Staff at the Ottawa Hospital hope a new dress-code will make it easier for patients to spot nurses.

Starting March 1, nurse uniforms will include accessories, such as lab coats, to make it easier for patients to identify them.

Nurses will still be able to wear their colourful scrubs, but they'll have to wear lab coats when they're on break.

The hospital says graphic T-shirts are not permitted, and all employees must make their ID badges visible, wearing them above the waist.