Picture this: you’re sitting in a waiting room. You’re anxious, sick, and uneasy, and a medical professional asks you to come to the back. How does what they are wearing affect your mood? Will they be able to put your mind at ease or make you even more nervous?
A rising trend today is self-expression in your profession. But when attempting to be stylish, many medical professionals are neglecting the perception of the patients.
There’s a new generation taking over our healthcare offices and reinventing the dress code. Everyday wear is slowly seeping into office culture. Necklines are plunging, sleeves are getting shorter or disappearing all together, skirts and dresses are becoming shorter and tighter. FashionNova, a clothing brand known for its popularity with Instagram influencers who call themselves “NovaBabes”, is selling scrubs. Some departments who don’t work directly with patients are opting for a more relaxed look and disregarding the long-held tradition of “professional dress” in their healthcare offices. The Millennial generation has a habit of trying to push societal norms, empowering themselves through freedom of expression. We didn’t see Boomers trying to wear their go-go boots, hot pants, and denim jumpsuits in the operating room, so why should we encourage it today?
The way you look influences the confidence and trust your patients put in you. In the largest study of its kind, researchers at The University of Michigan studied over 4,000 patients across 10 academic hospitals and concluded that the traditional white doctors coat with formal attire underneath was the most preferred attire among those surveyed. A majority of the people surveyed said that physician apparel was important to them (https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/8/5/e021239). With dress codes becoming more casual, patients may not see their health care professionals as, well, professional.
You will have to decide how much patient perception should impact what you wear to work. Whatever your dress code may be, there are some guidelines that are standards of what not to wear:
- Tight or revealing clothing can make some patients uncomfortable. Additionally, anything too baggy could be viewed as careless or sloppy.
- Avoid wearing clothing or accessories that will enable cross contamination. Watches, scarves, or long necklaces may spread bacteria.
- Ensure your uniform isn’t soiled or wrinkled, and all clothing is laundered frequently.
- Hygiene is important! Messy and unkempt hair could be perceived as dirty or untidy.
- Strike a healthy balance between showing your personal style and who your patients perceive you to be. Visible tattoos, loud clothing, and oversized earrings may not instill trust in your profession.
- A tie is a great idea for a nonoperative or nonemergency office but may carry bacteria or contaminate patients. Even the doctors white coat has come under scrutiny as a vehicle to spread germs, as the long sleeves can cause cross contamination. Make sure you are aware of who you will be interacting with and judge what you should or shouldn’t be wearing that day.
There isn’t a “one size fits all” formula of what to wear in healthcare but try to put yourself in your patient’s shoes. What would put your mind at ease? How do you want to see your medical professionals dressed?
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Kay Kegley joined AHEC in 2020 and has since played a vital role in producing high-quality content for the company's blog, social media, and video productions. Her skills in writing, editing, and producing content have been invaluable in helping the company reach a wider audience and continue to provide top-quality education to healthcare professionals across the country.
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FAQs
Tight or revealing clothing can make some patients uncomfortable. Additionally, anything too baggy could be viewed as careless or sloppy. Avoid wearing clothing or accessories that will enable cross contamination. Watches, scarves, or long necklaces may spread bacteria.
What is appropriate dress in a health care setting? ›
Fabric and fit of all clothing must project a professional image. Scrubs must be appropriately fitting as well, neither too large nor too tight; pants may not touch the ground. Scrubs or jackets branded with another organization name or logo (including health care or a hospital) are prohibited.
What type of dress code is considered most appropriate at a medical practice? ›
The most common options for healthcare attire are formal business attire, scrubs and of course, the iconic white clinical lab coat.
What not to wear in nursing? ›
Nursing dress codes go beyond scrubs and shoes. Piercings, tattoos and jewelry can impact patient perception.
What nurses can't wear? ›
Other Dress Code Requirements for Nurses
- Tattoos. Tattoos cannot be offensive. ...
- Piercings. No piercings other than earlobes. ...
- Facial Hair. Facial hair must be kept neat and trimmed, so it does not interfere with patient or provider safety. ...
- Hair. Hair must be clean, neat, and kept off the collar. ...
- Fingernails. ...
- Makeup.
In general, examples of unprofessional conduct include, but are not limited to, physical abuse of a patient, inadequate record keeping, not recognizing or acting upon common symptoms, prescribing drugs in excessive amounts or without legitimate reason, personal impairment (mental or physical) that hinders safely ...
What is not considered professional attire? ›
Avoid: *Blingy/shiny/lacey fabric, sequins, khaki, skinny and capri pants, shorts, tight skirts, skirts shorter than knee length, low-cut and sleeveless blouses/dress, large jewelry, bulky purse, sandals, wedges, and heels > 2.5 inches.
What are dress code policies in healthcare? ›
Attire: Neat and clean shirt; trousers fitted at the waist line and ankle length. Fashion extremes revealing undergarments in any position (walking, sitting or bending) are unacceptable. Socks: Clean socks in good repair..
What are the three dress codes? ›
Classifications are divided into formal wear (full dress), semi-formal wear (half dress), and informal wear (undress). Anything below this level is referred to as casual wear, although sometimes in combinations such as "smart casual" or "business casual" in order to indicate higher expectation than none at all.
Why is attire important in healthcare? ›
A Professional Appearance Builds Trust
Because visuals matter so much when it comes to making a first impression, it's critical that physicians and other healthcare providers dress professionally. A professional appearance makes it easier for patients to trust that their provider knows what they're doing.
Each hospital or clinic has its own dress code for nurses. Some have to wear precise colors of scrubs, sometimes depending on which section of the hospital they work IN. Some just have to wear scrubs (the individuals choose the colors they want to wear). Some get to wear jeans with a scrub top.
Which of the following is not appropriate dress for a medical office? ›
Tank tops, T-shirts, and thin straps on tops are not recommended. Pants, slacks, khakis, skirts, or dresses are appropriate; jeans and shorts should not be worn.
What dress code do nurses wear? ›
Medical Scrubs
Most types of nurses wear scrubs in the workplace. Scrubs are simple uniforms that are easy to clean and disinfect. They often have solid colors that help patients to identify the nurses (and nurses to identify stains), but there are more colorful options available.
What do female doctors wear? ›
Scrubs: Blue short-sleeved scrub top and pants, with or without white coat. Formal: Light blue long-sleeved dress shirt and navy-blue suit pants, with or without white coat, with black leather shoes with one-inch heels for women and black leather shoes for men, and a dark blue tie for men.
What is not acceptable for dress code? ›
Clothing should be clean - no torn, dirty or excessively wrinkled items. Clothing with offensive or distracting words or pictures would remain out of the workplace. Overly revealing apparel exposing too much skin or undergarments is also inappropriate in the workplace.
Can you wear makeup in healthcare? ›
There is often confusion among newer nurses about how much makeup they should or shouldn't wear. The best rule to go by is using moderation, as with anything in life. If a nurse is wearing excessive makeup, it is distracting for both the patient and other nurses.
What can be worn during patient care? ›
Types of PPE in Healthcare
Wear gloves when anticipating contact with blood, body fluids, secretions or excretions with HCP's hands. This could include when changing dressings, direct contact with patient's broken skin or mucous membranes, or for blood draws. Gowns protect skin and clothing.
