HFCC clothing question...

amybethf · Dec 19, 2007

So obviously I am a few weeks early on this one but I figured I might as well ask now. I understand that for clinicals I have to wear scrubs outfit...for lab for 126 we have to wear the white lab coat, slacks (no jeans)....does it matter what kind of color shoes? Is it the same ones we wear for clinicals? Does it matter? Now for 120 and the class part of 126 are we allowed to wear whatever? Jeans? Or always slacks? I couldn't quite tell from what I've read so far. I've looked over most everything...but I wanted to double check.

U can wear 'street clothes' to the PSL (practice skills lab) but no tennis shoes or jeans. U do not to have to wear your white clinical shoes to PSL. Bring your white lab coat, stethoscope and PSL lab packet. Be sure to read the assigned material each week before u come.

On your regular school days, wear whatever makes u comfy.

U will get your uniform & name tags in the coming weeks and the school prefers u not to wear them in the PSL because of potential cross-contamination once u start clinicals.

oguesswhat · Dec 19, 2007

Oh good about the shoes...I hate white shoes :) Though I do know I will have to wear them for clinicals at least.

Just_An_Illusion · Dec 19, 2007

U can wear 'street clothes' to the PSL (practice skills lab) but no tennis shoes or jeans.

Interesting. I wonder why we can't where jeans to the lab. When you say we can wear street clothes, does that mean we can wear sweats?

Veruka · Dec 19, 2007

No. khakis, nice slacks, etc.... I think that the policy should be changed, because more often than not you will have days where it specifically tells you to wear loose clothing, but for now it remains 'street clothes"- and no, they don't mean sweats. (I wish!) I rotated between two pairs of pants each time. A black pair and a khaki pair with a long sleeve top. Nothing fancy. It's once a week, so it's not bad. And don't wear your white shoes (as much as I know you are dying to! LOL!) until you get to clinical.

Just_An_Illusion · Dec 19, 2007

No. khakis, nice slacks, etc.... I think that the policy should be changed, because more often than not you will have days where it specifically tells you to wear loose clothing, but for now it remains 'street clothes"- and no, they don't mean sweats. (I wish!) I rotated between two pairs of pants each time. A black pair and a khaki pair with a long sleeve top. Nothing fancy. It's once a week, so it's not bad. And don't wear your white shoes (as much as I know you are dying to! LOL!) until you get to clinical.

Thanks for the info!! Because when I hear 'street clothes', I'm thinking t-shirt, jeans and tennis shoes. Guess I'm going to have to buy a couple pairs of khaki's. Perhaps if I join the SNA, that is something I can bring up...

MySimplePlan · Dec 19, 2007

Interesting. I wonder why we can't where jeans to the lab. When you say we can wear street clothes, does that mean we can wear sweats?

The instructors want you to look as professional as you can in PSL. They intend for PSL to be a practice for real-life, if you will. That means no fooling around, trying your best, looking your best. My instructor was dead serious about it, so we had to be. And tie that hair back. If you didn't take PSL seriously, she seriously called you out on it. I'm glad she did - people would come looking like slobs if they could. Oh wait - that's lecture. People wore their pajamas to lecture. The instructors can't tell you what to wear to lecture.

Don't be late, either - not one minute. They seriously look for people to be late. People get written up all time for that. Oh - no water bottles in PSL - you have to leave them in your bag. Again - real life simulation. (In real life, however, we have Pepsi bottles on the counter.) No dangling earrings either. No piercings, and no tats.

You'll be asked to leave to leave the campus if you wear your blue scrubs to school, or any scrubs from anywhere. Write your name on your inside tag of your labcoat, just like your mom did when you were little. One thing I was confused about inititally was the blue scrub jacket. I thought we had to wear that on the floor all the time, but you don't have to. That thing gets really hot when you're running around, and it's also kind of baggy, so it gets in your way.

RN2B73 · Dec 21, 2007

Wow, alot of rules. Rules can be good but I don't understand why you can't wear scrubs? Anyway, does anyone know what the rules are about nails? Can you have acrylic? Can they have nail polish on them? I've heard different stories but I've also seen nurses with artificial nails so I'm a bit confused. :idea:

Veruka · Dec 21, 2007

No acrylics. Nails must be short and only painted with clear coat. If you face your palm towards you, the tips of your nails should barely be visible.

There is no wearing scrubs for the cross contamination issue. You are not even supposed to wear your white coat in the hallway. You are supposed to bring it to the lab encased in plastic. Although I did not see this enforced as much, there is one teacher that will enforce it, so be careful.

Of course, in the "real world" nurses wear their engagement rings, hoop earrings, they don't pull their hair back, and they wear acrylics. It's not supposed to be that way, but it is, therefore they are trying to train us the "right" way.

Just follow the rules and you will do fine. :)

MySimplePlan · Dec 21, 2007

No acrylics. Nails must be short and only painted with clear coat. If you face your palm towards you, the tips of your nails should barely be visible.
Henry Ford Hospital cited a recent study on a widespread breakout in one of their hospitals when they mandated that NO employee is allowed to wear acrylic nails, This includes unit secretaries, cashiers, everyone.
It seems the offending bug was from the gunk under someone's dirty acrylic nails.