Nurse Uniforms

nursing uniformsNurse uniforms are part of the nursing career as a whole. If you are planning on working as a nurse in the future, you need to prepare for what you will likely be wearing in the future. Let’s take a look at common nurse uniforms and their purposes so you can start making plans.

Scrubs

In today’s society, most nurses are asked to wear scrubs when they go to work. Scrubs are usually sold as tops and long pants that are made out of thin, slick material. This material can be easily cleaned, and it flecks off most liquids and contaminants. Scrubs sit loosely on the body to allow for a wide range of movement. They are designed with healthcare personnel in mind.

Some hospitals ask their nurses to wear specific scrubs for their nurse uniforms, and others will let the nurses wear whatever they want. Scrubs are sold in a variety of patterns and colors, so nurses have a chance to express their personalities in what they wear. Most scrubs are cheap to buy and replace, so you should not have to pay a lot of money for your uniform.

Caps

Some hospitals require nurses to wear caps as part of their uniforms. This is most often the case in a surgical or operating department where it is important to keep hair and all other contaminants contained. A scrub cap is a lot like a shower cap in the way it sits on the head, but it is made out of scrub material. Most nurses who wear scrub caps only use them one time before disposing of them.

Accessories

Nurses are asked not to wear jewelry at work because it may snag on a patient’s clothing or hurt the patient unintentionally. With that in mind, most nurses wear a watch on their wrist to time various tests that they do with patients. Some nurses are allowed to wear stud earrings or small necklaces, as long as they do not distract from the task at hand. Nurses also wear testing apparatus, such as a stethoscope, as part of their day to day outfits.

Shoes

Some healthcare facilities allow their nurses to wear basic tennis shoes, but others require them to wear slip resistant shoes. These are similar to what you may find in a restaurant. The slip resistant shoes are made to keep a person stable when walking on slick floors. They come in a variety of styles for both men and women, and they are priced about the same as a decent pair of sneakers.