I teach for a community college. This program is being ran almost like a military school. When I was attending the same college many moons ago, our lab instructor literally got under the bed to see how well we put a bottom flat sheet on the bed and if there were wrinkles underneath the bed.
We were expected to all dress alike, hair off the collar,(no ponytails) one pair of post earrings or none at all, only a wedding ring allowed with no diamond set (so as to not accidentally hurt a resident/patient) , no make-up, no fingernail polish except clear, fingernails trimmed where they could not be seen above the fingers, no perfumes, tattoos hidden, no necklaces, and no going to the store in your uniform after clinicals.
What about your schools? Are/where they the same? Just very curious.
We had to wear turqoise colored scrubs to both clinical and class, white shoes but they were fairly lenient on them just not too much color. Hair up, pony tails were fine, and our nametags. All the same with nails makeup and jewelry Nothing too drastic, compared to some of these schools i feel lucky lol
For clinicals we wore scrubs and white shoes that were to be kept very clean.
We could wear small earrings but no jewels in other piercings. Watches, and plain wedding bands were also allowed.
We could wear ponytails, braids or buns if we had long hair. Most of us did.
No fake nails, clear polish and no visible tattoos.
We could wear makeup but were asked to keep it light and natural.
No perfume which I loved because I have bad allergies. Also, no heavy body creams. That came up when one of the students smelled like she had on the entire store of Bath & Body works. The instructor said it before anyone even had to complain. It was that bad. .
None of us made a fuss over any of it nor did it seem unreasonable. I thought we looked cute and natural.
That's about it for us, too. Also, students who smoked could not be seen doing it in uniform. Our uniforms are royal blue scrubs with the school name embroidered on the left breast.
Of course, no one ever said we couldn't pole dance in uniform, but I suspect that's a no-no, too...
My school was very strict. Our uniforms were blue and white, and had to be ironed and clean, our shoes along with the laces had to be kept white, very little makeup and jewelry were allowed to be worn. After the capping ceremony, we had to wear the caps every day, even during classes.
Clinicals are specific blue pants with white top embroidered with the school logo. White shoes and socks. We also have a white embroidered lab jacket to wear if we're cold. We have to wear the jacket over scrubs or business casual clothes when picking up our assignment the day before.
Only a wedding band
One pair of stud type earrings
Watch is required
No fake nails or polish. Nails must not be seen over your fingers
Hair pulled back if it's long, any style, but no decorations on the clip or whatever
Tattoos must be covered
No perfume
No outrageous makeup or hair color
School name tag is required
No restrictions on where we could wear our uniform, but I usually go straight home after clinical anyway. I have stopped at the convenience store on the way to or from the hospital a few times though.
We had very similar "rules" and they were enforced. We told to keep makeup to a minimum. Hair had to be up. All white uniforms with white under garments. NO rings (even wedding bands). No necklaces of any kind. No nail polish, nails had to be short. No un natural hair colors. ONE pair of post earrings. And ALL white closed toe and heal shoes. I remember having a girl in our class that wore white shoes with a nike swoosh in navy and she was told to get new shoes. We used white out and helped her alter the color.
Anyway yes the rules were ridiculous as I recall. Some yes had a reason but come on does it really matter if there's a navy swoosh on your shoe??
appearance at my nursing school was "professional". long hair in a bun type do, clean ironed uniforms, clean white shoes, small pair of earings, wedding sets only, white stockings, no runners or holes. it was a pride instilled and carried out to all aspects of school.
I teach for a community college. This program is being ran almost like a military school. When I was attending the same college many moons ago, our lab instructor literally got under the bed to see how well we put a bottom flat sheet on the bed and if there were wrinkles underneath the bed.
We were expected to all dress alike, hair off the collar,(no ponytails) one pair of post earrings or none at all, only a wedding ring allowed with no diamond set (so as to not accidentally hurt a resident/patient) , no make-up, no fingernail polish except clear, fingernails trimmed where they could not be seen above the fingers, no perfumes, tattoos hidden, no necklaces, and no going to the store in your uniform after clinicals.
What about your schools? Are/where they the same? Just very curious.
That is exactly how my nursing school was, and you better not show up to clinicals smelling of cigarette smoke either! But trust me, you will appreciate it later. When you get out of school you will always remember those things and take pride in the fact that you look more professional than the sloppy looking nurses (not saying all others will look sloppy, but there are just certain things you SHOULD NOT wear as a nurse). Just get through it, and I bet most of it sticks with you in your future career. To this day I have to wear my hair up because I do not feel it is right to perform nursing care with it hanging down in my face (or theirs!).
For lecture we wear what we want, but still must dress appropriate
Hair not to be on the face and should not touch you collar
Nails No pseudonails, or acrylic wrapped nails. Polish, if needed must be clear and nails must be kept short.
Uniform we had our button down white top with emblem on left arm and white pants. Or the button down white dress w. white stockings. Name pin must be worn at all times. Uniform is not to be worn inside the school after clinical for health reasons. Shoes should be closed back and toe and must be nurse styled shoes that are non porous, preferable leather. They even gave us instructions on how to wash our uniform. They recommend us not putting it in the dryer, because it will cause discoloring.
Makeup must be modest during clinical
Scrubs forest green scrubs with white shoes must be worn during lab hours within the school
Jewelry only allowing a solid wedding band, and stud earrings, supposed to be one pair, but I have 2 piercings, but haven't recieved any complaints. No other visible piercings allowed. And of course you need your watch with second hand.
And there was a no tolerance rule for more than 2 lateness.
My private school had the basic demands (long hair up, everything white, no dangly earrings, no black undies under the white scrubs) because they were grooming us to become professionals. And the ones who varied from protocol were talked to - that was about it. I think because we were paying $30,000 a year for out schooling- they figured we were adults, so if we did not follow the rules it would be our careers and grades that suffered. It was interesting, because during class/lecture time, students came however they wanted, with their piercings, tattoos showing etc, but for clincial everybody basically looked the same - that horrible white. Which I understand has now been changed to a color. Lucky them.
We were expected to all dress alike, hair off the collar,(no ponytails) one pair of post earrings or none at all, only a wedding ring allowed with no diamond set (so as to not accidentally hurt a resident/patient) , no make-up, no fingernail polish except clear, fingernails trimmed where they could not be seen above the fingers, no perfumes, tattoos hidden, no necklaces, and no going to the store in your uniform after clinicals.
What about your schools? Are/where they the same? Just very curious.
All white uniforms, ALL white, non-permeable, closed toe & heel shoes (the only acceptable "logo" is the Nursemate blue heart), white pantyhose or knee high stockings (though they are cutting us some slack over the summer letting us wear white socks) is our attire. Otherwise, same as you state, excep ponytails are acceptable, no fingernail polish, even clear, and minimal makeup is OK. Smoking in uniform is a BIG NO-NO!
Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
I am dating myself but I attended school in 1964 and 1969. Pink or pale coral lipstick, no other make up, watch with a second hand, hair off collar, white stockings and shoes, clean, in first program, hems were measured to be sure they were an exact number of inches off the floor. No wearing uniformed off hospital grounds or to class in second program. I graduated with an appreciation for the rules. Today, when I am a patient, and am approached by some of those who call themselves nurses, I wonder where their pride in themselves has gone.
lisacsu84
40 Posts
We had to wear turqoise colored scrubs to both clinical and class, white shoes but they were fairly lenient on them just not too much color. Hair up, pony tails were fine, and our nametags. All the same with nails makeup and jewelry Nothing too drastic, compared to some of these schools i feel lucky lol