• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.59 no.10
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• pp.22-37
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• 2009

The main purpose of this research was to provide an example of a scientific and systematic approach to designing nurses' uniforms. Uniforms for the staff nurses and head nurses at Korea University Medical Centers were designed through the following four steps: research and analyses, design direction establishment, design presentation, and final decision. For the research and analyses, a focused group interview with 14 head nurses were conducted before the actual questionnaires were formed and distributed to 200 nurses at the medical centers. The data collected from 182 among 200 subjects were able to be used for the statistical analyses. As a result, the majority of nurses were not satisfied with the present nurse uniforms. They preferred pants to skirts, and straight pants to tapered pants. Blouses or jackets that slightly cover hips with sleeves reaching above the wrists were also preferred. Many respondents wanted uniforms that were practical and easy to manage. The ideal image of nursing uniforms were feminine, lively, active, light, cool, simple, and modern. According to the research and analyses result, design directions were established and uniform designs were presented to head nurses. Uniforms were designed based on symbols of Korea University and Korea University Medical Centers. Colors including white, pink, and grey were selected to represent the ideal image of nursing uniforms designated by the respondents. Fabrics including polyester(95%) and spandex(5%) blends, polyester(48%), rayon(48%), and spandex(4%) blends, and cotton(100%) were used for making garment samples. Final designs were decided by selecting and modifying the designs presented to the head nurses.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.31-42
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• 2012

This study focuses on the establishment of the medical practitioners' brand image through uniforms design developments and the need for recognition, which follows the globalization and evolution of the medical industry. It also embodies public healthcare management services, as well as works to develop a unified design for nurse uniforms at the Gyeonggi provincial medical center in order to place it as a foothold hospital in the region. The results of the study are as follows: First, the symbols of nurse uniforms were divided into external and internal definitions. However, when comparing the uniforms of university hospitals and Gyeonggi provincial medical center, the nurses of the Gyeonggi provincial medical center preferred a uniform that had a strong symbolic meaning. Second, the functionality of nurse uniforms included management of uniforms, sewing, and measurements as important elements. Also, it was found that medical center nurses prefer materials with high functionality. Third, the aesthetics of nurse uniforms and decoration, which includes the external shape and popular influences, were displayed. Also, medical center nurses have a higher preference in external aesthetics than university hospital employees. The results of this study were used as the basis for the development of the design for the Gyeonggi provincial medical center nurse uniforms, which are as follows. First, in terms of symbolism, active application of the Gyeonggi provincial medical center's brand image and medical practitioners such as the Gyeonggi provincial medical center's logo were applied to establish a unified image. Second, in terms of functionality, consideration of the special working conditions and activities were taken into place through the use of functional materials and details to create superior application and efficient work performance. Third, in terms of beauty, bright and neat colors as well as pleasantries were emphasized to create a professional image that will reel in confidence from the patients.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.747-762
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to examine the current satisfaction levels with nurse uniforms at Taizhou General Hospital in China and to find areas for improvement in order to develop nurse uniforms with improved comfort, fit and convenience. To investigate satisfaction with nurse uniforms, a survey was conducted of 150 nurses. The general characteristics of the nurses, uniform conditions, feelings of satisfaction, fit, preferred designs, inconvenient aspects of the uniforms, and areas for improvement were analyzed. Eight materials of cotton/polyester blended fabrics were selected according to Chinese nurse uniform regulations, and the physical properties of the materials were tested along with the materials used in current nurse uniforms. Four new nurse uniforms with increased aesthetics, functionality, and comfort were developed based on the survey results. Materials with excellent absorption, moisture permeability, and ventilation were used as main fabrics. According to the preferred designs of nurses at Taizhou City General Hospital, China, 4 types of nurse uniforms designed, consisting of design 1 (shirt and pants), design 2 (shirt and pants), design 3 (dress), and design 4 (shirt and skirt). The new nurse uniforms offered better functionality with an improved fit at the armpits, waist, hips, and knees based on product measurements.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.631-648
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• 1993

