AP8. Personal Appearance
At the MGH Institute, our personal appearance influences how standardized patients, community partners, guest faculty, speakers, and other faculty and staff perceive us. This is why we have community practices for all students, faculty, staff, and clinical preceptors around proper grooming. All students, faculty, staff, and clinical preceptors should maintain a professional appearance during assessments including skills checks, competencies, practical, and in any instance where interaction with guest patients, standardized patients, or guest speakers is scheduled. These are community practices, therefore cultural and religious considerations, such as head coverings, rings etc. will be respected.
When in the IPC, including when treating patients/clients in the IMPACT Practice Center (IPC), students must follow the IPC dress code located on D2L. The guidelines below apply for in-class/lab situations (listed below) where professional appearance is required
COMMUNITY PRACTICES:
It is our responsibility to honor the practices outlined below during lab assessments (skills checks, competencies, practical), and in any instance where interaction with guest patients, standardized patients, or guest speakers is scheduled.
Non-adherence to these practices may result in professional behavior actions per the student handbook.
1. Attire/General Practices: Clothing must be reasonably clean, free of holes, tears, or other signs of wear. To the extent possible, students are expected to dress in business casual or smart casual attire. Clothing should not be too restrictive or too saggy as these might interfere with appropriate patient care. Since patient examination and intervention demands frequent bending, turning, and stretching, care must be taken that clothing is not overly revealing during these movements. Specifically, clothing must not show any skin or undergarments when bending, stretching, or other movements. In addition, see-through clothing must always be avoided.
a. Jewelry should be modest with a focus on personal safety and infection control.
b. At all times, fingernails should be clean, trimmed, and not impair work activities. Artificial nails and nail polish (other than clear nail paint) should be avoided as these may interfere with appropriate performance of certain hands-on skills.
c. For safety, long hair needs to be pulled back to avoid contact with clients during care and treatment.
d. Facial hair, including mustaches and beards, must be neat or well groomed.
2. Identification Badges: Students must wear their Institute ID at all times, in clear view, above the waist, with photo showing.
3. Personal Care: We encourage the use of anti-perspirant, deodorant or appropriate substitute as needed. We encourage you to minimize use of excessively scented products, such as perfume or cologne during lab assessments due to possible allergic reactions of the standardized patients. Proper oral hygiene, such as brushing one’s teeth, is necessary.
Please use your best judgment and always err on the side of caution. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for cultural, religious considerations, and for disabilities.
4. Hats/Sunglasses: Sunglasses or hats are not acceptable.
5. Piercings: Visible facial piercing jewelry should be minimized for safety.
6. Tattoos: Generally, tattoos, when present, do not need to be covered.
6. Undergarments. Patterned or colorful underwear should not be seen through or outside clothing.
7. Cellular Phones, Pagers, or Similar Electronic Devices: Personal cell phones, pagers, and other electronic devices are not to be worn during lab assessments.
8. Clothing Lengths: Skirt lengths may range from at the knee to three inches above the ankle. Slits in skirts should not exceed 3” above the knee. Pants should measure to no higher than mid-calf. Cropped pants must be tailored or cuffed. For safety reasons, we cannot allow drawstrings at the cuffs or cargo pants.
9. Footwear: Footwear must be reasonably clean and in good repair. You must always wear socks/stockings. Closed-toe shoes are required, and open-backed shoes may be worn as long as the foot is secure.