Yes. 

When working the floor at a civilian hospital, I walked into the room with pressed white pants, white tech coat and polished white shoes.  The two older ladies had no question who I was and told me so.  They had seem a bit lost with all of the scrubs (I admit, I love wearing scrubs myself).

 Yes it does, I know from my own experience that fun filled scrubs are more easily accepted than the white coaat syndrome...if you know what I mean. But recently work at a facility that had polo shirts and kakis for the who staff as a uniform and the only variances was the color of shirt. Alot of the residents didnt seem to understand it, they still knew where they were. Personally I like my scrubs and missed the many things I could keep in my pockets and the polo shirts stink cause you had no pockets to keep ink pens scissors or anything that is needed during the shift. Dosen't make much since to me if the residents do not perceive the facility any differently.

Re-read my last note, I left something out and wanted to clarify. 

The two older women felt that they knew who I was and why I was there when I walked into the room.  That was BEFORE I opened my mouth and did introductions.

" It is true that the acquired knowledge,experience  and personal presentation makes the nurse ,"stand-out",though when dealing

 with the adult clientel,their personal perception of professionalism is what matters most. The hair,minimal jewelry,coordinated colors

 and,especially,***white,scrub jacket** is the icing on the cake.Sometimes,the extra polish means the most ,to gain respect."

As a home health and hospice R.N., I've noticed that patients and family respect and have more confidence in me when I wear civilian clothes with a white jacket rather than scrubs or a white uniform. Why? I suppose that being a male, they prefer the stereotype M.D. image for a male rather than the uniformed "nurse" image which they identify with a female. It is extremely sexist, of course. However, again, I don't like wearing scrubs or white uniforms.

To all,

I do think that personality and how you treat patients influences perception more than dress attire. I  have always treated my patients with the upmost respect and this has nothing to do with how I was dressed. I have worn scrubs, and have been in full uniform, and have found that patients react to how they are treated. We have to be compassionate and place ourselves in their situation, when I'm sick, I'm difficult to handle. I have never put much stock into how a nurse was dressed, if he/she was compassionate, and truthful in how they dealt with me, I respected them, I just didn't care how they were dressed. There's my 2 cents, and I'm sticking to it.