INTRODUCTION:

A first impression is the last impression and it does count when we are evaluating someone, particularly for a professional position. Professional dress is an important component of that first impression. People make assumptions about professional credibility and potential performance based upon appearance during a first meeting, and it is difficult to overcome a first impression, regardless of your knowledge and expertise.¹A long time ago, there was no general standard in nursing uniforms. In fact the first person to wear a standard nursing uniform was the well-known Florence Nightingale. She began showing the world the important of the nursing uniform during the Crimean war.

Florence Nightingale's first students Miss van Rensselaer designed the original uniform for the students at Miss Nightingale's School of Nursing. Today the uniform of nurses should be changed according to the day to day changing fashion. Every nurse wants to change his/her professional dress. Youth generation are not using proper professional attire, some are not follow professional attire.²

The primary purposes of the uniform are for identification, cleanliness, neatness and to project a professional image to clinical agencies and the clients we serve. As a student nurse, they presume new roles and responsibilities. Dress, make-up, hair style, facial expressions, verbal and non-verbal communication are public presentation.

They need a positive professional image to gain the respect, power and authority they deserve. Their image speaks for them before people can get acquainted with them or determines there level of expertise. A poor image is hard to change.³Studies have been found on adult patients and visitors who perceived a nurse wearing white-pant uniforms to be more professional than a nurse wearing a solid-colored uniform or one with a small or bold-print top. Subjects over 70 years of age had stronger perceptions of a white-fitted pant uniform as being more professional.⁴

A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by an members of the particular organization. Today armed forces and paramilitary organizations medical professionals security guards, etc. wear uniforms as their identity.⁵A Study conducted on adult patients and visitors, perceived a nurse wearing white-pant uniforms to be more professional than a nurse wearing a solid-colored uniform or one with a small or bold-print top.⁶The perception of patients for a nurse is with white uniform with tidy hair and smile on her face.⁷A common concept is that uniforms give nurses a certain level of professional confidence for carrying out their role as a nurse and to prepare them psychologically to deal the sick. When a nurse put on her uniform, it is a symbolic sign that they are able to take up their other life roles.⁸

Research group believed and observed that Professional attire put an impact on student nurses identity and there are different perception regarding professional attire in male and female student nurses. Thus the research group felt the need to assess the opinion of student nurses on this particular topic.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

A study to assess the knowledge and attitude of student nurses on Professional Attire in Selected Institute of Nursing, Dehradun, Uttarakhand

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

In present study the researchers had used the non-experimental explorative descriptive design, comprising of forty student nurses selected by consecutive sampling technique of selected college of nursing. Demographic Profile, Knowledge Questionnaire and Attitude Scale were used to collect the data. The tools were made by the researchers and were validated by experts in nursing and administrative fields. The data was collected in the month of May on 29^th May 2013, after taking administrating permission. Written consent was taken from the participants after explaining every step and expected outcome of research project

RESULTS:

Section A: Analysis of Demographic Profile

Table 1. Shows demographic profile has93% of the subject fell between the age group of 21-23 years. Most of the study participants were females 80%. Most 95% of the participants have studied up to intermediate level.

Table 1.Frequency and percentage distribution of study participants n=40

S. No	Demographic Profile	Frequency (f)	Percent-age(%)
1.	Age in years 1. 21-23	37	93
	2. 24-26	3	7
2.	Gender 1. Male	8	20
	2. Female	32	80
3.	Previous Educational Status 1. 12^th Pass	38	95
	2. Graduation	2	5

Section B -Percentage wise distribution of knowledge scores

Figure no. 1 Shows percentage wise distribution of knowledge scores

Figure no. 1 depicts that majority 70% of the study participants had good knowledge scores regarding professional attire.

Figure no. 2 Shows percentage wise distribution of attitude scale

Bar graph no. 2 depicts that 55% of study participants have neutral attitude regarding professional attire. Hence it can be concluded that despite of good knowledge about professional attire of most of the study participants their attitude was neutral 55%

Section D: Correlation between knowledge and attitude scores

Table no. 2 Correlation between knowledge and attitude score n=40

Scores

Mean Scores

‘r’ value

Coefficient and Correlation

Knowledge score

Attitude Score

11.7

75.5

-0.029

0.17

‘r’₍₃₈₎- 0.271 at p<0.05%

Table no. 2 shows negative (-0.029) and a very weak correlation between knowledge and attitude scores of study participants. It shows no any statistical significant correlation (0.17) between knowledge and attitude score. It could be inferred that knowledge and attitude do not dependent on each other. Hence the knowledge and attitude are independent variable.

Section E Items analysis of Knowledge Score

The Table no. 3 shows that most 97% of the study participants agreed to the statement that uniform is symbol of nursing profession and uniform gives identity to students. They also stated that uniform creates discipline in students. 80% study participants agreed that while they are uniform they feel confident. Most of the 80% study participants agreed that patient gives more attention while in uniform. 72% study participants agreed uniform saves money for not buying more cloths to wear. 70% study participants agree that they feel proud in nursing uniform.

