Maybe you are in pharmacy school or looking to get into pharmacy school and want to know what you might be wearing once you become a licensed pharmacist.
This shouldn’t persuade you one way or the other too as you either have passion to be a pharmacist or you don’t.
So do pharmacist wear scrubs?
Pharmacists can wear scrubs this will come down to what environment or specialty you are going to get into. If you are in the hospital setting you are more likely to wear scrubs but not always. It will vary heavily from company to company.
Pharmacists can wear anything form a lab coat to a suit or even scrubs. Varies from company to company and also what your exact setting is. Are you in direct contact with patients in their hospital room or are you behind the counter the majority of the time. Read on to see what you will be wearing for some different companies and settings.
What Do Pharmacists Wear To Work?
For rotations and interning this shouldn’t be much of an issue as you aren’t going to be there long term. Now when you are looking for your lifetime career you may look more closely at what you are going to wear to work.
This varies so much from business to business as the company will create the dress code for the pharmacists and they are expected to follow. Some of their basis is they want customers to see exactly who the pharmacist is so with the first impression they have credibility these companies usually push for lab coats with business casual with males wearing ties.
Other companies want to invite the customer in so they can relax and be on the same level and connect with the pharmacist and pharmacy technicians so they will have business casual and no tie.
There are also companies that when a customer walks in they want you to remind you who the pharmacist work for so it may be still business casual but it will have to be the companies colors for tops and usually a neutral khaki color for pants.
These policies have changed for companies I have worked for over the years. So even if you do like wearing scrubs (because who doesn’t like wearing pajamas all day) it might not always be so. So again try not to base your decision on work place more on what you will be wearing and more so what you will be doing and the environment you will be in.
Some Companies Pharmacist Dress Code
These particular pharmacy attire policies were in place at the time of the writing but they may have changed. It does happen where pharmacies buy out one another and the policies will immediately change to the new companies dress code.
Rite Aid Pharmacist Attire
Rite Aid was business casual but moved to khaki pants and blue polo shirts with a lab coat. Techs were expected to wear khakis with blue polo shirt. Along with close toes shoes but any comfortable shoe is fine.
Walgreen’s Pharmacist Attire
There is a variety of uniforms and this can vary by state. Business casual with lab coat. Also any shoes just close toed.
CVS’ Pharmacist Attire
Depending on location can be business casual or scrubs.
Hospital Retail Attire
Most Hospital Retail is business casual along with any close toes shoes.
Hospital Clinical Attire
Most are scrubs and any close toes shoes. However I have also seen some locations where everyone where scrubs but the pharmacists.
Which Is Better Scrubs Or Business Casual For Pharmacists?
Scrub Attire Benefits:
- More Time – with not having to plan out your clothing week you can save massive amounts of time with wearing just the same old scrubs everyday.
- Save Money – if they are company issues scrubs guess what you can save money then have more money to spend on your everyday clothes.
- Pockets – scrubs always have pockets where some business casual outfits don’t. This can be both a benefit and negative as pockets can get in the way when working around a counter.
- Comfort – let’s just be honest scrubs are just like wearing PJ’s. Not having tighter more fitting clothes can have health benefits for your back. Especially without wearing a belt.
Business Casual Attire Benefits:
- Comfortable – yes business casual can be comfortable as well. Especially if you come from an era of having to wear ties or heels.
- Individuality – you can be yourself more. Customers come in they will remember you based on a first impression and with business you can stand out in a good way.
- Welcoming – it can be more welcoming for customers to walk in and see business casual versus scrubs.
- Freedom – you don’t really get much freedom or ways to stand out when working at a pharmacy. Business casual you don’t all have to look the same and you can be yourself.
Pharmacy Tech And Intern Dress Codes
Pharmacy Techs and Interns usually are the same as the pharmacists themselves. Although in some places where the pharmacist have to be dressed in business attire the techs may still have the option to wear scrubs.
Most of the time while interning you will always wear the same as the preceptor you are working with.
Related Questions
What Do Pharmacy Technicians Wear To Work?
Pharmacy Technicians wear the same thing as pharmacists to work. A lot of the time they will have the extra options to wear scrubs if available.
What Do Pharmacy Assistants Wear To Work?
Pharmacy assistants also wear the same thing as pharmacists the majority of the time. You will usually be either business casual or in scrubs depending on the company and environment you work for.
Conclusion
Again what you wear as a pharmacist will vary more from company to company then from being a clinical vs retail.
There are benefits to both as you can see above. As you work your way up the ladder a lot of the times the look will be more professional as well.
For example a district manage will be dressed more business formal because they will be meeting with higher ups of the company and other companies.
