NURSES’ UNIFORMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 February 1947, Page 2

NURSES’ UNIFORMS

EXPLANATION BY STANDARDS INSTITUTE VARIETY “CLASSIFIED” (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 7. Referring to a published report of the hospital boards’ conference about the standardisation of nurses’ uniforms, the 'Standards Institute comments that the remarks of Mr. H. F. Toogood and Mrs. E. M. Gilmore would convey an impression that the standardisation of uniforms necessarily meant' uniforms of one colour, one style and a monotonous sameness. Generally this, it said, was the popular misconception as to both the purpose and effect of standardisation. Standardisation, it said, did not eliminate but classified variety. It would be quite rational and desirable. it said, to standardise materials from which nurses’ uniforms were made in order to ensure that they would be of the right weight and quality according to the season of the year and the climatic conditions of the different parts of the country in which they were used. With equal advantage a range of colour shades could also be provided for without difficulty. This would not necessitate the use of uniforms of the same colour by all hospital boards, but would provide a classification of the available shades from which each authority could make its selection. In this way the shade and class of material required by each different authority would soon become known with the result that supplies of material of fine quality could be purchased at correspondingly reduced prices. Standardisation of materials for nurses’ uniforms could be used as a means for bringing about very substantial economies, a consideration that could not be disposed of lightly, it continued. The remits that were submitted to the conference on the subject merited its serious consideration because of the potential reduction in. costs that could be thus effected.