School of Medicine

Clinical Student Dress and Grooming Standards

OBJECTIVE

To promote a neat, clean, professional, and business like appearance consistent with preserving and enhancing the image of the Wayne State University School of Medicine, while assuring that attire is not hazardous or offensive to patients and employees.

SCOPE

All Wayne State University School of Medicine students assigned to inpatient or outpatient (including ambulatory sites, private offices, etc.) patient care areas.

POLICY

All students shall maintain personal appearance standards that are consistent with the image of a health care professional, and comply with all infection control, legal, and safety requirements.

UNIVERSAL PERSONAL APPEARANCE STANDARDS

1. Clothing should be of appropriate size and fit permitting freedom of movement. All personal clothing should be clean, neat, and of appropriate length with finished hems. Thighs, breasts and cleavage must be covered. Tucking pant legs into socks is not permitted.
   
   
2. