From saree to shirt-pant: 60 years on, Hyderabad NIMS nurses don new uniform

HYDERABAD: For the first time in its over 60-year history, the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) has changed the uniform of its in-house nurses -- from white sarees, churidar, and frocks to colourful shirt-pant sets (scrub suits in medical parlance) and salwars.
It has also done away with the age-old nightingale cap, following a persistent demand from nurses seeking comfort and convenience.
Shunning the all-white look, the new dress code includes turquoise blue scrub suits or churidar with half sleeves for staff nurses, burgundy scrub suits or churidar with three-fourth sleeves for head nurses, and peach colour scrub suits, saree or churidar for the nursing superintendent.
"The decision was taken after consulting the Indian Nursing Council and getting a go-ahead from them. The council agreed that this change will enhance the self-image of nursing professionals. It's easy to work in these dresses," said Krishna Teja, senior nursing officer at NIMS. "Nurses had been representing this issue for two years. Following their appeal, an internal committee was formed to look into it," she added.
Govt hospital nurses also demand uniform makeover
This change at NIMS, brought about four months ago, has now prompted nurses from Telangana's govt hospitals to demand a similar dress code makeover.
Unlike centrally-aided hospitals like AIIMS, ESCI, and now NIMS, nurses in govt hospitals in the state still wear white sarees, churidar, and frocks which, they say, are tough to maintain.
"Working in wards and emergency wings means spillage of chemicals, medicines, and even blood on our clothes, which is especially difficult to remove. While maintaining a white uniform is an issue and we have to keep buying new ones frequently, wearing these during menstrual cycles is even more challenging," said a nurse posted in the emergency ward at the Osmania General Hospital (OGH). She added how the newer crop of nurses also finds it difficult to wear a saree.
"The scrub suits give a more professional look as well," said a newly-inducted nurse at OGH drawing parallels with the private sector. "Unlike in corporate hospitals, nurses in govt facilities seem to be stuck in the past. Also, I feel it's very difficult to handle so many patients and do the running around from ward to ward in a saree," said the young nurse, one among the recent set of 6,000 nurses recruited by the state govt.
In fact, the Telangana Nursing Association has even submitted a representation to the state govt in Aug demanding a change in the dress code. "We are awaiting a response from the govt," said Mariamma, general secretary of the association. The change, she said, has been sought for male nurses as well whose white trouser-shirt outfit is same as the uniform of Class IV employees in govt hospitals.
This change at NIMS, brought about four months ago, has now prompted nurses from Telangana's govt hospitals to demand a similar dress code makeover.
Unlike centrally-aided hospitals like AIIMS, ESCI, and now NIMS, nurses in govt hospitals in the state still wear white sarees, churidar, and frocks which, they say, are tough to maintain.
"Working in wards and emergency wings means spillage of chemicals, medicines, and even blood on our clothes, which is especially difficult to remove. While maintaining a white uniform is an issue and we have to keep buying new ones frequently, wearing these during menstrual cycles is even more challenging," said a nurse posted in the emergency ward at the Osmania General Hospital (OGH). She added how the newer crop of nurses also finds it difficult to wear a saree.
"The scrub suits give a more professional look as well," said a newly-inducted nurse at OGH drawing parallels with the private sector. "Unlike in corporate hospitals, nurses in govt facilities seem to be stuck in the past. Also, I feel it's very difficult to handle so many patients and do the running around from ward to ward in a saree," said the young nurse, one among the recent set of 6,000 nurses recruited by the state govt.
In fact, the Telangana Nursing Association has even submitted a representation to the state govt in Aug demanding a change in the dress code. "We are awaiting a response from the govt," said Mariamma, general secretary of the association. The change, she said, has been sought for male nurses as well whose white trouser-shirt outfit is same as the uniform of Class IV employees in govt hospitals.