Doctor Dress Code: Scrubs or Professional Attire?
There is much debate about whether business attire or medical scrubs appear more professional in the healthcare field.
Some people argue that medical scrubs are better.
Other people promise you that business attire is best.
So, what’s the right answer?
In this guide, we walk you through the best doctor attire based on your situation. Scroll down to learn more.
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Medical Scrubs or Professional Attire? What’s the Right Answer?
When choosing medical scrubs versus professional attire, you’re likely thinking about a couple of different things:
Will the patients trust me or view me differently based on what I wear?
What will be the most comfortable for me (especially if you’re on your feet and moving all day)?
What we do know, according to a study done by the Royal College of Physicians, located in the UK, is that:
“A doctor's attire has always been considered an important means of establishing a good first impression in any doctor–patient interaction.”
Your patients will associate some of their trust with your attire.
So, do scrubs make the cut? Will patients trust you if you wear scrubs?
The short answer? Likely, yes.
But, it does depend on a couple of different factors, which we’ll get to later in this article.
The Medical Doctor Dress Code Is Changing Due To More Modern Scrubs
Before the medical scrubs industry was revamped, the garments were often shapeless and unflattering. But now, with the introduction of tailored scrubs in a variety of styles and colors, professionals are finding that their medical scrubs are more flattering than their suits and way more comfortable.
There are still physicians and dentists who prefer to wear dresses, skirts, dress pants and heels to work and state that these looks make them feel more feminine and appear more professional to their patients.
There’s a big drawback to wearing dress pants and skirts:
The truth is that many of the fabrics used in dress pants and skirts cannot be washed conventionally, meaning that dry cleaning bills will be higher for these individuals.
But, there’s also a benefit:
These garments can hold up for decades, whereas medical scrubs need to be replaced every few years.
Medical scrubs are changing for the better.
With newer technology and fashion trends around medical scrubs, they’re becoming more modern, more professional, more comfortable, and (thankfully) way more flattering.
Are Scrubs Business Casual? The Answer Depends on the Type of Scrubs
Medical scrubs are available in numerous colors, designs and styles which allows for a wide variety of choices when it comes to choosing an outfit.
There are some scrubs that are completely shapeless. They have an unflattering color and they may not fit right.
These scrubs that are mentioned above?
Definitely not business casual.
Thankfully, scrubs are changing. There are new, modern options that are tailored, well-fitting, and flattering. The person wearing these scrubs are perceived as polished, professional, and trusted.
But, the question still remains:
Even the most tailored, professional-looking scrubs out there? Would they pass for business casual?
No, they likely wouldn’t. If you have a new hospital orientation and the organizer asks you to wear business casual, you likely shouldn’t show up in scrubs.
Or, if your doctor’s office requires you to dress business casual or business professional, should you wear scrubs? Probably not.
To reiterate, while scrubs may not be deemed business casual or professional attire, there are tailored, beautifully-made scrubs that will allow you to be perceived as a polished and trusted medical professional.
How a Doctor Should Dress Depends On A Couple of Factors:
For obvious reasons, surgeons shouldn’t dress the same way a family doctor dresses.
To determine how you should dress, there are a couple of factors that should be considered:
Factor 1: Physician Attire vs. Clinic Attire vs. Doctor Attire - It Depends on Your Area of Practice
First, consider the type of doctor you are. Are you a…
Dentist
Surgeon
Dermatologist
Pharmacist
Radiologist
And the list goes on
Each of these types of doctors has a different work situation. They see different types of patients. Some may have more patient interaction than others.
Some types of doctors naturally may be seen as more “casual” than others. For example, a dermatologist is going to be perceived differently than a brain surgeon.
Before choosing what type of attire to wear, consider what type of doctor you are.
Factor 2: Your Work Environment
Are you working in a hospital?
Maybe you’re a dentist at a high-end cosmetic dentistry where patients pay a lot of money?
Or, you might work in a lab setting where comfort in cleanliness is more important than appearance.
When determining what type of clothing to wear, it’s important to think about where you work and the type of patients you see.
Factor 3: The Setting & Culture Matters
Patients in the United States are going to have different beliefs about what doctors should wear compared to patients in other cultural settings.
Here’s what the University of Michigan has to say:
““How you feel about your doctor’s attire can depend greatly on your age and culture, the researchers find. In general, Europeans and Asians of any age, and Americans over age 50, trusted a formally dressed doctor more, while Americans in Generation X and Y tended to accept less-dressy physicians more willingly.””
If You Do Choose Professional Attire, Be Cautious of a Couple Health Factors
Many healthcare workers spend a good amount of their day on their feet.
Many women who choose to wear professional attire also choose to wear heels.
Wearing shoes without adequate support, like heels, can negatively impact your health. Besides causing pain to your feet over time, wearing heels for long periods of time can cause back pain and restrict circulation.
Additionally, the unnatural positioning of the toes within the heels and the pressure on the balls of your feet can cause the development of bunions. High heels can also take your spine out of alignment and place excess pressure on your knees.
If You’re Still Confused on Professional Dress For Doctors, This Will Clear it Up
When thinking about what to wear as a doctor, and whether you should wear scrubs or professional attire, think about the following things:
There are modern scrubs that look professional
What type of doctor are you?
What does your work environment look like?
What type of culture do you live in?
This debate on medical scrubs vs. professional attire will likely continue to be a personal decision but with the ever-increasing options on the medical scrubs market, more and more healthcare workers are turning towards wearing scrubs and not looking back.