Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has announced a new dress code for employees in the Nursing Service Cadre, effective immediately. The decision, made after reviewing a proposal from the Odisha Nursing Employees’ Association, aims to bring uniformity and professionalism to the attire of nursing staff across the state.
As per the official notification issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department, the new dress code will be implemented without imposing significant financial costs on the state government. The detailed guidelines have been outlined in an official document attached to the notification.
Under the new dress code, Nursing Officers and Senior Nursing Officers will wear light lavender-colored uniforms. Those working in the ICU, OT, or Labour Room will be required to wear ‘scrub suits.’ Female staff in general wards will have the option of wearing sarees or salwar kameez with a 3/4 sleeve top, while male staff will wear a shirt and deep navy blue formal trousers.
Assistant Nursing Superintendents (ANS) will wear cyan blue uniforms. Similar to nursing officers, ANS staff in the ICU, OT, or Labour Room will wear scrub suits. Female ANS staff will wear sarees or salwar kameez, while male ANS staff will don shirts paired with deep navy blue formal trousers.
Deputy Nursing Superintendents (DNS) and Nursing Superintendents (NS) will be required to wear white uniforms. Like their counterparts in other categories, DNS and NS staff in the ICU, OT, or Labour Room will wear scrub suits. Female DNS and NS staff will wear sarees, while male staff will wear shirts with deep navy blue formal trousers.
A distinctive feature of the new dress code is the introduction of white aprons for all staff members, which will now include a deep purple Sambalpuri border at the collar. Nursing Officers and Senior Nursing Officers working in general wards will wear white half-sleeve aprons, while ANS, DNS, and NS staff will wear full-sleeve aprons.
Additionally, all staff members, regardless of rank, will have their name and designation embroidered on their uniforms. Nursing Superintendents will also wear a dark brown badge featuring the hospital logo, their name, and designation, further promoting a sense of identity and authority within the healthcare setting.
This initiative reflects the government’s commitment to enhancing the professional appearance of healthcare workers while maintaining practical and comfortable attire suited to their roles and responsibilities.