First Medical Internship—How to Prepare Before Buying Scrubs?
Your first medical internship is one of those moments in college that you can look forward to with excitement while also feeling a little stressed about. After all, theory finally meets reality, and lecture halls give way to hospital hallways, doctors’ offices, clinics, and other facilities where you gain your first professional experience.
Whether you’re studying medicine, nursing, physical therapy, dentistry, cosmetology, or any other field related to medicine or the beauty industry, it’s a good idea to prepare thoroughly before your first day of clinical practice.
And it’s not just about buying a scrub.
Before you start putting together your outfit and accessories, check what both your university and the specific institution you’re attending require. These requirements aren’t always the same.
Table of Contents:
- First the university, then the institution—check the requirements twice
- What should you ask your internship supervisor before your first day?
- What if your outfit doesn’t meet the school’s requirements?
- What kind of scrubs should I wear for my first clinical rotation?
- Joggers or straight-leg pants?
- What to Bring on Your First Day of Your Internship? Checklist
- The First Day of Your Internship—What to Expect?
- One or two sets of clothes for the internship?
- Group order? Ask your classmates
- Are you a student? Check out the Med & Beauty Student Program
- First internship? Prepare in advance and give yourself plenty of time
First the university, then the institution—double-check the requirements
One of the most common mistakes made before the first internship is assuming that if a university has approved a certain type of attire, it will automatically be appropriate at every internship location.
Not necessarily.
A university may establish general guidelines regarding attire during practical classes, while a hospital, clinic, medical office, or other facility may have its own rules and regulations.
The requirements may include, among other things:
- the color of medical clothing,
- a type of uniform,
- sleeve lengths,
- style of pants,
- footwear,
- ID,
- rules regarding jewelry, watches, or nails,
- how to style your hair,
- things you can or must carry with you.
That’s why it’s a good idea to double-check a few things before buying a new scrubs : first, the university’s requirements, and then the rules in effect at that specific institution.
If the information is not included in the internship documents, it is best to contact your advisor, coordinator, or the person responsible for organizing the internship.
Taking a few minutes to double-check things can save you unnecessary stress on your first day.
What should you ask your internship supervisor before your first day?
Not sure what information is really important? We’ve put together a short list of questions you can use before starting your internship.
Ask:
1. Is there a specific color required for medical clothing?
At some facilities, uniform colors may be assigned to specific positions, departments, or occupational groups.
2. Are scrubs, an apron, or both required?
Don’t assume that one outfit will work everywhere.
3. Does the facility specify any requirements regarding the cut of pants?
It’s good to know whether you can wear joggers or if straight-leg pants are required.
4. What kind of footwear is allowed?
Ask about the required color, sole type, toe and heel coverage, and whether a specific type of medical footwear can be used.
5. Do I need my own ID?
Sometimes it is provided by the institution, sometimes by the university, and in other cases, you have to prepare it yourself in accordance with the guidelines.
6. Are there any additional rules regarding appearance?
This applies, among other things, to fingernails, jewelry, watches, hair, and other items that may be relevant for hygiene and organizational reasons.
7. What should I bring with me on the first day?
This way, you’ll avoid both forgetting the things you need and packing up half your apartment “just in case.”
If there’s something you don’t know, it’s really worth asking. No one should expect someone starting their first internship to know all the rules of a particular organization before even stepping through the door.
What if your attire doesn’t meet the facility’s requirements?
This is one of the reasons why it’s best to review the terms and conditions before purchasing medical apparel.
If your attire does not comply with the rules in effect at a given location, you may be asked to change it. Depending on the institution and the nature of the internship, failure to wear appropriate attire may also mean that you will not be able to participate in some classes until you meet the requirements.
Issues related to hygiene, safety, and the facility’s internal procedures are particularly important.
So even if you’ve found the perfect scrubs in your favorite color, make sure first that you’re allowed to wear them during clinical rotations.
The same applies to footwear and other uniform accessories.
What kind of scrubs should I wear for my first clinical rotation?
Once you know what the requirements are at your internship site, you can move on to choosing the right medical attire.
At this stage, the most important factors are , above all , comfort, the right size, freedom of movement, functional fabric, and practical features such as pockets. During your internship, you may spend many hours in your uniform, so it shouldn’t restrict your movements or require constant adjustments.
However, we won’t go over the entire process of choosing the right set again.
You can find a complete guide to choosing your first scrubs in another one of our articles— “Medical Clothing for Students—Which One Should You Choose?”
