First Impressions

I know this doesn’t have anything to do with science as it relates to nursing, but I’ve been thinking a lot about first impressions. I’m almost done with school, entering my practicum semester, and will soon have the need to start interviewing again. What am I going to wear to that interview? What about our patient’s? How does what we wear as a nurse affect the way our patient’s see us? Of course clothing says a lot about a person and can make you feel good about yourself. Here are my thoughts on first impressions:

Clothing says a great deal about a person or a group of people and can indicate socially important things to others whether they are true or not. The motivational speaker Brian Tracy commented that “a person makes a judgment about you in approximately four seconds, and his judgment is finalized largely within 30 seconds of the initial contact”. He goes on to say that clothing is responsible for “95% of that first impression” (2013). Nurses want to be taken seriously by both the patients as well as their colleagues. One of the factors that play into this relationship is their dress.

Nurses ask for a great deal of trust from complete strangers on a daily basis. These patients trust nurses with their lives. Whether or not what they wear or how they look reflects their true nature or expertise, nurses must provide a certain level of professionalism in their appearance to be taken seriously by those around them. This professional presentation is an indication of how serious they take their responsibilities (Cherry & Jacob, 2014). Not only are these individuals representing themselves, but they also represent the organization with whom they are employed. This uniform look helps set this group apart. There are several professions that one can pick out simply by their uniforms; police officers, fire fighters, UPS delivery drivers, etc.

Personally, I feel whether or not this public viewpoint is well founded in the qualifications of these nurses, it is how the public perceives their look that’s ultimately important. However, I do think that the questioned hot pink Crocs, cartoon festooned scrub top with neon green pants has its place. The many children’s hospitals and physician’s offices would welcome this attire to help bring a smile to a child’s face.

For those nurses working in an adult setting, they can make their uniform more colorful in other ways. Their badge clip could be more colorful and designed with a personal touch. As silly as it may seem, their socks could be worn to reflect how they are feeling that day. Not all nurses need to dress like Nurse Ratched, but it’s important they maintain a professional image. One that follows a specific dress code. This doesn’t just include the color of the uniform. Cherry and Jacob mentioned a study on professional dress specifically relating to viable tattoos. The study found that none of the groups questioned had a positive attitude toward tattoos. The went on to say that there is “no data that guest that a tattoo will enhance a professional image”(2014).

Cherry, B. & Jacob, S. (2014). The contemporary image of professional nursing. Contemporary nursing: Issues, trends, and management (pp. 21-31). St Louis: Elsevier Mosby.

Tracy, B.(2013) The Important of first impressions. Leadership Success. retrieved from http://www.briantracy.com/blog/leadership-success/the-importance-of-a-first-impression-everything-counts-personal-statement/