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

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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??! :confused:

Now you have me laughing! Went to catholic schools all my life. Same deal!

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Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.

It's been discussed here before, but bears repeating: PLEASE be careful with scents in the clinical setting. As one who's sensitive to most perfumes, I can tell you that even hair spray makes me nauseated if I'm feeling sick so imagine what perfume, hair spray, lotions, etc can do to patients in the hospital :uhoh21:

And smokers?? Wash wash wash your hands, rinse your mouth, whatever it takes to lessen the odor. I've actually seen a patient *heave* when a fellow student resumed care after a smoke break.

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Specializes in Psych.

Well, let's see, it's a private Catholic school so we have all the rules mentioned. No jewelry other than ear studs and wedding band, hair back, no piercings or visible tats, no fake or long nails - polish has to be clear or light pink, shoes have to be solid blue or white and of course our scrubs can only be purchased at the campus bookstore. $35 for the just the top! Ridiculous! Oh, and no perfume. They even say no excessive makeup.

I start clinicals in October so I guess I'll find out how it's enforced. I know from working as a volunteer at the hospital affiliated with the school that I never saw any nurses violating these rules except for the hair one -- some of them did not always have their hair pulled back. But I never saw a single set of false nails (which I think is good).

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Specializes in Float.

My school basically has those same rules. At our hosptial orientation today, they put up a graph comparing CFU's on natural, artificial, and painted nails before and after handwashing. With artificial it was SIGNIFICANTLY higher. Painted was moderately higher. We are not allowed ANY paint. I guess now would be the perfect time to quit biting my nails huh? LOL I actually quit about 2 months in the spring for my behaviour modification project in Psych..but I started again.

They also talked about perfume and how it could make patients more nauseous. I'll tell ya.. the girl sitting next to me had perfume on and I sneezed several times during the orientation. I also started getting a sore throat/ear about the time that I've had all day now, and I wonder if it isn't also due to the perfume exposure. :confused:

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Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.

I go to a small private Catholic school & their rules are. No perfume, smoke oder,tatoos,or jewelry.Hair must be clean, neat & pulled back if it's shoulder length.If the neck of your scrub is loose, then put a t-shirt under it. White leather shoes & lab coat. Keep makeup to a minium.Fingernails are too long if you hold up your hand, palm side out & your nails show over the edge of your fingers.Scrubs neat/clean & not wrinkled, be on time & be prepared with everything you need or you will be sent home.

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My school is similar to those mentioned, clearly on the conservative end: hair up, tiny earrings, plain band zero other jewelry, nothing pierced into your face, no nails (fake or otherwise!).

While they say no visible tattoos, I've yet to see anyone WITH visible tattoos (and there have been quite a number, male and female) who have them, be asked to cover them. I suppose it discourages those who don't have them from getting them (at least where the uniform doesn't cover--choice of long or short sleeves, EVERYONE goes for short because the hospitals are so hot), but it's not like they keep anyone out for having them in the first place. So the rule is moot.

But here's what I don't get: what's with the students who argue the dress standards every year? Why don't they understand that it's not about our "individual freedom of expression" but about keeping our patients comfortable with us and reflecting a professional image?

Seriously, would YOU want your grandmother being handled by some guy with tatoos on his fingers, earrings and a ponytail? I don't like it; it doesn't look clean and professional. Double standard for men and women? Yeah, well, so what? Do you really want your female nurse to have assorted metal stuck in her face (I know a student who each clinical removes three sets of earrings, two eyebrow hoops and a nosestud). Her tattoos are visible on her arms. Just doesn't seem like the thing some of our elderly patients would be really comfortable with, you know??

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Specializes in LTC, med-surg, critial care.
Seriously, would YOU want your grandmother being handled by some guy with tatoos on his fingers, earrings and a ponytail?

If he was respectful to my grandmother and family, did his job well and didn't stink I wouldn't care if he had a tattoo, earrings or longer hair than her.

I know plenty of people who are sleeved. In fact, the guy that did my back piece is very neat, well groomed (beard kept short, long hair is clean, shiny, smells good and pulled back) and when he did my back piece he went to great lengths to keep me comfortable when all I had to cover my chest was a towel. He closed all the curtians in his area and would stop everyone that got within a couple feet of the curtian. This guy is completely sleeved, had his knuckles pierced and had a tatto behind his ear.

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Rosa2Little- Forgot to say that early on the director wanted us to wear undershirts over our bras and full slips- cant have any show through. We were able to get rid of that little gem of a rule, but all the other rules prevailed. I smile about it now, but I love to see a professional looking the part and Im sure you do too.

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Rosa2Little- Forgot to say that early on the director wanted us to wear undershirts over our bras and full slips- cant have any show through. We were able to get rid of that little gem of a rule, but all the other rules prevailed. I smile about it now, but I love to see a professional looking the part and Im sure you do too.

jsteine1, If you ever get too nostalgic ...

http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=11533&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=9&iSubCat=192&iProductID=11533

:wink2:

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jsteine1, If you ever get too nostalgic ...

I ordered a couple from the website. one is for you!!!!!!

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I am enrolled in a hospital based diploma program and, after reading all of your posts, I have to say that they are very reasonable with their expectations of the students.

For the classroom portion of the program we are required to dress business casual (no denim/jeans of any color, no capris, no shorts, no t-shirts, etc.) which kinda dissappointed me simply because it limits my wardrobe severely.

However, our clinical uniform requirements seem fairly lax to me: We are required to wear all white (scrubs) with the school patch sewn on one shoulder. Shoes must be mostly be mostly white with closed toes and heels (most of us just bought sneakers). Hair is to be pulled back "from the face" but does not have to be off of the collar. Nails may be any length and painted with conservative colors. As of this year, artificial nails are no longer allowed. Hair must be a naturally occurring color. Makeup may be worn but should not be "theatrical". Earrings, even hoops and cartilage piercings, along with necklaces, bracelets and rings are ALL allowed as long we look "reasonable and professional" (personally I have two small hoops in the bottom and another in the top cartilage of my left ear and they are fine with that). Even some of the guys have earrings in!

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I am enrolled in a hospital based diploma program and, after reading all of your posts, I have to say that they are very reasonable with their expectations of the students.

For the classroom portion of the program we are required to dress business casual (no denim/jeans of any color, no capris, no shorts, no t-shirts, etc.) which kinda dissappointed me simply because it limits my wardrobe severely.

However, our clinical uniform requirements seem fairly lax to me: We are required to wear all white (scrubs) with the school patch sewn on one shoulder. Shoes must be mostly be mostly white with closed toes and heels (most of us just bought sneakers). Hair is to be pulled back "from the face" but does not have to be off of the collar. Nails may be any length and painted with conservative colors. As of this year, artificial nails are no longer allowed. Hair must be a naturally occurring color. Makeup may be worn but should not be "theatrical". Earrings, even hoops and cartilage piercings, along with necklaces, bracelets and rings are ALL allowed as long we look "reasonable and professional" (personally I have two small hoops in the bottom and another in the top cartilage of my left ear and they are fine with that). Even some of the guys have earrings in!

Gosh, my student uniform-pin striped dress, 12 inches off the floor, starched collar, cuffs, bib and apron, plus cap, no make-up. tiny stud earings, watch with second hand, no hair on collar, white stockings, shoes, full slip. AMedia was great for writing notes and vitals on. 1964-67 :wink2:

Grannynurse :balloons:

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