.
Medical uniforms got a new boost as manufacturers started offering gowns in various prints. These have become frequent choices of those who work with children. Scrubs featuring bears, race cars, clowns, rabbits, or even characters from popular TV cartoons were thought to reduce fear in hospitalized children. In pediatrician’s offices, nurses or physician assistants often wear decorated gowns.
The choice of designs meant that, other than wearing gowns of some sort, there were few limitations to medical uniforms. Some hospitals may still employ a color system for scrubs, but most now allow doctors and nurses to choose whatever strikes their fancy in the hopes that this will personalize the hospital experience for patients.
Most nurses and doctors have to buy their own medical uniforms. However, there are usually extra gowns on hand if a healthcare worker needs to change his or her clothes. Medical uniforms can be found in specially designated stores in most medium-sized and large cities. The internet is also a great place to find a diverse selection, hard-to-find styles and sizes.
