What are the nursing uniform standards?

Article published at: Nov 26, 2025 Article author: Equipo Jelrisofit
¿Cuáles son las normas del uniforme de enfermería?
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In Mexico, there is no single rule that obliges all nurses, male nurses, and students to use the same color, cut, or type of uniform. The characteristics of the attire are usually defined by each school, hospital, clinic, employer, or work area.

Therefore, a garment advertised as a "regulatory nursing uniform" does not automatically meet the requirements of every institution. Before purchasing, it is necessary to confirm the color, permitted garments, type of pants, footwear, identification, and specific rules of the place where it will be used.

It is also important to distinguish between three different topics:

  • Presentation and uniform rules: establish colors, garments, footwear, and identification.
  • Cleaning and handling rules: indicate when to change, wash, or remove a garment.
  • Personal protective equipment: selected according to the risks of the activity and should not be confused with everyday scrubs.

Is there a national standard for the nursing uniform?

There is no official Mexican standard that establishes a unique color, fabric, or scrub design for all nursing personnel in the country.

NOM-017-STPS-2024 regulates the selection, use, and handling of personal protective equipment in workplaces. Its focus is on identifying the risks to which workers are exposed and determining what protection they need. It does not establish that all nursing professionals must use a specific color, cut, or textile composition. Official Gazette of the Federation

This does not mean that personnel can choose any garment. Educational and healthcare institutions can establish very specific internal rules.

For example, the regulations of the Faculty of Nursing and Obstetrics of UNAM define specific characteristics for its students' clinical uniforms, such as color, fabric composition, design of the scrub top, pants, and footwear. The same regulations indicate that students must also comply with the rules of the healthcare institutions where they perform their practical training. FENO UNAM

A rule valid for one university should not be interpreted as an obligation for all schools, hospitals, or clinics in Mexico.

Who defines uniform rules?

The answer depends on whether the person is a student, an employee of an institution, or performs activities in a restricted access area.

Nursing schools and universities

Educational institutions may establish a uniform for practical classes, community activities, labs, and clinical settings.

Their regulations may include requirements regarding:

  • Color of the scrub top and pants.
  • Collar shape and sleeve length.
  • Cut and length of pants.
  • Color and design of footwear.
  • Use of ID badge or school identification.
  • Hair, nails, jewelry, and other presentation elements.
  • Different garments for clinical, community, or surgical practices.

In addition, the student may be subject to the rules of the hospital or clinic where they are doing their practical training. If the guidelines do not match, they should consult the responsible professor or the clinical field coordinator before purchasing or using a different garment.

Hospitals and clinics

Employers can establish internal codes to facilitate staff identification, maintain an institutional image, or adapt attire to the activities of each area.

Rules may indicate:

  • Authorized colors by position or department.
  • Type of scrub top and pants allowed.
  • Mandatory use of ID badge.
  • Authorized outer garments.
  • Footwear characteristics.
  • Frequency of change or washing.
  • Procedures for contaminated clothing.
  • Areas where the uniform may or may not be used.

Not all hospitals organize their teams in the same way. Some assign different colors by function; others use a common color and distinguish positions through badges, credentials, or verbal introduction.

Surgical or restricted areas

Operating rooms, isolation areas, and other controlled spaces may have additional instructions.

Depending on the institution, these rules may include:

  • A specific uniform.
  • Limited use to specific areas.
  • Changing clothes before entering or exiting.
  • Issuance and washing by the institution.
  • Cap, face protection, gown, or other additional equipment.

It should not be assumed that all hospitals provide surgical scrubs or that the same policy applies to all areas. The rule must be confirmed directly with the institution.

What you should confirm before buying a uniform

Before choosing color, size, or fabric, request the written regulations or consult the responsible person. This table summarizes the main points.