Joggers or straight-leg pants?
If the facility’s policy allows for both options, the question remains: joggers or classic straight-leg medical pants?
Medical joggers feature an elastic cuff at the ankle. This keeps the leg opening in place while walking, bending over, or performing various activities. This design is a popular choice among people who prefer a more athletic and modern style.
Straight-leg pants have a more classic look. The looser fit at the hem can be comfortable for people who don’t like cuffs at the ankles or prefer a more traditional uniform look.
There’s no single answer to which style is better. A lot depends on your preferences, your body type, and what you simply feel comfortable in.
The most important rule, however, is: follow the facility’s rules first, then worry about style.
If you can choose both options, then feel free to go with whatever is most convenient for you.
What to Bring on Your First Day of Internship? Checklist
The evening before the first day, it’s a good idea to pack your bag instead of doing it in a rush the next morning.
Your list will depend on your university and the location of your internship, but a basic checklist might look like this:
☐ A complete set of scrubs or other required uniform
☐ A comfortable pair of spare shoes
☐ ID badge
☐ Required documents for the internship
☐ A notebook or small notepad
☐ A pen—preferably more than one
☐ An extra pair of socks
☐ A hair tie or clip, if you need one
☐ Water
☐ A light meal or snack, if your daily schedule allows
☐ Other accessories required by the university or institution
It’s also a good idea to bring a spare piece of clothing if the nature of the training requires it and you have a place to store it on site. You won’t always need it, but during a long day of practical training, an extra T-shirt, socks, or a second set of clothes can come in very handy.
Don’t go overboard with the number of items, though. On your first day, you’ll learn a lot more about how things are organized at work, and you’ll quickly figure out what you actually need to have with you.
The First Day of Your Internship—What to Expect?
You can put together the perfect outfit, read the rules three times, and pack everything according to the checklist, and still feel stressed in the morning—that’s normal.
Your first internship means entering a completely new environment. You may not know where to leave your belongings, who to report to, how the day is organized, or exactly what your supervisor will expect of you.
On the first day, organizational matters often take up a lot of time: getting to know the team, the workplace, the applicable rules, and the scope of tasks that the student is allowed to perform.
Don’t expect yourself to feel completely at ease right from the start.
The whole point of an internship is to learn.
Ask questions, observe, take notes on important information, and take advantage of opportunities to gain experience. With each passing day, things that initially seemed stressful or complicated should become more and more natural.
One or two sets of clothes for the internship?
If the training sessions last several days or take place on a regular basis, having a second set of medical clothing can make organization much easier.
Scrubs need to be washed regularly, and with clinical rotations taking place day after day, a single set can quickly become impractical.
However, that doesn’t mean you have to buy several identical sets right away before the first day.
A good approach is to buy your first set, try it out during your internship, and only then decide whether a particular cut, style, and size are right for you.
If they work out, you can put together more outfits without the risk of ending up with clothes in your closet that you don’t like to wear.
Group order? Ask your classmates
Before your internship, it’s also a good idea to talk to people in your group or class. It’s very likely that you’ve all been given the same uniform requirements.
This is a good time to share information, make sure you’re interpreting the guidelines correctly, and, if necessary, put together an outfit together.
Med & Beauty allows students to place group orders for medical apparel, enabling a class or a large portion of a year’s students to prepare for their clinical rotations together.
Are you a student? Check out the Med & Beauty Student Program
Starting an internship often means additional expenses—from clothing and shoes to the materials needed for classes.
If you’re studying a medical or beauty-related field, you can take advantage of the Med & Beauty Student Program.
Once you’ve created an account and your student status has been verified, you’ll receive a 15% permanent discount on medical apparel purchases.
This makes it easier to put together the first set, and later, if needed, additional uniforms for the internship.
Summary: First internship? Prepare in advance and give yourself plenty of time
The first medical internships are an important stage of medical school. This is the point at which the knowledge gained during lectures and seminars begins to take on a whole new meaning.
You don’t have to know everything on the first day, though.
Before starting your internship, first check the requirements of your university and the specific institution; contact your advisor if anything is unclear; prepare the required documents; and only then put together the appropriate attire.
The evening before the first day, pack your bag according to the checklist, get your uniform ready, and give yourself a little extra time in the morning.
And then?
Ask questions, observe, and take advantage of opportunities to learn. The first day is just the first time. Every day after that will be a little easier.
Good luck with your internship—we’re rooting for you!
