Has anyone here wore a dress as a uniform?

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I know..you are probably thinking, "Why in the world..."

I was just curious...this isn't for religious reasons. I am just having a very, very hard time finding pants to fit, they make me look like I weigh 50 lbs more than I do...and the other day I just tried on a style of nursing dress (just to see), because we have to get one eventually for pinning anyway.

I am having trouble finding pants is because we can't wear drawstring (which I hate anyway), and all of the flat-front pants come in low-rise...which unless someone wants to stare at half my butt, I can't wear b/c I have an extremely long torso.

I just found it to be comfortable...however, I also didn't have white hose on with it either. It was a princess cut, so the skirt was wider, so movement was good. I was in the dressing room trying to squat down, etc....trying to see how the movement worked, etc.

I was curious of anyone who does wear a dress as a uniform, pros, cons, etc.

I'm alot older than my classmates...I also don't want to look like an idiot.

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Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..

I used to wear dresses all the time and got on fine with them but once we changed to tunic and trousers I wouldn't go back to dresses! We do have a couple of carers that always wear dresses but that's their choice. Bending down in a dress can be a problem! It fairly teaches you to squat down rather than bend from the waist if you don't want to reveal your underwear to all the patients!Similarly stretching up to fix IV's can be just as revealing so I always tended to have a just below the knee hemline.

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Specializes in ICU, SDU, OR, RR, Ortho, Hospice RN.

For me personally I have never tried nor would I wear a dress. When I worked in a hospital and had to do CPR or what ever I would have had that dress up around my neck LOL:lol2:

I love the freedom of scrubs.

Actually in my 'old' hospital we were allowed to wear long shorts for summer and they were the best thing. Talk about feeling free, cool, yet covered up!

I guess I was never a graceful nurse in that I was always elbow deep in something. Climbing up ladders for stores etc was easier to have dacks on!! LOL

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I used to wear dresses when I 1st got out of school-many years ago-but they can be a bit of a hassle when you're crawling under beds to get lost dentures, etc. Try getting your pants from a catalog, they're not all low rise-believe me at my age and shape, low rise is a no-no! I'm at the "mom jeans" stage of my life:lol2:

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Specializes in OB, NP, Nurse Educator.

I have wore white nursing dresses/skirts and tops for the last 22 years. I wear white hose and white nursing shoes. In all these years I have never had a problem not wearing pants. The dresses fit me, nothing hangs out, and I keep a spare in my locker in case I become soiled.

For me it is personal preference - I do not look like the kitchen staff, RT, PT or any other people in the hospital that wear scrubs - you can tell from down the hall that I am a nurse.

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

My school uniforms and a lot of my work uniforms were dresses or skirts and blouses. I never had any major problems with them. If they're long enough, you can bend over without worrying too much. In fact, bending over is probably less revealing than someone in a loose scrub top bending over and giving everyone a view down the front!

Have you tried the Cherokee boxer-style pants? They are definitely not low-rider styles and I like the way they fit me.

These days, I've been having trouble finding even "mom jeans" that fit right unless I order them from a catalog.

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Specializes in Government.

OP, I take it from your post you are a student...make sure you check with your school before you buy anything. Some schools are unholy picky about uniforms and may have specific standards for dresses. I'm sure they'd allow a dress style...but they may have style requirements.

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I wore white uniform dresses when I did my training. Not very practical and very uncomfortable. I would rather stick with scrubs especially since I'm a big girl! :wink2::roll

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Gotta throw in my 2 cents - the place that we had to order our school uniforms for clincial from offered 'custom' made uniform tops and bottoms. You had to provide a ton of measurements, and it was quite pricey, but it may be worth it. I can't remember the name of the online site off the top of my head - it was something dove or dove something. We had to order almost 6 weeks prior to starting clinicals.

If you can find somewhere that will custom make bottoms for you and you can afford it, and your school is okay with them - just a thought. :idea:

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Specializes in A myriad of specialties.

Yes, when I first got out of nursing school in 1985 I wore white dress uniforms and continued to do so until about 1995 when it seemed everyone started wearing the scrubs and I felt out of place. I truly loved wearing the dresses though--they were cooler and I felt freer in my movement. I've worked in a relaxed psych hospital in the last several years and the "uniform" is "street clothes"....and it'sd been kind of nice.

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the pants - when I was a student I made my own white slacks (had a sewing machine) and they fit perfectly

(pants that I've tried on recently - don't fit)

dresses - still have my white 100% cotton, most comfortable, never had a problem wearing these

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Specializes in ER/EHR Trainer.

Work with a couple of nurses who wear either split skirts(like culottes) and one who occasionally wears a jumper uniform. They say they are comfortable-I don't know, I don't think it would be my cup of tea.

Maisy;)

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