Can Psych NPs wear suits to work?

This may be a silly questio, but I'm sincerely interested in psych nursing and would like further insight into work environment and work attire specifically. I'm a firm believer in the look your best do your best idealogy. Can psych nps wear suits to work?

[Jules A, MSN]

Depends on the setting. Wear what the Docs wear. I think our appearance is important. Inpatient I wear business casual with a lab coat, outpatient I wear a pants suit.

[PG2018]

I tend to wear business casual, but you should note the definition of business casual is quite variable. Today I'm wearing slacks and a v-neck sweater with a collared shirt underneath. Yesterday, I wore an open collared, long sleeve dress shirt and slacks. I never wear a tie, and I'm not really comfortable sitting in a jacket. However, sport coats or blazers when it's cool enough are good for me, and that's why I've installed a coat hook on the wall behind my desk. I just have to be mindful of unruly kids getting loose behind my desk touching it with their little Cheetos grubby fingers.

If you're a guy a good suit is expensive, and I'm somewhat against wearing them over and over again if the situation doesn't dictate the need. Bear in mind, I said good suit. You could probably get something off the rack at JC Penney and be fine, but something that fits well and isn't shiny has some cost.

My only downfall is that instead of a nice, "professional" bag I carry a tactical-grade bag. In fact, I ordered a new one a couple days ago to better accomodate the tablet I'm typing on now.

Thanks for ur replys...also what would be a starting salary for a new grad psych np?

[PG2018]

Thanks for ur replys...also what would be a starting salary for a new grad psych np?

Quite variable. I had offers from 70 with standard benefits to 150 with productivity bonuses and benefits. You can guess where I went.

psychguy, please where are you staying?

This may be a silly questio, but I'm sincerely interested in psych nursing and would like further insight into work environment and work attire specifically. I'm a firm believer in the look your best do your best idealogy. Can psych nps wear suits to work?

Are you kidding me? Donald Trump wears a suit. Psych people, even those with an MBA like me would never think of wearing a suit. That's about as bad as wearing a white coat on an inpatient unit. I mostly wear camping pants with a button up shirt with a front pocket to put my CAC in. On Fridays I wear blue jeans. This reminds me of the idiot manager who wanted staff to wear suits in an inner city community mentor health center. Yea, dress up and make patients feel more like losers….

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN, CNS]

@zenman - whats a CAC?

[Jules A, MSN]

Are you kidding me? Donald Trump wears a suit. Psych people, even those with an MBA like me would never think of wearing a suit. That's about as bad as wearing a white coat on an inpatient unit. I mostly wear camping pants with a button up shirt with a front pocket to put my CAC in. On Fridays I wear blue jeans. This reminds me of the idiot manager who wanted staff to wear suits in an inner city community mentor health center. Yea, dress up and make patients feel more like losers….

Really, even those with a MBA? At the teaching hospital where I work we wear white lab coats on the inpatient psych unit like the rest of the providers in the facility. Even my most psychotic patients are cognizant of the fact that I'm a provider and not another patient or some stranger off the street so the lab coat hasn't been a problem. Personally I think dressing professionally shows respect not disdain. My outpatient job is at an upscale clinic and if I didn't wear a suit my largely professional clientele would think I'm the loser.

[PG2018]

Usually means common access card.

[PG2018]

I understand dressing like the patient makes them feel more comfortable. I understand calling them client empowers them. There's a movement to call the consumer.

I want to be a professional clinician, dress like one, and refer to load as patients.

Today, I wore dark denim and another sweaternamd collarednshirt. It's casual Thursday for me, my Friday.

Hmm I guess the best answer to all of these responses would be to assess the enviornment and clientele before dressing up or down...would that be a correct assumption?

Also are there a lot of male psych nps?

[PG2018]

Probably not.

Not many male NPs.

Not many male nurses.

@zenman - whats a CAC?

Common Access Card. Mine is used to get on post and access my computer

Really, even those with a MBA? At the teaching hospital where I work we wear white lab coats on the inpatient psych unit like the rest of the providers in the facility. Even my most psychotic patients are cognizant of the fact that I'm a provider and not another patient or some stranger off the street so the lab coat hasn't been a problem. Personally I think dressing professionally shows respect not disdain. My outpatient job is at an upscale clinic and if I didn't wear a suit my largely professional clientele would think I'm the loser.

Your upscale client might be a different matter, but in my extensive career, 40 + years, I've never seen anyone wear a white coat on a psych unit. It's actually dangerous. Hope you don't also wear a tie.

[Jules A, MSN]

Your upscale client might be a different matter, but in my extensive career, 40 + years, I've never seen anyone wear a white coat on a psych unit. It's actually dangerous. Hope you don't also wear a tie.

Interesting, where have you worked inpatient? What exactly makes a white coat dangerous?

In this area at all the inpatient psych units I'm aware of and/or have worked the providers wear white lab coats including Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland.

[PG2018]

Your upscale client might be a different matter, but in my extensive career, 40 + years, I've never seen anyone wear a white coat on a psych unit. It's actually dangerous. Hope you don't also wear a tie.

I did most of my training at a VA hospital. Excluding the actual psychiatrists, the rounding internists/hospitals, PAs, and Pharmacists all wore lab coats in the inpatient unit. I didn't. I've never had one.

I still think dressing professionally is beneficial. I prefer the boundary, if you will, that comes with dressing differently than the patients in my clinic.