The professional appearance of registered nurses: an integrative review of peer-refereed studies.
BACKGROUND
There is a paucity of research examining the impact of standardized uniform style and color for registered nurses (RNs).


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to appraise published peer-refereed studies on the effect of a standardized uniform style and color for RNs.


METHODS
Seven peer-refereed studies exploring standardized uniforms for RNs were identified. Using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine evidence hierarchy, each study was assigned a level of evidence and overall rating.


RESULTS
Data suggest that patients felt that RNs appeared professional and were easily identified by a standardized uniform style and color. No strong evidence supports a patient's preference for a specific style and color of uniform.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings are inconsistent but demonstrate that a standardized uniform style and color increased the perception of professionalism and recognition of RNs among patients.
School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 19104-6096, USA. lhat@nursing.upenn.edu
Linda A
LA
Hatfield
Margaret
M
Pearce
Mary
M
Del Guidice
Courtney
C
Cassidy
Jean
J
Samoyan
Rosemary C
RC
Polomano
D003020:Clothing / Q000592:standards*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000592:standards*; D015401:Nursing Administration Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000592:standards*; D011639:Public Opinion