Appropriate orientation attire

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Hello everyone! I just got my acceptance letter for the Middle Georgia State College Spring '15 BSN program a few days ago. I have a mandatory orientation the third week of December and I'm pretty nervous. I was hoping that someone out there could advise me on what to expect and definitely WHAT TO WEAR. I want to be sure that I am fully prepared and appropriately dressed for this. This is the first topic I've posted, so I hope to get a response!

Thanks,

Lauren Pupek

Specializes in ICU.

This is just nursing school orientation, correct? Where whatever you want. It's an orientation. They are not judging you on how you dress for it. Mine was in the summer. I worn capris that were jeans, flip flops, and a tank top. It's honestly no big deal. On lecture days we can wear whatever we want. I'm always in jeans and a hooded sweatshirt and many of my classmates wear sweats. For a 4 or 6 hour lecture, you better be comfortable. The only days we have to wear something specific is at clinicals and lab days. On lab days we can wear whatever scrubs we wanted and to clinicals we have a set uniform. I'm all for professionalism in the workplace, school not so much.

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Specializes in ICU.

I think simple and professional works best for orientation. My school allowed us to wear anything for orientation and one girl actually showed up in booty shorts stating that she had just came from the gym..

Good luck to you!

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This is just nursing school orientation, correct? Where whatever you want. It's an orientation. They are not judging you on how you dress for it. Mine was in the summer. I worn capris that were jeans, flip flops, and a tank top. It's honestly no big deal. On lecture days we can wear whatever we want. I'm always in jeans and a hooded sweatshirt and many of my classmates wear sweats. For a 4 or 6 hour lecture, you better be comfortable. The only days we have to wear something specific is at clinicals and lab days. On lab days we can wear whatever scrubs we wanted and to clinicals we have a set uniform. I'm all for professionalism in the workplace, school not so much.

Can't say how much I disagree with this statement. I suppose that there are places that really don't care how you look. But I can absolutely say--and with certainty, because I've been IN those discussions--that there are those that DO.

Want to be seen as a slob, someone without concern for image? Dress the part. Want to be seen as an upwardly-mobile young professional? DRESS the part!

You will be judged throughout your entire nursing school experience, make no mistake about that. And if the impression is poor, once made, it can be pretty hard to undo. Once you are into the schedule, and the atmosphere is clearly relaxed, go ahead and relax. Wear what's comfortable. But beach attire has no place at a college nursing orientation, sorry.

And I don't care if it's "only" orientation. Instructors and administrators will get a sense of what you are bringing to the table.....and you don't want them to think "WTH is up with that?" before you even get started.

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Specializes in ICU.
Can't say how much I disagree with this statement. I suppose that there are places that really don't care how you look. But I can absolutely say--and with certainty, because I've been IN those discussions--that there are those that DO.

Want to be seen as a slob, someone without concern for image? Dress the part. Want to be seen as an upwardly-mobile young professional? DRESS the part!

You will be judged throughout your entire nursing school experience, make no mistake about that. And if the impression is poor, once made, it can be pretty hard to undo. Once you are into the schedule, and the atmosphere is clearly relaxed, go ahead and relax. Wear what's comfortable. But beach attire has no place at a college nursing orientation, sorry.

And I don't care if it's "only" orientation. Instructors and administrators will get a sense of what you are bringing to the table.....and you don't want them to think "WTH is up with that?" before you even get started.

I usually agree with you, but honestly people make a bigger deal out of it than what it is. You are in a big roomful of people where the instructors have absolutely no idea who you are. They aren't there to learn your names at this point. You are there to get info about shots, physicals, background checks. Not one person cares what you look like. They care about what you look in in clinicals and that is about it. This is not a job interview or job orientation. Those are completely different scenarios. And I am going to one of the best programs in my state that is well respected by the hospitals and has a 100% NCLEX rate.

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Thank you so much! Most everyone seems to be saying professional or business casual, so I think I have a pretty good idea of what I'm wearing now. I would have never shown up in booty shorts...that is ridiculous! It will definitely be interesting to see what kind of outfits people decide to wear.

