What are the most suitable colors for nursing uniforms?

Nov 3, 2025 Equipo Jelrisofit Psicologia Color
¿Qué colores de uniformes de enfermería son los más adecuados?
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There is no single uniform color that is best suited for all nurses. The choice depends first on the rules of the hospital, clinic, university, or workplace, and when there is freedom to choose, on factors such as job identification, care environment, and the image the institution seeks to maintain.

Therefore, before associating a color with a specialty or a supposed psychological characteristic, it is advisable to check how colors are used by the institution where one will be working.

Requirements can be very specific. For example, FES Iztacala of UNAM indicates a white scrub top with navy blue pants for certain nursing practices, while for second-level clinical practices, it stipulates white scrub tops and pants. This type of regulation shows that the color can change depending on the institution and even on the type of practice. UNAM

Is there a mandatory color for nursing uniforms?

It is not advisable to assume that there is a single color code applicable to all nursing professionals.

One institution may request a white uniform, another may work with blue, and another may use different colors to distinguish teams or roles. Schools may also set their own requirements for clinical and community practices.

Therefore, if a hospital or university already has a regulation, that indication should be the primary criterion for choosing a uniform.

Before purchasing, it is advisable to confirm:

  • What color is authorized.
  • If the entire outfit must be of the same shade.
  • If there are differences between areas or types of practice.
  • If the uniform is provided by the institution.
  • If it is allowed to buy the scrub on your own.
  • If there are additional requirements for scrub tops, pants, footwear, or identification.

The Faculty of Nursing and Obstetrics of UNAM, for example, maintains a specific regulation for uniform use within its institutional documents, which reinforces the importance of first consulting the rules of the study or work center. FENO UNAM

Why hospitals use specific colors for their uniforms

Choosing a common color can have practical functions within an institution. Its usefulness does not depend on blue "meaning calm" or green "meaning safety," but on how the color is integrated within the organization.

Help identify staff

When an institution maintains a standardized uniform, patients can more easily recognize staff belonging to a particular team.

A review of studies on professional nursing appearance found that standardized uniforms in style and color can facilitate nurse recognition and improve the perception of a professional image. However, the same review concluded that there is no solid evidence that patients universally prefer a specific color. Journal of Nursing Administration

This means that the value of color may be more related to consistency and identification than to the supposed psychological meaning of a particular hue.

Maintain a common team presentation

A hospital may also choose the same uniform line to maintain a consistent presentation among those performing certain roles.

For example, the institution may establish:

  • The same color for a team.
  • A complete set of the same shade.
  • A specific combination of scrub top and pants.
  • A different model for certain practices.

Visual uniformity can facilitate the application of the dress code, but it should not be confused with a clinical protection measure. An entire team using the same color does not by itself reduce the risk of infection.

Integrate the uniform with the institution's identity

In some hospitals and clinics, work attire is also part of the organization's visual identity.

This can be especially noticeable in private clinics, doctor's offices, or groups where the staff's attire is expected to maintain an appearance consistent with the general presentation of the establishment.

In this case, choosing blue, wine, grey, or another shade is an organizational and image decision, not a universal medical rule.

Uniformes de enfermera de diferentes colores

If you can choose, how do you pick the color of your nursing uniform?

When the institution allows some freedom, the color can be chosen considering several practical factors.

1. First, consider the environment where you work

Choosing a uniform for a private clinic is not the same as for a university practice, a hospital unit, or home care.

Before deciding, ask yourself:

  • Is there a dress code even if the color is not mandatory?
  • Does the rest of the team use a specific range?
  • Does the institution seek a uniform appearance?
  • Will the same scrub be used in more than one setting?

If you are going to work in several places, remember that a garment accepted in one institution will not necessarily meet the rules of another.

2. Consider the people you care for

The appearance of the uniform can influence some patients' perceptions, but there is no simple relationship like "this color instills trust" or "this one reduces anxiety."

Studies on nursing uniforms show results that vary with age, context, and the characteristics of the people evaluated.

Therefore, if you are free to choose, it is reasonable to consider the environment in which you work, but there is no need to look for a supposed "perfect psychological color."

3. Avoid confusion with another position's code

If your workplace uses colors to differentiate teams, this rule should take precedence over personal preference.

For example, if a certain shade is internally reserved for another professional group, choosing it may hinder identification.

The meaning depends entirely on each institution's system. It is not possible to say that:

  • Blue always means nursing.
  • Green always means operating room.
  • Wine always corresponds to a specialty.
  • Purple identifies a hierarchical level.
  • Grey necessarily corresponds to emergencies.

These associations may exist in a specific hospital, but they should not be automatically transferred to all centers.

4. Consider the general image of the place

A clinic that allows choosing among several colors may want to maintain a common range to prevent each team member from using a completely different combination.

In these cases, it is advisable to check if there are internal recommendations regarding:

  • Allowed shades.
  • Combination of scrub top and pants.
  • Footwear.
  • Visible undergarments.
  • Identification or institutional logo.

This is especially important when the uniform is part of the team's presentation to the patient.

5. Leave personal preference for last

Once it is confirmed that the color is permitted, personal preference can be part of the decision.

You can consider:

  • Which shades you like to wear during long shifts.
  • Which colors match other scrubs you already own.
  • If you prefer solid-colored sets or authorized combinations.
  • If you want to buy several interchangeable pieces.

