Scrubs or Business Casual for Orientation?

[seasidesoul]

Hi again, AN!!

I just received an email from HR stating that either scrubs or business casual is acceptable for orientation. This is my first job in this field, so I wanted to get your opinion! Would wearing scrubs really be acceptable, or is it frowned upon? Again, I know we're given the option, but I don't know what the "norm" is in this field, and I don't want to be the only one in scrubs or the only one in business casual.

In your experience, what do nurses usually wear to orientation?

[noelly10]

I wore both. Depended on how I felt. But if they say you could do either or, why would wearing scrubs be frowned upon? That is your work attire, is it not? Also, why care what others are wearing? As long as you stay within their guidelines on what you can wear, then you're fine.

[seasidesoul]

I wore both. Depended on how I felt. But if they say you could do either or, why would wearing scrubs be frowned upon? That is your work attire, is it not? Also, why care what others are wearing? As long as you stay within their guidelines on what you can wear, then you're fine.

I just haven't had much interaction with my manager, so I don't want to seem informal. But that's true, it IS my work attire. I'm overthinking it. New jobs are stressful! I want to make the best impression possible.

[noelly10]

I just haven't had much interaction with my manager, so I don't want to seem informal. But that's true, it IS my work attire. I'm overthinking it. New jobs are stressful! I want to make the best impression possible.

I don't understand how wearing your work attire would seem informal.

[seasidesoul]

I don't understand how wearing your work attire would seem informal.

That's fair. There's been a lot of discussion amongst the new grads, which is why I came here for input. Thanks again!

[cnurseisshe, BSN]

I personally chose to wear business casual attire for orientation only because I knew I was going to be wearing scrubs for pretty much the rest of my life! I took it as an opportunity to wear something other than scrubs for the time being, but like others said, it's all personal preference.

[Angelicamarie]

I wore scrubs just because I felt they were more comfortable. About half wore scrubs and half wore business casual.

[hollyspiller0253]

Hello.

I actually have worn a combination of both. Depending on how long your orientation is, often times on the first day; they give you somewhat of an outline on what they will be covering during the course of the program.

On class days, business casual. On clinical days (such as skills re-demonstration or CPR verification), scrubs.

Our nurse orientation @ corporate is 6 weeks by itself. We do a combination of the above style days. My employer almost reteaches you all of their core information: cardiac, neuro, peds, ect. They also go through a lot of their equipment, you have to learn how to use all of their lifts and special sheets for transfers, they even do IV equipment. So you end up having to learn and demonstrate various clinical skills and basic patient safety measures. You even mock code during 2 days.

So, I say all that to say...wear what is appropriate for that day of orientation.

Best of luck!!

[thinwildmercury]

I wore business casual but no one told us anything about what to wear. When we had skills days they told us to wear scrubs. I would definitely wear scrubs if they said that's ok. Much more comfortable! lol

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

If you're given the option, go for the nicer route. I will over dress a little in every circumstance if I have the option. "Dress for the position you want, not the one you have" is what always runs through my head in cases like this. It matters, trust me.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Business casual for General Orientation (all employees, clinical & non-clinical) for sure. But your clinical educator should be able to provide you with guidance for your Nursing Orientation. If you're more comfortable in scrubs, that should be OK.