Hospital gowns, made of cotton or paper, are worn by patients in hospitals and doctor’s offices. They are often uncomfortable and provide little privacy, but can be improved by wearing underwear or bringing a bathrobe. Visitors should ignore any accidental nudity to avoid embarrassing the patient.
A hospital gown is a thin gown that has back ties. It can be made of cotton or paper and is often worn by patients in hospital settings. Doctors’ offices may also require patients to don a hospital gown before exams, and hospital gowns are common attire for a variety of outpatient tests and procedures, such as mammograms, CT scans, or ultrasounds.
Disposable paper or paper/plastic hospital gowns are most commonly used in doctor’s offices, as if a patient has to wear one for a few hours they may feel cold and uncomfortable. Using cotton gowns is more convenient and environmentally friendly because they can be washed and reused. While the gowns come in a variety of sizes, to fit everything from kids to little to big adults, few would call a hospital gown flattering. They are designed primarily for the convenience of doctors and nurses, rather than to fit fashion or even the privacy needs of patients.
A frequent complaint about the hospital gown is that even with ties or snaps, the back is rarely covered completely. On the one hand, this gives doctors and other healthcare professionals easy access to administer shoulder injections or to change patients who need to go to the toilet. On the other hand, though, getting out of bed, especially in a shared room with another patient, can reveal more about you than you’d be comfortable letting a host of strangers (or friends and family) know. You might ask if you can keep your underwear on if you stay in the hospital; choose full-coverage loose-fitting panties or boxers, rather than revealing thongs or bikini-style pairs. Another option is to bring a bathrobe, but it may be difficult to put one on if you have IV (intravenous) lines in your arms.
Sometimes, when a hospital stay is a long one, you may not need to wear a hospital gown all the time, although there are certainly some “designer” gowns now, which might give you a certain range of fabric patterns. However, you may be able to put on your own clothes, pajamas, nightgowns, or bathrobes, and some believe this elevates mood and makes hospital patients feel less victimized or sick. If you need to wear a hospital gown and are feeling a little naked, you can wear two, one that closes in the front and one in the back for extra privacy. When privacy is not just a personal need but a religious one, there are certain outfits that provide more coverage. In the 2000s, a burqa dress was developed to give Islamic women who wear the burqa a better sense of privacy.
People who visit others in the hospital often find themselves a little embarrassed by the frequent nudity caused by inadequate coverage. While nudity in other public settings and places is generally unacceptable, it is absolutely expected in hospitals. It might take some imagination, but you just have to act and pretend that the person is not nearly naked, or that there is nothing abnormal about such a state. Even Miss Manners suggests that the only polite course of action is to ignore anything you might accidentally see, so as not to embarrass a person wearing a hospital gown.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
