School Policy on Hair/Nails/Jewelry/Make-up?

JenNJFLCA · Aug 26, 2005

It depends on the clinical instructor how strictly the policy is enforced, but out policy is that your hair has to be neatly pulled back, little stud earings can be worn-and only in 1 hole (I have 3 in each ear), your uniform has to look neat (not to wrinkly) and if you wear rings, you can't wear engagement-type rings where the diamond could slip out. Oh, and you can't have blue hair or anything, you have to have "hair that is considered natural for human hair."

:)

mitchsmom · Aug 26, 2005

No fake nails at our school. Some professors are more relaxed than others about details of appearance, but I don't think ANY of them would go for fake nails. We aren't supposed to have any jewelry except 1 pair post earrings & 1 (flat type) wedding band. Hair pulled back off neck (this is where some teachers are more lax & will let it just be in a pony tail whether it's off the neck or not). We have a uniform (that's actually not too bad!). There is no make-up rule, that is a personal choice.

Roseyposey · Aug 26, 2005

Ours is no fingernails over 1/4 inch, clear polish in good repair; no artificial nails. Hair to the shoulders must be put up and hair can't be in face. And our uniform, of course: puke blue jacket with nice white scrub bottoms that make your rear look like a billboard and white shoes. One pair of stud-type earrings and plain wedding band.

LeashRN · Aug 26, 2005

At my school: no type of artificial nail coverings, coatings or polish - natural nails only and with no more free edge than one eighth of an inch. Nails must also be tidy and clean - manicures are highly recommended/encouraged.

The only jewelry to be worn are stud style earings (1 pair), and 1 ring if you are married (simple band - no stones), and a watch with a second hand is manditory. Hair must not hang past your shoulders when leaning over. Uniform must be clean and pressed.

NO joke, I have seen instructors hand students nail polish remover and nail clippers before going up to the unit and demand that jewelery be removed or student would not be allowed to attend clinical that day.

On days that we get pt assignments we must be dressed in professional attire (no jeans, shorts, short skirts, sweats/track pants or leggings)with a white lab coat. Students that forget to dress properly have to go and change into surgical scrubs for the day, or they are asked to leave.

And of course no peircings or tatoos - that's a given.

Students don't complain too much about the dress code they seem to complain more about being held to being on time to class/clinical! Especially the ones with small children - they believe that tardiness r/t family issues should be tolerated or even excused - I just can't wait until these people encounter the REAL WORLD - I just hope I can be around to see it!!!

Hope everyones semester is going well....

Alisha

In 4th semester of a 4 semester program!!!!!! 106 days til graduation!!!!

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Aug 26, 2005

No fake nails or any length. Natural nails must be kept trimmed and clean. Not even nail polish is allowed. Make-up should be professional and business like, and no strong perfumes. Hair should be pulled up and be kept neat and well groomed. Earrings should be no bigger than the size of a nickel (no dangling ones), one ring is allowed on each hand. :wink2:

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Aug 26, 2005

What is done at school and what is accepted by hospitals after graduation are two different things.

Just as what is best practice and what is done by some people in real life are two different things.

I suggest that if you want to graduate, you follow school rules. Much like a teenager that has to do it Mom and Dad's way, even if "everyone is doing it" differently. Just ecause "everyone else is doing it" that way does mean that you should.

kendarswife · Aug 26, 2005

Nails nust be kept short, clean and in good condition. We are allowed to wear polish because it makes our hands look "well manicured" however it is to be clear, light, nude or buff and it had to be "fresh"...no chips or stuff like that. We are allowed to have artificial/acrylic nails however there are STRICT rules about them. I dont have them so i dont really know what the rules are. No purfumes/colognes during clinicals. classes are different of course. Hair is to be CLEAN (can't believe they had to include that) and pulled up if long. All visible body piercings have to be removed...i.e. nose, tongue, eyebrow...but we are allowed ear rings...small ones. No Jody Watley (sp) hoops... :lol2: Uniforms MUST be clean and have our school patch on them as well as our ID.

As far as the gal doing the blood draw...was she a student or a hospital employee. That may have been the case on that one.

jsteine1 · Aug 26, 2005

What is your school's policy, and is it strictly followed? I had blood work done recently, and although the hospital's policy was noted on the wall, the person who took my blood had long false nails with a rhinestone chip embedded in the tip. It made me look around, and it didn't seem that she was the exception to the rule. What's the deal with that??!

Judging from all the replies you already have, little has changed since i went to school in the 70's. except, the uniform could not be more than 11 inches from the floor ( yes, they measured!)and no earrings or rings were allowed at all. We all had "Cher hair" in those days and learned to do a very tight french twist.

Rosa2Little · Aug 26, 2005

Nails nust be kept short, clean and in good condition. We are allowed to wear polish because it makes our hands look "well manicured" however it is to be clear, light, nude or buff and it had to be "fresh"...no chips or stuff like that. We are allowed to have artificial/acrylic nails however there are STRICT rules about them. I dont have them so i dont really know what the rules are. No purfumes/colognes during clinicals. classes are different of course. Hair is to be CLEAN (can't believe they had to include that) and pulled up if long. All visible body piercings have to be removed...i.e. nose, tongue, eyebrow...but we are allowed ear rings...small ones. No Jody Watley (sp) hoops... Uniforms MUST be clean and have our school patch on them as well as our ID.
As far as the gal doing the blood draw...was she a student or a hospital employee. That may have been the case on that one.

I believe she was a hospital employee. I do think she was new, because she had a difficult time finding a good vein. I can't fault her at all on that -- I have freakishly small veins!

jsteine1, you made me laugh with the 11" rule. It brought back memories of Catholic school uniforms. The nuns would make us kneel on the floor, and our skirts had to graze the floor. Oh, and no patent leather shoes -- they reflect up!

I have no problem with the rules. I've always followed them on my own. You could say that's my style, but truth be told, it's due to the fact that I'm too lazy to manicure my own nails, and too cheap to pay someone else! :lol2:

cn2007rn · Aug 26, 2005

We have to wear all white uniforms with our school patch on them and a name tag, no fake nails, no perfume, subtle makeup if any, no tatoos showing, small earrings, and all white sneakers/shoes.

Personally, I would not want to have fake nails and work with patients. I work in the ED and some of the nurses have fake nails and I personally think it's dangerous. I would not want all those germs/fluids/nasty stuff under my nails!!! A lot of people had their nails taken off for JACHO but then had them put right back on.

fozzie · Aug 26, 2005

Personally, I would not want to have fake nails and work with patients. I work in the ED and some of the nurses have fake nails and I personally think it's dangerous. I would not want all those germs/fluids/nasty stuff under my nails!!! A lot of people had their nails taken off for JACHO but then had them put right back on.

I agree! Not only is it dangerous, it's also disrespectful to the patients, IMHO. Think of all the microbes that live under those things. :eek:

I don't mean any offense to nurses with fake nails...I guess, it's just that after taking Microbiology and after reading various articles about how microorganisms can live on fake nails, I couldn't imagine wearing them in a hospital setting. Ever.