Here’s my advice for you. If you’re fortunate enough to enter the States and want to work in a hospital as a niqabi, make sure you go for that interview wearing your niqab and scrub skirt – the same way you’d dress to work if you’re employed. I’ve mentioned this before; I wore my niqab throughout nursing school and all four hospitals I went to for my clinical. I was hired as a niqabi before, and I’ve had a manager ask if I could unveil per patient request. I’ve also been asked to use a mask in some hospitals.
Presently, by Allah’s will, I’m wearing my niqab at my full-time job. I’m working to see how it will work out at my PRN place. What I tell people is to always try to put Allah first. Let the manager know how you’ll be dressing from the onset. I was lucky to have one who said to me at my first interview, “I think I like you; I’m going to hire you, and I believe you’ll be praying because I’ve hired people who dress like you before (hijab). The bottom line is, don’t panic, pray, and go with a scrub skirt and a long-sleeve scrub top, allowing Allah’s Qadar to prevail. I realized my mistakes, and I don’t want you to make the same ones. Go with your skills, be prepared for different questions, and represent your Islam proudly. You’ve got this!
– Umm Sumayyah Mai