What you should confirm
Who to consult
Why it's important
Color
School, hospital, or area manager
Can be used to identify a program, position, department, or type of practice.
Scrub top
Uniform regulations or supervisor
There may be requirements regarding collar, sleeves, length, closures, or pockets.
Pants
School or healthcare institution
The institution may allow or limit straight, jogger, or other designs.
Footwear
School regulations, employer, or safety manager
Color, closed design, sole type, and ease of cleaning may be regulated.
Identification
School, human resources, or head of department
The ID badge allows patients and colleagues to recognize name and function.
Outer garments
Area manager
Some spaces limit the use of sweaters, jackets, or personal clothing.
Washing
Institution or infection control area
Frequency, washing location, and handling of contaminated garments may vary.
Supplier
School, purchasing, or human resources
Some institutions provide garments or indicate authorized characteristics and channels.

If a rule is not in writing, it is advisable to request confirmation before making a purchase. An informal recommendation from a colleague may not match the current policy.

Are there mandatory colors and cuts for all staff?

There is no mandatory national color for nursing. White, blue, green, and other shades appear in different institutions, but their use depends on local regulations.

The same applies to pant cuts. A straight-leg model is not automatically "more regulated," and a jogger is not automatically inappropriate. Some schools or centers may require a specific design, while others allow various cuts as long as the garment meets their presentation and safety requirements.

Before purchasing joggers, straight-leg pants, or elastic-cuff models, confirm:

  • If the regulations mention a specific cut.
  • If there are restrictions on pant cuffs.
  • If a specific length is required.
  • If the pants must exactly match the scrub top.
  • If the institution provides the garment.

Color also does not substitute identification. Even if an institution uses different shades for each position, the ID badge must remain visible when its rules require it.

Differences between students and hired staff

Nursing students

Students usually have more detailed requirements because the uniform also represents the educational institution.

There may be different rules for:

  • Lab practices.
  • Community care.
  • Clinical practices.
  • Surgical areas.
  • Academic events.

In addition to the school uniform, the student must review the rules of the clinical setting. The FENO UNAM regulations, for example, establish specific garments for its students and, at the same time, indicate that adjustments requested by the institutions where practical training is carried out must be attended to. FENO UNAM Regulations

Hired staff

Hired staff follow their employer's policies. These may vary by hospital, clinic, position, or department.

Before starting work, it is advisable to request information from human resources, nursing, the head of the area, or the occupational health and safety manager.

If a person works in more than one institution, they should not assume that the uniform authorized in one will also be accepted in the other.

How to check that the uniform allows for comfortable work

First, confirm that the garment complies with color and design rules. Then, choose the most appropriate size and fit from the permitted options.

Elasticity can help accommodate certain movements, but it does not correct a too-small size or an inappropriate cut.

Before wearing the uniform for a full shift, check these movements:

Raising your arms

The scrub top should not produce intense tension in the shoulders and armpits. The hem may move, but it should not ride up so much that it constantly needs adjusting.

Sitting down

When you sit down, check that your waist and hips are not excessively compressed. If the pants shift or the scrub top pulls at your back, you may need to try another authorized size or cut.

Leaning forward

The back should have enough space, and the garment should maintain adequate coverage. An elastic fabric does not prevent tension if the chest, waist, or hips have little room.

Walking and bending down

Check that the length of the pants does not interfere with your footwear and that your legs allow for wide strides and bending your knees.

Professional appearance does not depend on the uniform being tight. An appropriate size should allow movement without generating excess fabric that interferes with activities.

What to check in the fabric and washing instructions

There is no single composition that makes a garment a regulatory uniform. Some institutions may specify a particular blend; others only establish color, design, and presentation conditions.

Before buying, check:

  • Percentage of polyester, cotton, rayon, spandex, or other fibers.
  • Direction and level of elasticity declared by the manufacturer.
  • Recommended washing temperature.
  • Possibility of using a dryer.
  • Bleach instructions.
  • Ironing temperature.
  • Special instructions from the institution.

A blend of polyester and elastane can offer elasticity and ease of care, but it does not in itself constitute a hospital standard. Nor does it mean that the garment is suitable for all schools, institutions, or activities.

Should the uniform be changed daily?

There is no single answer applicable to all institutions. The frequency of change depends on internal policy, tasks performed, duration of use, and the presence of visible contamination.