This study is a descriptive study to provide basic data related to types of uniforms worn by nurses. Nurses, other medical center personnel, patients and their famillies were asked for their opinion on changing nurses’ uniforms and how the image of nurses is 1 elated to the type of uniform worn by the nurses. The data for this study were collected during the period from Feb. 25, 1993 to Mar. 26, 1993 at Y-University Medical Center from 132 nurses, 137 other medical center personnel, 117 patients and their families. The instruments used for this study were the Nurses’ Image Scale(NIS) developed by Bown(1986), and an instrument to measure opinions of uniform and cap using photographs of nurses’ uniforms that was developed by the researcher through a literture review. Data were analyzed using the SPPS / PC package, Statistics used for analysis were frequencies, percentages, paired t -test, and oneway ANOVA The results of this study are summarized as follows ; 1. Of the nurses, 84.3%, along with, 51.5% of the medical center personnel, 39.1% of the patients and their families agreed to a change in the color of nurses uniforms. 2. Similarly, 87.4% of the nurses,27.7% of the medical center personnel, 19.3% of the patients and their families were in favor of nurses not wearing caps. 3. Only 11.8% of nurses answered that a white uniform was important to the professional image of nursing. Only 2.4% of the nurses answered that a cap was very important to the professional image of nursing. 4. Only 1.6% of the nurses answered that a white uniform and cap were important to show the role of nurses in the twenty first century. 5. About 1/3, 36.5%, of the medical center personnel, the patient and their families answered that changing the color of the nurses' uniform will make a change in the image of nurses. 6. A White uniform and cap were seen as being im-portant in distinguishing nurses from other medical personnel in the hospital by 76.5% of the medical personnel, the patients and their families. 7. Nurses gave high marks to the idea of no cap regardless of the color of the uniform which would still portray the symbol of the nurses’ role, identity and would differentiate the role from other jobs. The patients and their families gave high marks to a white uniform with cap. 8. Generally, nurses, medical center personnel and patients and their families thought that a colored uniform with cap presented a good image of nurses. 9. There was a significant difference in the response among the three groups(F=24.65, P〈.001) to the figure in a white uniform with a cap, and the patients and their families thought it was the best portrayal of the image of nurses. There was a significant difference among the three groups(F=9.03, P〈.001) to the figure in a white uniform with no cap and the nurses indicated that it was the beat portrayed of the image of nurses. There was no significant difference among the three groups to the figure in a colored uniform with cap. There was a significant difference(F=17.50, P〈. 001) to the figure in a colored uniform with no cap, and the nurses indicated that it was the best portrayal of the image of nurses. In summary, the nurses wanted to change the color of uniform and not to wear a cap. But many of the medical center personnel, patients and their families indicated they did not agree with this idea. Therefore, changing the type of uniform worn by nurses should be done only after consideration has been given to the relation of the change to the professional role of nurses and the image of nurses held people in general. Suggestions arising from this study are as follows : 1. The relation between the role of nurses and their uniform was surveyed, and these results can be used as data when considering a change in uniforms. 2. A change in uniforms should be tried based on the norm established about uniforms. 3. The nurses did not want to wear a cap, but before a decision is definitely made it is necessary to study the philosophy related to the symbol of the cap because the figure of a nurse with a cap portrayed a positive image of the nurses. If the cap is kept, the symbol of the cap should be redefined. 4. In this study, only the image related to the uniform was examined, but in future studies it will be necessary to examine the practicality of various types of uniforms.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.1004-1014
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• 2006

The purposes of this study is to investigate the present condition of nurses' uniform design and to categorize the image of nurses' uniform design. To investigate the nurses' uniform design, total 241 data were collected from the pictures of nurses who work for private hospital and semi-general hospital in Deajeon and Seoul city and Chungnam province and the pictures of uniform for nurses in general hospital presented at nurses' uniform company web sites. This data was evaluated by 3 major garment characteristics, yin/yang, casual/professional, and lightness/ darkness-were used as criteria for categorizing the image of nurses' uniform design. Focus group consisting of 10 experts majored in Clothing and Textiles were evaluated by 7 point Likert type scales. Nurses' uniform design at the present time showed equal distribution in terms of yin/yang and casual/professional. However, in terms of lightness/darkness, nurses' uniform design were partial to light image. Therefore, dark image, specially dark and masculine image in nurses' uniform design were very rare. Nurses' uniform design had some differences by type of hospital, department, and geographical area. The most important meaning from the result through this study was that the nurse uniforms were classified into groups according to the present condition of nurses' uniform design.

