Nurses' Dress Lets The profession Down

Ike Vavi
Correspondent | Monday June 14, 2010 00:00

 

They are members of a profession that has, and continues, to be punctuated by caring and abundance of love for patients. They are indeed professionals whose presence makes human life complete. These professionals are nurses.

Be that as it may, one thing seems to be about to cloud the positive image that this profession is associated with.

For Mose Mudongo of Themashanga, 'The way some of our nurses dress is very embarrassing. They put on very short uniforms that at times makes it very difficult for them to even pick up something from the floor'.

Mudongo argues that this is particularly common for the young nurses that are joining the profession these days. 'These young nurses are destroying the image of this noble profession. One wonders whether they are not trained in public relations issues that should highlight the importance of the image of not only their profession but even of the organisations they work for,' she says.She also says that these young nurses should be encouraged to borrow a leaf from the older generation. 'It is very disturbing that when you enter a clinic or hospital you realise the generational gap of the nursing staff just by the way they appear in their uniforms.

'The older ones will mostly be in uniforms that show that they are aware of the image they should project to the public even through the way they dress and the young ones will be in these mini dresses,' she says.

Tshenolo Elijah of Borolong is also not amused by the manner of dress of some of the nurses. 'The way some of them dress is really disturbing. One wonders whether they feel comfortable in those 'miniskirts' in public.

'They must take cognisance of the fact that these clinics and hospitals are public places and serving points. They are therefore morally obligated to show some respect to the public they are serving from those places,' she says.

Elijah also maintains that nurses must be seen to be appreciating the opportunity that the society has given them to serve them in those public places. 'They must dress in a manner that will demonstrate their appreciation of the opportunity that they have been given to serve the public,' she advises.

Tanyala Ramogwana of Mogoditshane is also concerned about the short dresses and uniforms of some nurses. She believes that as professionals, nurses should be aware that they have a duty to protect the image of their profession. 'They should not allow things like short uniforms to destroy the image of their profession. They should know that the image of this profession is in their hands,' she says.

Ramogwana also points out that it is important for them to realise their social position in life and appreciate it. 'Belonging to such a profession makes people hold one in high esteem. The society regards nurses as role models. This is one aspect that nurses must be aware of. They are not viewed as ordinary members of the society but very important pillars of any community that they are serving'.

She is hopeful that nursing regulatory bodies such as the Nurses Association of Botswana and Nurses and Midwifery Council of Botswana will look into this issue. 'I hope that such bodies will try to address this issue in a bid to protect and restore the dignity and the image of the nursing profession,' she says.

Asked whether the current nurses uniform in various government facilities reflects a good image of the nurses, NAB executive secretary, Geetha Feringa was quick to provide a 'yes and no answer'.

She explains: 'We are a professional organisation for nurses. We have been advocating for better and improved uniform for the nurses and the Nurses and Midwifery Council of Botswana prescribes the uniform and the supplier of the uniform is the employer, the Botswana government'.

Feringa however, stressed that the nurses uniform should be clean and presentable and highlighted that the Nurses and Midwifery Council of Botswana should see to it.

She also referred further inquiries to the department of Clinical Services in the Ministry of Health.

Ministry of Health acting principal public relations officer, Tuduetso Kelapile, in response to questions from The Monitor, said last Friday: 'Following extensive consultation with the nursing cadre last year, the Ministry of Health will in the near future introduce a new nursing uniform. The ministry has already identified a pattern, material and colour for the new uniform'.

'As it is the norm in the nursing profession,' added Kelapile, 'there will be a slight variation of colour for supervisors. However, the white colour will continue to dominate the nursing uniform. The variation of colour will help in easier identification of senior nursing officers by members of public'. She said the Ministry of Health has always 'encouraged matrons and other stakeholders such as the Nursing Council, to encourage nurses to abide by the laid dress code and take action against those who violate it, such as those who report to work on skimpy uniforms'.