orientation at hospital on monday... scrubs or no scrubs??

Katie89 · Oct 2, 2008

At the hospital I started at, we had to wear hospital-issue scrubs (for sanitary reasons). The hospital launders them, so I don't really know what your case would be like.

I would suggest wearing nice street clothes, but bringing a pair of scrubs along. The first day might consist of "paperwork" type stuff; filling out forms, watching training videos, etc. However, if they want you to jump right in, you'll have something on hand.

Good luck!

hikernurse · Oct 2, 2008

No harm in calling or e-mailing HR (or whoever you spoke with) and asking. Most people wear nice street clothes and that's fine. If they're taking your ID picture, just make sure you have a cute top :).

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2008

If this orientation is taking place at a LTCF, I would wear scrubs, or at least bring a pair of scrubs along. All of the nursing homes where I've been employed have the tendency to throw you onto the floor early, and your orientation will often consist of following an experienced CNA around as she/he works.

samsam22, CNA · Oct 2, 2008

im going to a hospital and working the med-surg unit

ive have no experience in a hospital all i have experience in is LTC for school cinicals then i worked home health for 6 months

so i totally dont know what to expect haha. very nervous. :confused:

momofboygirltwins03 · Oct 3, 2008

They didn't tell you what to wear? I'd go with wearing scrubs.

samsam22, CNA · Oct 3, 2008

okay so i called them today asking what to wear

she said it doesnt matter just be comfortable scrubs or street clothes are okay.

so now i have to pick which one!! lol i wish she woulda just said one or the other! :no:

i think ill just wear casual nice street clothes... no point to wear scrubs if im not doing any work...but if everyone else is wearing scrubs i will feel kinda retarded :-/

rancelumsden · Oct 3, 2008

As another poster stated, ask.

I too worked in med-surg/oncology in hospital. We wore street clothes for orientation. Actually, I had a full, two-weeks training in classroom before even going to the floor. That was all street clothes --- in several classrooms.

Once I was on the floor, I had a preceptor for a month. Very rigorous training --- they'll tell you what to expect (or again, go and ask --- no one is going to think less of you for asking how they work training for new folksies). I have no guess as to what your training will consist, but I would find the administrator for the unit you're going to and introduce yourself and ask what will happen when you start. Preceptor training in one form or another is widely done.

You'll be nervous as hell for awhile --- we all were. Get as much out of any training as you can, don't overly fret about being the new person, and slow, and not knowing procedures (yeah, easy to say, harder to follow advice).

Best advice ---- get a small notepad (one of those 4-6 inch pads with a couple of pens that will fit in scrubs pocket and keep notes once you're on the floor). They were invaluable to me and some others did that too.

samsam22, CNA · Oct 3, 2008

thank you rancel, yeah i did call and ask i am just going to wear street clothes.

from what i heard we are getting a 8 hour orientation, then we shadow someone for like 3 shifts and thats it :-/ i am going to bring my notepad becuase that helped me a lot in cinicals.

im excited but i am scared, i am only 18 and i have a feeling there wont be very many other young people at the hospital, hopefully they respect me.

im just glad im doing this during nursing school its really a great thing