CNA uniform policy

nursemeanie · Nov 22, 2014

Have you asked the staff for their input?

mindofmidwifery, ADN · Nov 22, 2014

I would definitely ask the staff for their opinions! At my facility, CNAs have to wear scrubs but a lot of us get by wearing scrub pants and a t-shirt or other informal top. I usually wear scrub pants and a long sleeved ribbed top or hoodie. This uniform is professional enough as a CNA and I'm comfortable while performing my duties. About the ripped scrubs, etc. I would send out a memo about professionalism in general and maybe those CNAs can't afford anything else so maybe have a scrub drive or see if there can be a budget to get inexpensive ones for employees who need them? Something along those lines.

Red Kryptonite · Nov 22, 2014

Here is my employer's dress code policy, pulled straight from our intranet (edited to remove company name, of course). Inpatient nurses and aides can wear any scrubs they like as long as they comply with this policy. Management and field personnel dress according to role.

XYZ’s Dress Code Policy
Professional Appearance
Each employee’s personal appearance should project the professional image and credibility clients expect from XYZ. The agency requires attire consistent with the job description of each employee. Employees are expected to exercise good judgment in choosing appropriate apparel and to exercise care in grooming, personal hygiene and cleanliness. Note: A host facility may request compliance with their dress code.
- Name badge should be worn while on duty in patient care areas.
- Body and hair cleanliness is mandatory. Body odor which is offensive to others, or which may interfere with the health of patients is not permitted. This includes heavily scented colognes, perfumes, aftershave lotions and cigarette smoke odor.
- Hair should be clean and neatly groomed. Long hair should be secured so that it does not fall into the face and interfere with work activities. Hairstyles are expected to be in good taste. Extreme hair color and styles are prohibited.
- Men’s mustaches, beards and sideburns should be clean and neatly trimmed.
- Finger nails should be clean and neatly trimmed. For direct patient care staff having direct contact with patients, clear or subtle polish is recommended. Staff with direct patient contact are prohibited from having nail tips longer than one-quarter inch, in accordance with CDC guidelines.
- Jewelry should not interfere with normal job activities. Direct patient care staff may not wear earrings that dangle more than one inch from the ear lobe. Rings and bracelets should not interfere with normal job activities.
- Visible body piercing (other than ears) including tongue piercing, gauging or other non-traditional body manipulation is prohibited. A discreet nose piercing may be permitted if it is one millimeter or less in size.
- Tattoos should not affect an employee’s ability to perform effectively in the position they hold or their work environment. Factors used to determine whether tattoos affect the job or work environment include the size and location of the tattoo, the employee’s exposure to external customers or customer complaints. Offensive tattoos are prohibited. If a potential conflict is identified, the employee and manager can implement appropriate solutions, such as covering tattoos.
- Clothing must be neat, clean and professional and must fit so that inappropriate exposure does not occur during normal work activities. Low-cut clothing that reveals cleavage is prohibited. Excessively revealing, tight-fitting clothing, tube tops, crop tops, spaghetti straps, bodysuits, tank tops, backless tops, bare midriffs, short shorts, short skirts, short dresses, blue jeans and clothing that is otherwise provocative or distracting is prohibited. Undergarments should not be visible.
- Skirts, dresses and shorts must be of professional length, no higher than two inches above the knee.
- Hats or caps are prohibited, except where required or necessary for job activities.
- Footwear should be clean, comfortable, safe and appropriate to job description. Staff providing significant direct patient care including all CNAs, PCU and Continuous Care nurses, must wear closed-toed shoes.
- Unacceptable footwear includes flip-flops, slippers or footwear that is unsafe.
- T-shirts should not have offensive slogans, vulgar language or pictures, advertising slogans or symbols (except for XYZ logo) and should have no political or religious slogans or symbols.
- Business casual attire is strongly preferred for home care direct patient care staff. Scrub apparel is only acceptable for PCU staff and home care aides.
Some administrative offices may observe casual day on Fridays for office staff. Employees may dress in casual attire that is neat, clean and projects a positive image. Unacceptable clothing includes those listed above with the exception of blue jeans. Blue jeans are not appropriate attire for any XYZ staff member who sees patients and families. An employee may be asked to return home and change into appropriate attire if they arrive at work wearing inappropriate attire. Employees will not be compensated for time off work to accomplish this change. Repeated neglect of the dress code may result in disciplinary action.
Management staff may implement more stringent dress and appearance standards, as appropriate, for their departments. Also, a host facility (skilled nursing facility or hospital) may request compliance with its dress code.
XYZ makes reasonable accommodations for dress or grooming directly related to an employee’s religion, ethnicity, or disabilities.
A rule of thumb: If you are unsure an article of clothing is acceptable, most likely it isn’t. If in doubt, don’t wear it.

rnforforty · Nov 22, 2014

The scrubs out there now are fabulous! One LTC facility I worked at got a company to come and set up in the break room. Employees could buy at a 10% discount and pay through payroll deduction for up to six weeks. Those girls always looked great!

Another facility, also LTC, switched from standard scrub colors for each discipline, to allowing staff to wear scrubs of their choice. This was at the request of the resident counsel because they enjoyed the colors and prints of the scrubs. They said they were more aware of changing seasons and holidays by what the staff was wearing. The facility made arrangements with a local uniform shop to allow for payroll deduction for staff - they had to show their picture facility ID badge. Again the staff looked great.

I was at one place where every discipline had a specific color. I hated it. I worked LTC and the residents hated it too. But we were in a large system. All RNs wore navy, LPNs ceile blue, CNA's cranberry. So, the navy and cranberry showed every piece of lint, bath powder, and animal hair (I've a dog and cat, so there was lots of hair -I simply walk from the bathroom to the door and spend the night picking pug and fluffy cat hair from my scrubs). And it was soooo boring! Then to add insult to injury, the other system in town and one in a town 25 miles north all chose those same colors for the nursing staff! Other disciplines were usual different colors. You could see 5 nurses in the street, all in navy, and all 5 could be from a different facility. It was like being cloned!

Now, I'm wearing the ultimate uniform -not currently working I never get out of my robe unless going out, and then it's jeans and a shirt. Awesome!