Nurses unhappy with new dress code

The Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery (DGNM) has introduced a new dress code for the country's nurses, but they are reluctant to embrace the change by giving up their traditional white dress.

The DGNM on 5 February published a directive asking the nurses to maintain the new dress code, but only a few chose to abide by the new rule. It made the Directorate send in another order on 3 May and some of the nursing colleges and institutes then started following the new dress code.

However, many of the medical colleges are yet to change their traditional white outfit with the new one.

During a cabinet meeting in October 2015 prime minister Sheikh Hasina directed the health secretary to show her some options to change the nurses' traditional white dress. On 21 November last year the health and family welfare ministry appred the new dress for the nurses -- olive shirt and turban and black pants and shoes for senior women staff nurses and assistant nurses, and olive shirt and black pants and shoes for male nurses.

Women nursing supervisors, principals and lecturers of nursing colleges and superintendents can wear olive shirts or saris.

However, the colour of district public health nurses’ (male and female) uniform is light purple while for midwives with diploma degrees it is light pink.

Several senior nurses said the administration did not take their opinion while choosing the dress code. They said the colour of the new uniform is similar to that of Ansar members while many nurses feel embarrassed wearing shirts and pants.

Bangladesh Nurses Association (BNA) secretary general Jalal Uddin Badshah said he is looking for a chance to talk to the prime minister in this regard.

DGNM director general Tandra Sikder, however, hoped to resolve the matter within a short period.