Table no. 3 Items analysis of attitude score n=40

S. NO	STATEMENT	AGREE %
1.	Uniform is a symbol of nursing profession	97%
2.	Uniform provides me the professional identity	97%
3.	Proper uniform creates discipline in students	92%
4.	I feel professional in my uniform	87%
5.	Professional attire helps me to put positive impression on others professionals	85%
6.	The way I wear uniform shows my respect for my profession	82%
7.	Patients gives me more attention when I am in uniform	80%
8.	I feel confident when I am in uniform	80%
9.	I always wear proper uniform to maintain the dignity of my profession	80%
10.	Uniform save the money for not buying more cloths to wear	72%
11.	I feel proud in my nursing uniform	70%
12.	Uniform improves the behavior of students	70%
13.	I want some modification in my present uniform	70%
14.	Wearing proper uniform affect my professional identity	57%
15.	If I do not wear proper uniform, it reflect my bad attitude toward nursing profession	57%
16.	While in uniform I feel difficult to personalize my self	30%
17.	I get bad comments from public because of my uniform	27%
18.	I look inferior in uniform	17%
19.	I feel embarrassed in uniform	7%
20.	Wearing attractive jewelry with uniform will put positive impression on patients	5%

Study participants agreed 70 % that uniform improves the behavior of students. Although 70% study participants wanted to have some modification in present uniform. Approximately 57% study participants agreed that wearing proper uniform affect professional identity. Also not wearing proper uniform it reflect bad attitude toward nursing profession.

30% student felt difficult to personalize self in uniform. 27% study participants stated that they get bad comments from public because of uniform while they are out in the market place. 17 study participants look inferior in uniform. 7% study participants feel embarrassed in uniform. Minimum 5% study participants wearing attractive jewelry with uniform will put positive impression on patients.

DISCUSSION:

Professional clothing adds not only style and confidence to the wearer, but also says a lot about his/her personality. Wearing proper attire is an essential part of work ethics and at the same time it makes you stand out different from the crowd. Clavelle Joanne T., Goodwin Miki, Tivis Laura J., conducted a study which supports the study results of current study that the nurses who wear uniform attracts the attention and respect more comparative to nurses not in uniform.⁹Study participants felt more confident, and felt more disciplined while in uniform, which is supported by the study conducted in California by Damon E. Anastacia.¹⁰

CONCLUSION:

Public recognize the person from their uniform, and if anyone does something wrong it directly affects the image of a profession. Uniform represent an organization or an institute. The present study concluded that although student nurses had statistical an average knowledge about professional attire and neutral attitude towards wearing it during the clinical posting. But in spite of having knowledge about how to maintain professional attire students do not act and maintain their appearance professional and proper. Student nurses needed modification in uniform as they get bad comments in public and because the white color sometimes they are welcomed in the community when there is a celebration, as wearing white represents mourning in most of the religions.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

A similar study can be replicated on a larger sample and on different professional attire. The study can be done to determine the knowledge, attitude of parents and teachers regarding professional attire of their children

REFERENCES:

1. Dress for Success Importance of Professional Dress; Available from: http://louisville.edu/career/students/job-search/dress-for-success

2. Nurse uniform From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nurse_uniform

3. Professional Appearance Available from: http://nurse.edu/9959.php

4. Wocia Lucia, Albert M. Nancy, Fettes Sondra, Birch Sara, Howey Kate, Trochelman Kathleen; Impact of Pediatric Nurses' Uniforms on Perceptions of Nurse Professionalism; PediatrNurse. 2010;36(6):320-326. Available from: http://www.asianscientificjournals.com/ publication/index.php/anrj/article/download/198/195

5. Alino Jeffrey, AprostaLorma B. Aprosta, Lugod Marie I. Ricca, Montilla Ruth G. Amy, Chrislyn B.; Perception of White Unifrom in the Nursing Profession; Vol. 4. Nursing Research Journal

6. Wocia Lucia, Albert M. Nancy, Fettes Sondra, Birch Sara, Howey Kate, Trochelman Kathleen; Impact of Pediatric Nurses' Uniforms on Perceptions of Nurse Professionalism; PediatrNurse. 2010;36(6):320-326. Available from: http://www.asianscientificjournals.com/ publication/index.php/anrj/article/download/198/195

7. Windel Laura, Halbert Kelly, Dumont Cheryl, TagnesiKatheryn, Johnson Kathleen; An evidence-based approach to creating a new nursing dress code; January 2008 Vol. 3 Num. 1Available from: http://www.acestar.uthscsa.edu/institute/su08/documents/20Dumont.

8. Shaw Kate, Timmons Stephen, Exploring how nursing uniforms influence self-image and professional identity. Available from: http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/ educators/exploring-how-nursing-uniforms-influence-self-image-and-professional-identity/5012623.article.

9. Clavelle Joanne T., Goodwin Miki, Tivis Laura J. Nursing professional attire probing patient preferences to inform implementation. Vol. 4, No 3, pp 172-173. Copyright 2013, Wokers Kluwer health/ Lippincott Williams and wilkins. Journal of nursing administration. Available from: http://www.nursing2007 criticalcapt/ re/nursemgmt/fulltext.00006247-2006100

^10.Damon E. Anastacia, SarkissianArineh, Cotilier Y. Cherrie, Staben M. Nicole, Lee M. Jaime, Youmans J. Robert; Dressed to Influence: The Effects of Experimenter Dress on Participant Compliance. Volume 9. Available from: http://www.kon.org/urc/ urc_research _Journal9.html.

Received on 08.05.2015 Modified on 28.06.2015

Int. J. Adv. Nur. Management 3(3): July- Sept. 2015; Page 205-207

DOI: 10.5958/2454-2652.2015.00004.9