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I usually agree with you, but honestly people make a bigger deal out of it than what it is. You are in a big roomful of people where the instructors have absolutely no idea who you are. They aren't there to learn your names at this point. You are there to get info about shots, physicals, background checks. Not one person cares what you look like. They care about what you look in in clinicals and that is about it. This is not a job interview or job orientation. Those are completely different scenarios. And I am going to one of the best programs in my state that is well respected by the hospitals and has a 100% NCLEX rate.

Well, I guess this is where we'll just have to agree to disagree :)

In your situation, you felt comfortable going with what you went wearing; I'd still put out there that not every program is going to start with a 'big roomful of people' (my own class was not what I'd call so large that individuals were not noticed--the opposite, in fact)..... and that if you ARE going to stand out, you probably don't want to stand out in in a negative manner.

OP, good luck in whatever you decide to wear and however you wish to proceed.....nursing school is a wild ride no matter how you're dressed! :D

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Well, I guess this is where we'll just have to agree to disagree :)

In your situation, you felt comfortable going with what you went wearing; I'd still put out there that not every program is going to start with a 'big roomful of people' (my own class was not what I'd call so large that individuals were not noticed--the opposite, in fact)..... and that if you ARE going to stand out, you probably don't want to stand out in in a negative manner.

OP, good luck in whatever you decide to wear and however you wish to proceed.....nursing school is a wild ride no matter how you're dressed! :D

I do agree with this....now every program is a big room full of people....there were 25 accepted into my program this semester. I also think appropriate attire depends on your program also....I touched base with our program adviser to see what her opinion was on the topic and she said Everyday clothing but obviously not anything revealing or inappropriate...that business casual is not expected or necessary......That being said...I am not going to show up in jeans and a hoodie like I just rolled out of bed.....I will however be going with my first instinct and wearing nice jeans....a nice top and hair fixed etc....like I would for an important meeting at my kids school or something like that. Put together but not like I'm off to work in the office....

I do believe there are programs that do expect business casual etc but not every program....so i guess what I am saying is feel out your program and go with what you are comfortable with....I don't think there is one RIGHT answer to this question but over dressed is much better than looking like a slob

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
They are not judging you on how you dress for it.

I'm all for professionalism in the workplace, school not so much.

I know someone beat me to this, but I think this is a bit of a dangerous attitude. Like it or not, a student is judged from day 1. Nursing instructors/professors know and are sometimes friends with nurse managers. Even if you don't ask a given instructor for a letter of reference, that instructor can have an informal chat with the NM on a unit to which a graduating student applies. You better believe they are going to bring up the student's unprofessional attitude.

Is it "fair" to be judged on what one wears to school orientation? Maybe not, but it happens. Not to mention the fact that the unprofessional-appearing student could be making quite a negative first impression--an impression that could follow that student around during the length of nursing school.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
I'd still put out there that not every program is going to start with a 'big roomful of people'

My nursing school orientation was in a fairly big room; however, I had an interview with one of the instructors prior to my acceptance to school. If I showed up for orientation in raggedy jeans, a grungy t-shirt and dirty sneakers…pretty sure all the instructors would know my name.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Start off on the right foot and impress from day one. You never know which of your instructors work at the facility you want to eventually work at

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Start off on the right foot and impress from day one. You never know which of your instructors work at the facility you want to eventually work at

YES!

Even if not intended, if the image projected is "I don't really care much about this, it's not important enough to wear decent pants and shoes, they should appreciate me just the way I am"....it isn't going to garner you much favor.

It would be great if everyone were always on the same page on these things; in other words, if it was ALWAYS understood that newly-enrolled students could and should come to orientation dressed any which way and it's perfectly fine, a 'No Judging Zone'. But until the day arrives that we are ALL of the same frame of mind....wouldn't it be better to play it safe? After all...how tough is it, really, to wear shoes instead of flip flops, and pants instead of jeans?

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Maybe try to ask some current nursing students at your school what they wore to orientation?

I believe this all depends on your school and what occurs during your orientation. Our orientation consisted of us sitting in an auditorium for 3 hours, while two instructors and the dean went over immunizations, clinical information, and a little bit of information about our upcoming classes. Our orientation consisted of 100+ students - and we sat for 99% of the time. So depending on where you sat I doubt the instructors could even tell what you were wearing, much less cared.

Now if you have a small class and will spend some time with instructors I would go with business casual. Dress to impress. :)

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