(IN)Appropriate Dress

Nurses General Nursing

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  1. Should Nurse Practioners adhere to a formal dress code?

52 members have participated

Nurse Practitioners are at the forefront of healthcare reform. Many patients only contact with a healthcare professional will be with a Nurse Practitioner.

My question is this: Do you cringe when you see a nurse practitioner dressed inappropriately for the professional setting?

Tell us about a personal experience that you have had with a nurse-practitioner who did not dress appropriately for their setting.

Examples would be a male nurse practitioner who wore skinny jeans and a muscle shirt, or perhaps a female that wore yoga pants and high-heel boots.

Specializes in Cardiac, Home Health, Primary Care.

I do think some of it depends on the clinic (though no excuses for what some of you have been describing).

Professional attire with a lab coat is always ideal but in smaller clinics I have seen some NP's wear nice jeans, tennis shoes, and a t shirt with the clinic logo on it. It's more casual but the rural clinics I've been in are a more laid back environment.

Knowing I was going to be a NP eventually I always got my tattoos places where I could hide them rather easily. I have one on my upper chest/shoulder so I make sure to buy high necked under shirts to cover it. Occasionally I wear some trousers that only go to my ankles so one of ankle tattoos peaks out sometimes but if that's the worst I do my patients can get over it.

My town has only in the last few years started hiring PA's and NP's for primary care clinics and for the hospitalist group. Before that you only found them in the urgent cares so our patients are still warming up to the idea of someone without MD behind their name caring for them.

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Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.

My dad is a long-time ER physician who wears scrubs to everything. He wore Halloween-themed scrubs to my after-wedding dinner...in July. Does that count? ;)

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No, you wear appropriate professional attire.

I wear scrubs as well since I work the floor.

My facility is going to department-approved colors. I do not particularly care for being told what to wear, but such is life.

Actually, I am a school nurse now and can wear whatever I want. Guess what I wear? Scrubs. It's just easier, and everyone knows I'm The Nurse.

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Specializes in Pedi.
Nurse Practitioners are perfectly capable of policing themselves. It is my belief that those who dress like they are going to a bar after work are the ones who did not have a proper role model.

Those of us seeking higher degrees should remember to be the change that we want to see.

What's wrong with going to the bar after work? ;)

Tell us about a personal experience that you have had with a nurse-practitioner who did not dress appropriately for their setting.

This statement seems to assume that we've all had this experience. I can't say I've ever noticed or cared what NPs are wearing.

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I've only run into this a couple of times as a patient. The NP's were very young and attired more appropriately for after-work (IMHO). Low-cut tops with a bit too much cleavage, really tight pants, but that's only a couple out of many. Overall, the ones I've seen (as a patient and professionally) are sharp and dressed appropriately.

I've seen many more admin level nurses dressed … ah… questionably, trying a bit too hard especially in terms of cleavage, clothes being too tight, too revealing, crazy hair styles, crazy jewelry and too much makeup and perfume. Oh and some in heels so high they could barely walk.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

I have honestly never seen this as an issue outside of student NPs that I occasionally have to remind of appropriate attire.

Sent from my iPhone.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Wow, you've got pretty strong opinions about what others wear. Honestly, I don't think ONE person dressing "inappropriately", by YOUR definition, is enough to undermine an entire profession. Yes, I silently sigh when coworkers come to an inservice that clearly requested "business casual" in jeans and an NFL sweatshirt, but they are shooting themselves in the foot, not nurses as an entity. Just my opinion, clearly not in line with yours, so fire away!!

No, you wear appropriate professional attire.

I wear scrubs as well since I work the floor.

My facility is going to department-approved colors. I do not particularly care for being told what to wear, but such is life.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Back to the OP: have you seen NPs/Docs, etc., dressed inappropriately?

Where I live (and I go to five hospitals) I've never seen it.

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Specializes in Ortho, CMSRN.

Inappropriate? I dunno.. My first contact with an "outsider"-dressed medical person was when I was being precepted as a new nurse. I saw a lady with a visor, tank top, capris and flip flops with a 8 year old girl in tow going in to the supply room and returning with things that a normal person would not want. I was a bit aghast and followed her into the room, where the patient addressed her as Dr. ____. After learning a bit more, and having more of her patient's, this doctor is an AMAZING doc, and... probably a workaholic. She was in to visit her patient on the weekend before taking her niece on an outing. If I ever need an OBGYN, she'll be the first doctor that I call though. And no... her dress her no bearing on how I think of her professionally, even though I might have been a bit taken aback at first.

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Specializes in General.

We have designated blue jean days. I wear nice jeans with a nice top and lab jacket. Never had a issue with patients complaint about attire.

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Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.

I've seen 'bad taste' in clothing, but that's just their personal preference. Only once did I see an NP come into a nursing home sporting ripped-knees-jeans, a tank-top, a lab coat, and high-heel 'mules' (sandals). When she went in to the nurses station and took out a chart and started writing an order, I just hushed my mouth and went on about my business. If it's ok with her patient who am I to say anything?

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Specializes in Critical Care/Vascular Access.

I'm wondering why you picked out NPs in particular? I've seen more doctors dressed questionably than NPs, but even so nothing really out of line. One of our surgeons used to come in often in his jogging clothes with a lab coat thrown over them. He was an amazing surgeon though and I don't think anyone cared that he'd come in off a morning jog. I have seen others that just look a little unkept and quirky, but they're often the best at what they do. Weird people are often the most talented.

I will admit though, although I've not seen it personally, some of the descriptions in this thread of NPs and MDs seem incredibly tacky. Some things can be worn tastefully (like skinny pants or knee high boots), and some things can't (like leopard print tops, ha).

Although first impressions are definitely important, I always wait to see how the person actually is at their job before making any judgements, which far outweighs their appearance in the long run.

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