Whatever shall I wear?

[SnowShoeRN]

Hello all,

It feels like it's been years since I've been on the forum, but I've been busy with the (muchly loved) grad school. :) Next year is my clinical year and after wearing jeans and/or scrubs for the past 5 years I have no idea what to buy. It's as if I have nothing middle-ground. I have very nice dresses, interviewing-suits, scrubs, or jeans. And I'm not the kind of person to wear skirts or heels. But clogs seem too...I don't know. Almost unprofessional.

I know we will need a lab coat. But what do I wear with it? Would khakis or courds be too informal? :/ I feel stupidly lost.

Thanks for any input.

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

Why don't you take a cruise through the hospital/s that you will be doing clinicals at and see what the MDs wear. ER docs, residents, NPs, and Pas wear scrubs and internal medicine usually wears business causal (and some wear scrubs) at my hospital.

[WoundedBird]

If you find peers / preceptors are wearing more business like slacks, I'd recommend a store like New York and Co. They have professional slacks at prices that won't make it too difficult to trash them if a procedure gets messy (especially if you get them on sale/clearance) and most aren't too thick. I swore by them working in food and beverage management and for indoor sporting event coverage as an athletic trainer.

Hope this helps!