What to wear when shadowing

[pinkiepie_RN]

I'm going to be shadowing my clinical instructor from last semester tomorrow night from 4-11 in the ED. What should I wear? I'm thinking I should look sorta nice but it is the ED, so I'm also thinking to wear something I don't care about too much in case bodily fluids get on it or something. Any ideas?

[Jules Anne]

I wore my school uniform when I shadowed. That way the staff knew that I was a student and didn't try to delegate things to me that weren't appropriate.

[MB37]

Email the person you're shadowing and ask them, it's what I did. We shadow for our management clinicals, and I wear business casual and my lab coat with name badge. There's a really small risk of contacting any bodily fluids though.

[samclaug]

I know for us that if we arent actually in clinicals we are not allowed to wear our clinical uniform. I would definately ask your CI what would be appropriate to wear. Let us know how it goes, Im sure it will be very interesting!!

[NoviceRN10]

You should definately ask the person you are shadowing!

[Ms Kylee]

We have to wear our clinical uniforms.

[Alternator81]

It depends. Sometimes I wear my uniform-- sometimes I wear a pair of slacks and a dress shirt with my lab coat. What ever you feel comfortable wearing.

[pinkiepie_RN]

Well guys, I did finally call my instructor and she said to just wear khakis and a shirt, with my school lab coat. Thanks for helping though!

[WDWpixieRN, RN]

For my shadow experience in a facility that wasn't school-related, we were allowed to wear business casual or a set of scrubs (definately not school scrubs unless it's a school-endorsed function). I chose to wear scrubs as it was easier for me.

Your decision to ask your instructor was the best means of determining this for your situation.

Enjoy the ER; I did an internship there last summer and enjoyed it a great deal. Bodily fluids are not all that free-flowing, lol!!

Good luck!!