• The Korean Nurse
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• v.4 no.1 s.15
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• pp.58-60
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• 1965

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.478-486
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• 2011

This study is to analyze the symbolic images appeared in modern fashion design adopted dualistic meanings in uniforms. Uniforms signify order, conformity and discipline in public life. The dualistic meanings in uniforms appeared modern times are as follows: public authority vs individual non-authority, heterosexual identity vs homosexual identity, time-space uniformity vs mixed diversity. The symbolic images appeared in modern fashion design adopted dualistic meanings in uniforms such as military uniforms, school uniforms, nurses' uniforms, sports uniforms and etc. are erotic image, hybrid image, and kitsch image.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.64 no.8
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• pp.83-96
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• 2014

This study aims to analyze the design of current nurse uniforms, investigate the state of nurse uniforms, and uniform design preferences in order to ultimately develop functional nurse uniform, which satisfy their needs. First, observing photos of nurses' campaign on wearing a badge showed that opening of top uniform almost always incorporated buttons, and sleeves were mostly set-in half sleeves while collars tended to be mandarin collars. The colors were mostly white for both top and bottom, while the top showed a bit more variety in colors. White tops often incorporated hospital logos on them. Second, in terms of the nurse uniform distribution, each nurse is given one top and one bottom per year. In addition, either a cardigan or a jacket on top of the regular summer uniform constitutes the winter uniform, whereas the availability of cardigans differed by hospitals. Third, the main source of contamination of uniforms was blood, and the level of satisfaction was all low in terms of the design, function, and material of the uniform, calling for the enhancement and development of new uniforms. Design preferences were two-piece with pants, color preferences were blue and pink, and pattern preferences were hospital logo, stripes, and check patterns in the listed order of preference. Complaints were usually made on the contamination of front pocket of the top, lack of sufficient pockets for storage, and tightness of the sleeves. Some preferences on finishing were the princess seams, mandarin collar, set-in half sleeves, and button closing on top. The preferred belt was a mixed form of straight-lined belt and rubber belt, and straight lined hem and spandex blended fabrics were favored for the clothing.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.65-76
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• 2013

Purpose: To identify an associations between health care workers' uniforms and health care-associated infection. Methods: Electronic databases, including Ovid-Medline, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, EMBASE, KMbase, and KoreaMed, were searched. The search terms included doctor, nurse, health care worker/staff/assistant, clothing, (white) gown, uniform, (neck)tie, and attire. Only papers published in English and Korean were included. Results: 16 studies were selected from 1,900 references screened. All of the studies were non-comparative studies except for one. Four were conducted with doctors, six with nurses, one with health care workers including physiotherapists and one for medical staff plus visitors in a neonatal intensive care unit. Doctors more frequently changed their uniforms than neckties; therefore, the degree of contamination was more serious in neckties. The cuff zone was more likely to be heavily contaminated than other areas of long-sleeve gowns. Coats become contaminated quickly once worn, and colony counts reached a similar level within the first few hours after wearing them. Wearing a plastic apron or protective clothing did not prevent the bacterial contamination of nurses' uniforms, and the best way to decrease the contamination was changing to newly laundered uniforms before starting every duty. Conclusion: Healthcare workers' uniforms are a potential source of health care-associated infection although there was no robust evidence. The government must establish standards for laundering of uniforms or a requirement for institutions to provide a laundering service for healthcare workers' uniforms.

• The Korean Nurse
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• v.11 no.3 s.59
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• pp.81-82
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• 1972