for those of you that dress business casual for work..

[ashleyisawesome, BSN, RN]

in 2 weeks i may be starting a job at an inpatient psych unit as a tech per diem. the dress code is business casual. i have a couple of dress pants, and plenty of appropriate shirts, but i was wondering if it would be acceptable to wear a long dress skirt? especially if im doing a 1:1, because thats mainly what id be doing most of the time.. i only have 3 dress pants, but i also have 3 or four long dress skirts for interviews and stuff, just seeing if i can broaden my work wardrobe without going out and buying more pants.

[Guest717236]

I would caution against a long dress skirt for psych. You never know when

an emergency situation will arise and you will need freedom of

movement without restrictions. My suggestion is to evaluate the type

of one to one cases you are on and then you can better assess if

the long skirt is an option.

Good luck with your new job!

[rn/writer, RN]

Try your local Goodwill store or other thrift shop places for inexpensive dress pants. My daughters put together beautiful outfits and buy most of their clothes from such places for very reasonable amounts. I'm talking dress pants for $4 or an outfit suitable for a friend's wedding for $15.

You might be amazed at what you can put together for a minimal amount. Then, if something is torn or stained, you don't have to cry over how much you spent.

Best wishes on the wardrobe.

[sharpeimom]

i second rn/writer's suggestion. when i worked in a state mental hospital as an rn, we wore either tan or navy docker-style slacks with either a tan or navy polo shirt with the hospital's name embroidered on. we could buy from their supplier or buy our own pants and tops, and have them embroidered. i'm both short as well as short legged and their pants never seemed to fit quite right.

i could have then shortened but they were still too long in the crotch and looked weird.

plain dockers, similar slacks, etc. are stock items at thrift and secondhand stores. many ywcas have

used clothing available for a donation. i took my unworn clothes there for the battered woman's center clients use, and at the same time, made a donation, and came home with pants to be altered.

i always bought the hospital's tops because they were cheap enough to just toss when they got crummy and replace.

good luck!

[blakese]

Comfortable slacks and non revealing comfortable tops. I can't imagine being in any kind of skirt that would work. (and I am with the females) Only person in our facility that wears skirts is the chaplain and WAY upper management. Good luck to you and congratulations on the new position!

[kiwipsychnurse]

Hi, Work in a psych hospital in New Zealand. Most of us just wear jeans and tee shirts. Today I'm wearing a Canadian Rugby jersey, jeans and trainers. Due to the amount of sport we play with the patients it would be very impracticle to dress up although nothing to stop you wearing a suit although you will have some strange looks and people asking you if your going to court with a patient.

[LuckyinKY]

I am a Psych tech and tend to wear cargo khaki pants and comfortable shirts like polos or cotton fitted shirts along with sneakers. I am on the move constantly and needs lots of pockets. I would not feel comfortable wearing a skirt. I prefer to be more casual but not sloppy.

[marshmallowstar, BSN, RN]

Short answer: nope. No skirts, ever.

Business casual on psych units leans more towards kakis than dress pants. there is goodwill like someone suggest or if you perfer new Old Navy often has sales for ~$10.

When you're thinking of tops think more casual & covered than business and dressy. 1:1s often involve patients that will end up with hands on or body fluid exposure so basic polos, long sleeve shirts are fine. No need for a fashion show when it runs the risk of being spit on.

[morecoffeepls, BSN, RN]

& no open shoes unless you want some schizoaffective foot fetishist staring at your toes with his hand in his pajama bottoms.

[sharpeimom]

no necklaces someone can grab and twist or dangly earrings! better yet, no earrings at all but plain gold or silver studs or loveknots.

i have a plain rounded heavy wide gold wedding band which i wore, but except for a cheap snoopy or spongebob watch with a second hand, that was it as far as jewelry went. cheap watch because if it got

banged up, broke or "disappeared" off my arm it was no big deal.