NP School and Uniforms?

[aspiringcnm3, RN]

Hi everybody,

I'm starting NP/CNM school soon and while I'm sure my school will answer this question for me eventually, I'm really curious what NP students wear to clinicals? I imagine when I'm at the hospital on the labor floor I'll be in scrubs but what about at the office/during ambulatory care rotations? Do your schools have a uniform or do you wear something business casual, etc.? Thanks in advance ?

[barcode120x, RN, NP]

White coat (half-one) is a given for clinicals. Underneath we were told business casual (makes sense, in general most clinicians wear that), but it depends on your preceptor. Mine allows scrubs underneath, but I wear scrubs so much to work that it's nice to dress up a bit for clinic. I'm always down to wear my long sleeve and slacks.

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

I've had different experiences with required dress at different locations. My first family med rotation, the D.O. who ran the clinic did not want anyone to wear a lab coat. She felt it gives patients "white coat syndrome"" and ratchets up their anxiety. She preferred we dress business casual and wear our school IDs as a name badge.

My OB/Gyn rotation was at the county health department and they required all practitioners to wear a white lab coat. I wore the one my school issued me with my patch & student ID. I mainly wore scrubs underneath, just for comfort.

My current rotation for family med 2 & internal med, I have another D.O. but he mostly takes med students. I'm his only NP student this semester. He wants professional dress (ties for the male students) and white coats. I'm actually recuperating from a surgical procedure and have to wear a Bledsoe brace on my arm/wrist, so I can't wear my white coat as I can't get it on over the brace. He was a bit miffed that I couldn't wear a white coat and thinks it looks "unprofessional" to just wear plain clothes and a school ID. I have no choice. I tried wearing the coat and putting the brace over it, but I can't bend my arm if I do so.

I'll start my hospital rotations in the fall and the location I'll go to wants us to wear scrubs and a white coat.

I prefer wearing scrubs for ease, comfort & breathable fabrics. The white coat is so hot, I always feel sweaty when I have to wear it. Plus, it shows every single speck of dirt you come in contact with through the course of the day. I go through bleach pens like crazy when I have to wear one.