Have dress codes changed for clinical prep?

chrisrn24 · Dec 7, 2012

Maybe the low-cut shirt is inappropriate but it wasn't like they were doing clinical. They were just getting their clinical info. I know days that I'm not working, I feel like I have to counteract my days of wearing scrubs by dressing up a little.

Just my two cents. Maybe if it becomes a bigger problem, suggest to their instructor that they have a dress code for clinical prep-work.

Bouncyball · Dec 7, 2012

Our dress code for getting pt info for clinicals is no open toe shoes, no jeans, and we have to wear a lab coat over our outfit.

chorkle · Dec 7, 2012

Dress code for students at my place is: Uniforms required.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Dec 7, 2012

our contract with the schools states they must wear uniforms even if doing the prep work. If they are here, they are in uniform

DoeRN · Dec 7, 2012

When I had clinicals were could either wear our uniforms with our school lab jacket or business casual. No jeans, no low cut shirts etc. I thought they were inappropriately dressed regardless if it was an actual clinical day or not.

DoeRN · Dec 7, 2012

Maybe the low-cut shirt is inappropriate but it wasn't like they were doing clinical. They were just getting their clinical info. I know days that I'm not working, I feel like I have to counteract my days of wearing scrubs by dressing up a little.
Just my two cents. Maybe if it becomes a bigger problem, suggest to their instructor that they have a dress code for clinical prep-work.

But they were still in the hospital setting and they were interviewing the patients. It is a hospital and not the night club. I guess since I'm older I have a different way of thinking in regards to what is appropriate to wear to various settings.

Even the charge nurse said something about the way the 2 students were dressed.

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Dec 7, 2012

Our dress code was closed toe shoes, no jeans, no revealing clothing. We had to wear our white lab coats. I usually wore khakis, flats and a nice blouse or sweater with my lab coat over it whenever I had to go to the hospital to do my clinical prep.

rdsxfnrn · Dec 7, 2012

We had to wear clinical uniform. No exceptions due to the fact that we were still "guests" at the facility and were expected to be professional at all times.

T-Bird78 · Dec 7, 2012

We had white uniforms and the shirts had the school patch on the sleeve, as did our white lab coats. Close-toed shoes, all white (I had to use white out to cover a light gray stripe on the sides) and the uniform. If we were in psych or peds it was business casual but nothing low-cut, nothing short, no high heels, no open-toe shoes. Our clinical instructor would send us home and we'd get an incomplete for that day's clinical rotation, or the facility would call the school and complain if we violated it!

Editorial Team / Admin · Dec 7, 2012

We were required to wear business casual and our lab coats. The school affiliated with the hospital where I work requires the same. The school I graduated from ended up having to require nursing students to wear graduation cap and gown to the pinning ceremony "because too many students dressed inappropriately." I assume that means too revealing, too formal (as in, the dress you'd wear to prom style), or too informal. I think several schools or the hospitals that host clinicals have started requiring uniforms to be worn because the students don't have a sense for what is appropriate attire.

ashleyisawesome, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2012

we never had to come the day before to do research, and im glad we didnt! i find that idea kind of silly anyway. when they become nurses, they dont come in on their day off to look up their patients so they will be prepared the next day. as students they have generally 6-8 hours with one or two patients, surely that is enough time to gather all of the info they need for their careplans?!

as for the dress code, yes, what they were wearing was inappropriate. they should have to wear their uniforms all the time. how are you to know some girl wearing heels and a low cut top looking through charts and computers is a nursing student, or just some nosey visitor who found a lab coat laying around?