background a doctor’s competence and professionalism is often judged on the basis of attire. our lady of lourdes (olol) is a leading irish hospital in the implementation of bare below the elbows (bbte) policy, however surgical attire is not standardised and there is great variability in attire worn on wards. we aimed to evaluate patients attitude towards surgeons attire in olol.   methods a pro...

Background A doctor’s competence and professionalism is often judged on the basis of attire. Our Lady of Lourdes (OLOL) is a leading Irish hospital in the implementation of Bare Below the Elbows (BBTE) policy, however surgical attire is not standardised and there is great variability in attire worn on wards. We aimed to evaluate patients attitude towards surgeons attire in OLOL.   Methods A pro...

A 'Bare Below the Elbows' (BBTE) dress code policy has been introduced by the majority of NHS trusts in the UK. The aim of this Irish study was to evaluate the impact of an educational intervention on perception of medical attire. The study was carried out in two centres: a tertiary referral centre (Beaumont Hospital) and a district hospital (MRH, Portlaoise). Two questionnaires, incorporating ...

Beginning in the 1880s, nurses donned uniforms that were considered to be state-of-theart protection against illness. The original nurses’ uniform was known as the “fever-proof” shield to protect the entire body of the visiting nurse from infection, although it left the face and the hands uncovered (Figure 1). Over the years, the nurse’s uniform has changed significantly. Gone are the days of a...