Nursing Class Attire-Sweats/Leggings

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Specializes in Progressive Care/Critical Care.

Fellow nursing students,

I just wanted to know on days when you don't have clinicals and on exam days do you put effort into your appearance, i.e. do you dress to impress? I read a interesting article which stated that students should not wear sweats to class as it impacts the impression you make on your professors and fellow students. Also, in nursing school, sometimes professors are able to connect you with prospective job opportunities or externships. I was just really surprised as this is something that I have never considered.

Personally, I don't wear sweats on lecture days but I definitely don't dress business casual.

I appreciate your opinions!

Thank you.

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Jeans, leggings, sweats, hoodies, dresses... Depends on how I feel that day.

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I think coming into class looking like you literally just rolled out of bed is a bit much. I usually dress casually, but I don't wear anything too revealing or something with a bunch of holes in it. My academic performance is not impacted by how I dress, so I might as well be comfortable, right? I have good rapport with all my instructors, and I don't think they judge me too much by what I wear.

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Attending regular classes doesn't require clinical attire, and certainly doesn't require business casual.

If you wish to be perceived as a slob, then wear slob clothes (holes, dirty, dragging on the ground, ill-fitting, etc). But there's nothing wrong with comfortable clean casual clothing :)

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Specializes in PCT, RN.

This is the first year (if I remember orientation correctly) that we're not required to wear our full uniform for all classes (scrubs, nursing shoes, etc).

We were told there isn't a specific dress code for class days but that we shouldn't wear anything revealing "like we're going clubbing after" lol.

Sweats/leggings should be fine I would imagine. As far as not getting help from your professors in getting a job, I'd think that as long as you do well in class/clinical and they know that you aren't lazy and your appearance during class doesn't reflect your work ethic then that shouldn't make a difference.

I personally can't stand wearing sweats anywhere outside of home and am always in jeans or leggings lol.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I tend to be a fairly casual person in general and never dressed up for school but have to say some of the things I have seen on my visits to campus of a well respected state university where I teach clinicals is over the top. It isn't like we are art or music majors. As others have said you don't need to go to class dressed like you are trying to pick up a date or going to a club.

Although I rarely see my students in much other than their clinical uniforms it absolutely would reflect poorly on their judgement, imo, if I saw them in class wearing Daisy Dukes and a spaghetti strap tank. For some my opinion might not matter which is fine but then again I have given more than a few students a leg up in securing their first nursing job. It speaks to focus and maturity, imo.

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This is my first semester, and I'll probably dress casually: leggings with a nice shirt, jeans, I don't ever wear sweatpants simply because I don't like them. Make sure you're clean and don't smell. But I would think our instructors will be more impressed with our work ethic than our pants style.

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Specializes in ICU.

Jeans and hoodies, all the way!!! If I have to sit in an uncomfortable chair for 8 hours listening to someone lecture, I'm going to be comfortable. I only wear sweatpants at home. Mostly because I like mine big and baggy just to lay around in. I have seen some crazy get ups though in class. We have never networked for a job in lecture and my instructors are usually too busy dealing with other stuff to probably notice what I wear. I never look sloppy. My hair and make up are always done, but I don't dress business casual.

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I tend to be a fairly casual person in general and never dressed up for school but have to say some of the things I have seen on my visits to campus of a well respected state university where I teach clinicals is over the top. It isn't like we are art or music majors. As others have said you don't need to go to class dressed like you are trying to pick up a date or going to a club.

Although I rarely see my students in much other than their clinical uniforms it absolutely would reflect poorly on their judgement, imo, if I saw them in class wearing Daisy Dukes and a spaghetti strap tank. For some my opinion might not matter which is fine but then again I have given more than a few students a leg up in securing their first nursing job. It speaks to focus and maturity, imo.

Exactly! I feel that we shouldn't have to tell adults (there are no children in nursing school) how they are supposed to dress, but it's clear from some of the campus attire I've seen that SOMEONE should :(

Clean, comfortable, non-revealing clothing for class is always appropriate. I suppose someone could always pipe up with "but my Daisy Dukes and tube top ARE clean and comfortable"....but they certainly couldn't declare them non-revealing! :wideyed:

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I'm required to wear the uniform (scrubs) on all lab and clinical days. They said we don't have to wear our uniform to lecture. WELL...my schedule for fall semester has lecture from 8-10am and lab from 1030a-3pm. I don't see changing from regular clothes to scrubs between classes....so looks like I'll be in scrubs all day

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