The body of nursing as seen through the NHS nurse's uniform

This paper aims to analyse the current NHS nursing uniform, how the uniform impacts upon the identity of the modern day nurse and how efficient the uniform is for the role required. From a design perspective the nursing uniform appears to have little consideration for aesthetics, gender, fit and comfort with practicality, cost and a universal “one-style fits all” overpowering the design thinking. As designers the authors discuss the importance of the aesthetics of a garment as being highest on their agenda, but appreciate that uniform is not fashion and as such practicality is important within the design. However, the authors argue that effective design should have a balance of these characteristics and question can a “one-style fits all” design philosophy really fit all?