Appendix G: Policy for Professional Attire
Purpose: To ensure that nursing students of MGH Institute of Health Professions Graduate Program in Nursing maintain a professional image through appropriate attire, grooming and personal hygiene
POLICY: Students are expected to maintain a professional image both in clinical and academic settings. This dress code includes, but is not limited to, the following:
In the Clinical Area and for Clinical/Simulation Lab Activities:
- Students must wear their identification badges visibly at all times.
- Jewelry: Students should minimize wearing of jewelry in the clinical setting; for example, no more than 2-3 simple rings and 1-2 pairs of small stud earrings in the ear.
- Body piercings should be discreet. Nose and tongue studs should be removed before clinical, or if in place should be flesh colored and minimally noticeable.
- Perfume is an allergen and should not be worn.
- Only small amounts of makeup should be worn.
- Nails should be maintained according to CDC recommendations: short and neatly trimmed. Only clear or light neutral nail polish may be worn. (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5217a1.htm)
- Hair must be worn away from the face and off the shoulders. Facial hair must be neat and trimmed.
- Footwear should be closed toe and low heel only.
- For inpatient clinical settings, the dress code will be specified by each course in the syllabus. Scrubs and lab coats must be clean.
- In ambulatory/community settings, professional attire is expected, i.e. business or conservative business casual. No jeans, exercise outfits, T-shirts, sweatshirts, revealing or provocative clothing should be worn at any time. Please be sure shirts are of an appropriate length. Midriffs should not be exposed, even when reaching above your head. Any clothing, buttons/pins or accessory items displaying graphic or written material that may be construed as harassment or offensive is not allowed.
- Tattoos should be discreet and covered if offensive/inappropriate language or design is displayed. This may be further restricted by clinical placement.
In the Classroom:
- Students must wear their identification badges visibly at all times.
- Students are expected to dress conservatively. Jeans are permitted; shorts and shirts should cover upper thigh and midriff respectively. No provocative dress is allowed.
- Any clothing, buttons/pins or accessory items displaying graphic or written material that may be construed as harassment or offensive is not allowed.
For Physical Assessment Lab Activities:
In addition to the above criteria for Clinical and Simulation Lab Activities:
- Students are expected to dress appropriately in order to conduct and have a physical exam conducted upon them. Open toe footwear may be appropriate depending on the body system being examined on a given day.
- Students are advised to wear a sports bra or tank top along with gym shorts or scrubs depending on the body system being examined on a given day.
Enforcement: At the discretion of course faculty, violation of this policy may result in dismissal from the classroom, clinical or lab experience and count as an unexcused absence.