The CDC states that when an institution requires a uniform, it should provide laundry services or cleaning instructions based on the tasks performed. It is also up to each facility to determine the frequency of laundering. CDC: Laundry and Bedding

Therefore, it should not be assumed that all uniforms:

  • Must be obligatorily washed at a high temperature.
  • Must be washed by the hospital.
  • Can always be washed at home.
  • Can be used outside the healthcare facility.
  • Have the same mandatory change frequency.

The decision depends on the facility's rules and whether the garment has been in contact with blood, bodily fluids, or other potentially infectious materials.

What to do if the uniform becomes contaminated

A garment with blood or other potentially infectious material should not be handled like everyday clothing without consulting the institution's procedure.

The healthcare facility may establish instructions on:

  • Removal of the garment.
  • Use of specific bags or containers.
  • Labeling or separation.
  • Internal washing or by an authorized provider.
  • Delivery of a replacement garment.

The CDC differentiates ordinary clothing without visible contamination from clothing that contains blood or other potentially infectious materials. Contaminated clothing requires containment, transport, and safe handling procedures. CDC: Textile Control

If you do not know the procedure, avoid storing the garment with personal belongings and ask the area manager for instructions.

Can an anti-fluid scrub replace protective equipment?

No. A scrub is primarily a work garment. Although a fabric may have a repellent finish or help small droplets temporarily remain on the surface, this does not demonstrate protection against blood, bodily fluids, or microorganisms.

Water resistance and resistance to blood or infectious agent penetration are evaluated by different methods. CDC/NIOSH explains that tests performed with water alone may overestimate a material's protection against bloodborne pathogens. CDC/NIOSH

When an activity involves a specific risk, the institution must select the appropriate protective equipment according to the job evaluation. This may include, depending on the case:

  • Isolation gown.
  • Surgical gown.
  • Gloves.
  • Eye or face protection.
  • Mask or respirator.
  • Other protective clothing indicated for the risk.

NOM-017-STPS-2024 establishes that the selection of personal protective equipment must be based on the risks identified in the workplace. NOM-017-STPS-2024

Therefore, expressions like "repellent," "splash-resistant," or "anti-fluid" should not be automatically interpreted as a certification of clinical protection.

Checklist before placing an order

  1. Request the written regulations from your school or institution.
  2. Confirm the exact authorized color.
  3. Review the permitted design for the scrub top.
  4. Confirm whether straight-leg, jogger, or another cut of pants is allowed.
  5. Consult footwear requirements.
  6. Verify how the ID badge should be worn.
  7. Ask if personal outer garments are permitted.
  8. Confirm if there is a mandatory supplier or model.
  9. Check if the uniform must be provided by the institution.
  10. Consult washing and changing rules.
  11. Verify if your area has additional requirements.
  12. Compare your measurements with the product's specific size chart.
  13. Review the composition and care instructions.
  14. If anything is unclear, ask before purchasing.

Conclusion

The standard nursing uniform is not a single national combination of color, fabric, and cut. It is the attire that complies with the specific rules of the school, hospital, clinic, or area where it will be used.

Some institutions establish very detailed requirements; others allow choosing among several colors and models. Students may also have to comply simultaneously with their university's rules and those of the clinical setting.

The correct order is:

  1. Obtain the institution's rules.
  2. Confirm color, garments, footwear, and identification.
  3. Review for any special requirements by area.
  4. Choose a size that allows comfortable movement.
  5. Check the composition and washing method.
  6. Differentiate everyday uniforms from personal protective equipment.

A garment can look professional and be comfortable, but that does not guarantee it complies with the regulations of your school or workplace. Final confirmation must always be obtained directly from the responsible institution.

Sources consulted

  • Regulations for the use of student uniforms — Faculty of Nursing and Obstetrics, UNAM
  • NOM-017-STPS-2024, Personal protective equipment: selection, use, and handling in workplaces — Official Gazette of the Federation
  • Laundry and Bedding: Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Standards and Specifications for Protective Clothing — CDC/NIOSH
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