What kind of appeareance code do you have?

Crux1024 · Sep 15, 2012

Our hospital has a dress code. Color coded scrubs for clinical positions, cafeteria and housekeeping. Business clothing for administrative. Tattoos are permitted as long as theyre not offensive, tiny nose rings can be worn. No unnatural hair colors, doesnt matter if hair is up, down or sideways. No crocs. No fake nails, no chipped nail polish if you choose to wear polish. No dangly earrings in a clinical position. Rings, bracelets and necklaces are allowed.

The students at the associated school have stricter rules. One ring per hand, one stud per ear, no jewelry or hair down. Tattoos should try and be covered.

Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN · Sep 15, 2012

Our hospital has a dress code. Color coded scrubs for clinical positions, cafeteria and housekeeping. Business clothing for administrative. Tattoos are permitted as long as theyre not offensive, tiny nose rings can be worn. No unnatural hair colors, doesnt matter if hair is up, down or sideways. No crocs. No fake nails, no chipped nail polish if you choose to wear polish. No dangly earrings in a clinical position. Rings, bracelets and necklaces are allowed.
The students at the associated school have stricter rules. One ring per hand, one stud per ear, no jewelry or hair down. Tattoos should try and be covered.

Thanks! Kind of sounds like my former place, though they didn't care about the earrings. But exactly that with the students and the addition of either clear or pale nail polish only

I'm contemplating a place that just does laser hair removal. It looks very pristine in photos and since you're working with clients in a more "image" setting I would imagine appearance would matter. It's just after the 2 years of school and being told exactly how to look on clinic days, I think I'm still rebelling 3 + years later! I discovered my enjoyement of switching nail polish 1-2x a week. They always look nice never chipped (I can't stand that personally but weird that the hospital I used to work at they didn't care about that either!) but I like trendy colors and metallics etc...I just wondered how that would fit in to this kind of setting bc my office job now doesn't care.

Frankly I don't think it should matter if you're well groomed and responsible about appearances and I find places that have restrictions on that are usually restrictive in other things that really matter like time off etc and usually wouldnt' be a good fit for me.

sharpeimom · Sep 15, 2012

Nail polish chips no matter how careful you are and fake nails are a veritable hotel

for germs, microbes, and fomites (did I miss anything?!) and make Infection control types

crazy.

Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN · Sep 15, 2012

Oh I completely agree! That's why I was surprised what went on in the hospital esp CCU's. However I found keeping them painted kept them stronger even than just clear protectants I really don't have issues with them chipping though doing them every couple days or so.

I don't think doing laser hair removal would have major infection control issues but I could be wrong. I'm sure if there are policies it would likely be for appearances only and that's what I'm trying to figure out. I understand there are people who rightfully believe nailpolish does not belong anywhere near a hospital and that's not what I'm debating. I just wondered how it went over in the type of setting I'm considering.

hgrimmett · Sep 16, 2012

My SCHOOL rules.. we have to wear scrubs (any color or type, our choice) to class; later on for clinicals we have site specific scrubs; no jewelry except a wedding ring and a watch; earrings cannot be dangly (more than one earring per ear is ok, no rules on that); necklaces have to be tucked completely inside your scrubs or not worn; absolutely no fake nails; no real nails past the end of your fingertips; NO nail polish and absolutely not chipped nail polish either; no visible tattoos; shoes need to be white, closed toe, non mesh; (I think clogs like Birks are OK, at least for school, but crocs are not); no perfume; no scented body lotion; no non-natural hair colors; hair has to be worn just above the collar for both male and female, how you get it there is up to you; no chest hair on guys showing under scrubs at the neck- they have to wear a covering tshirt under the scrubs if that is the case; no visible colored underwear under your scrubs - if it shows thru your scrubs top or bottom and you are on a clinical site. you WILL be sent home to change; and there's probably a couple more I am forgetting.

They do warn students with other than ear piercings that they will most likely have to take them out (put a clear or flesh colored retainer in) when its time for clinicals) too.

The school told us that these rules were put in place at the school because our clinical sites require all of these conditions, so we might as well get used to it now.

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · Sep 16, 2012

scrubs-no cartoon characters or animals (like veterinary scrubs), nor more that 3 rings (wedding set and one other ring, like a right hand band) no more that 2 earrings per ear, hair up, no nail polish. Where I work, the nail polish thing bets ignored my some, and some stretch the scrub thing. I don't see the big thing, but I was told a while ago that it would be insulting to wear Mickey Mouse scrubs when dealing with older adults. (???)

Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN · Sep 16, 2012

Does anyone have any experience just working in an aesthetic type clinic? I'm pretty familiar with hospital rules, I only wanted to know for this clinic type (I'm considering a laser hair removal only clinic) how they were. Thanks!