The image of the children's nurse: a study of the qualities required by families of children's nurses' uniform.

Traditional views of the nurse see 'her' in a nurse's uniform, whether she be a 'sex symbol', 'angel of mercy' or 'battle axe'. Children's nursing has, over recent years, moved away from the idea of the uniform into more child friendly clothes, though the traditional uniform is still presented to the public by the media. The staff members of a Children's Outpatients Department (COPD) of a large acute hospital requested knowledge of the qualities families required from the uniform of nurses caring for them, prior to any change in uniform. This study aimed to develop an understanding of these qualities via the use of a survey presented to those attending the COPD. The findings indicate that there is a complex relationship between the qualities that families wish the uniform to present. A balance is needed between presenting a professional authority figure, providing security for families and suggesting an approachable figure, to allow effective communication between staff and families.