The idea is simple: first comply with the regulations, then choose among the permitted alternatives.

Is the white nursing uniform always more professional?

White has a long historical connection with the image of nursing and still appears in training regulations and clinical practices.

However, being a traditional color does not mean it is the only option capable of conveying professionalism.

In a study with patients and visitors, adult participants rated some white uniforms higher on characteristics associated with professional image. However, the results varied by age, and personal preference did not always align with the professionalism score. Applied Nursing Research

Furthermore, the review of studies on standardized uniforms found no solid evidence to state that there is a specific color generally preferred by patients. Integrative review

Therefore, it is more accurate to consider white as a traditional color that some institutions continue to use, not as the only professional color for nursing.

Does the uniform color indicate a nurse's position or level?

Not necessarily.

A color can only indicate a position, specialty, or team when the institution has expressly created that system.

For example, one hospital may use one shade for nursing and another for technicians, while another institution may use the exact same colors in a different way.

Therefore, it is not correct to automatically interpret color as an indicator of:

  • Hierarchy.
  • Specialty.
  • Seniority.
  • Academic degree.
  • Hospital area.

A qualitative study on the perception of uniforms found that patients may associate attire with professional identity, but their opinions are also subjective, and the uniform does not necessarily determine the relationship between nurse and patient. Journal of Nursing Administration

When a hospital uses colors to facilitate identification, these should be interpreted along with more direct elements, such as the badge, name, and position indicated by the institution.

How to interpret the most common colors in nursing uniforms

Colors can be used in many different ways. The following comparison does not aim to assign a medical meaning to each shade, but rather to show how they should be interpreted.

Color
How it can be used
What you should not assume
White
It is a traditional color, and some institutions still include it in their clinical uniforms.
It does not mean that all nurses must use it or that it is the only professional color.
Blue
It can be part of the dress code of a hospital, clinic, or school.
It does not automatically identify a nurse or a specific specialty.
Green
It can be chosen by certain institutions or teams.
It does not automatically mean that the person works in the operating room.
Wine, gray, or black
They can be used when allowed by the internal code or the institution's image.
They do not by themselves indicate emergencies, hierarchy, or a specific position.
Pink, purple, and soft tones
They can be part of the range permitted by some clinics or teams.
They do not automatically correspond to maternity, pediatrics, or a professional level.

The same conclusion applies to virtually any shade: the meaning depends on the system used by the institution.

Common mistakes when choosing the color of a nursing uniform

Buying first and checking the regulations later

This is one of the easiest mistakes to avoid.

Even if you find a scrub you like, first confirm if you can use that shade, especially if you are starting professional practices, joining a new clinic, or changing hospitals.

Institutions can have much more specific requirements than it seems. As the current UNAM requirements for certain practices show, even within the same career, different combinations can be used depending on the training environment. UNAM Requirements

Relying on a universal color chart

On the internet, it is common to find lists that claim each color corresponds to a specific profession or specialty.

The problem is that a chart valid for one hospital may have no relation to the rules of another.

If you need to know what a color means within your workplace, consult directly:

  • The uniform regulation.
  • Human Resources.
  • Nursing coordination.
  • The school regulation, if it refers to practices.

Thinking that a color always generates more trust

The perception of the uniform does not solely depend on the color.

Research has found differences related to age and uniform type, while a broader review found no strong evidence in favor of a single color preferred by all patients. Review of Nursing Uniforms

Therefore, it is not advisable to choose a scrub solely because a certain shade is claimed to “instill confidence,” “convey authority,” or “reduce anxiety.”

Focusing on color and forgetting the rest of the uniform

A permitted color does not automatically make a garment a good uniform.

You should also check:

  • The size.
  • The fit at the shoulders, waist, and hips.
  • Freedom of movement.
  • The type of pants.
  • The pocket distribution.
  • The fabric.
  • The washing instructions.
  • Other institutional rules.

The ultimate goal is not simply to find "the best color," but a complete uniform that is authorized and suitable for daily activities.

Conclusion

There is no single nursing uniform color that can be considered universally better for all professionals and all healthcare facilities.

The first reference should always be the regulations of the hospital, clinic, university, or institution where the uniform will be used. The same color may identify nursing staff in one place and have a completely different function in another.

Standardized colors can help maintain a common image and facilitate staff identification, but research does not support the idea that there is a specific shade that all patients automatically consider more professional.

White remains a traditional color and continues to be used in some institutions, but it is not the only valid option. Blue, green, burgundy, gray, black, pink, purple, and other shades can be part of different dress codes without having a universal professional meaning.

If you have the freedom to choose, first consider the work environment, the possibility of differentiating your role, the institution's image, and finally, your personal preferences.

More than seeking what color "means" professionalism, what is important is to choose from the authorized options and use a uniform suitable for your job.

Sources consulted

  • Requirements for Mobility Students — FES Iztacala, National Autonomous University of Mexico (2026 update)
  • Regulations and Guidelines — Faculty of Nursing and Obstetrics, National Autonomous University of Mexico
  • The professional appearance of registered nurses: an integrative review of peer-refereed studies — Journal of Nursing Administration / PubMed
  • Impact of nurses' uniforms on patient and family perceptions of nurse professionalism — Applied Nursing Research / PubMed
  • The Impact of Nurses' Uniforms on Nurse-Patient Interactions: Patients' Perspectives — Journal of Nursing Administration / PubMed
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