This spring, spotting a nurse in Nova Scotia is about to get a whole lot easier thanks to the roll out of new, standardized uniforms. Nurses in acute care institutions across the province have already started wearing their new uniform of white tops and black bottoms, and more are following suit, every day.

In 2011, the Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union negotiated a distinctive uniform for its members as part of collective bargaining. Now that all the details have been ironed out, the practical and easily-recognizable uniforms are arriving in nurses’ hands.

“Patients and their families should be able to easily identify who is providing their care,” said Janet Hazelton, NSNU president. “With the number of people coming and going in scrubs these days, we felt it would be helpful if our member nurses in acute care could be more easily seen.”

Nova Scotians support this move. In research conducted earlier this year, 74 per cent of those surveyed agreed it would be less confusing for patients if nurses wore a distinct uniform. And 82 per cent of those who supported the introduction of uniforms did so because they believe it’s hard to tell nurses from other members of the health care team.

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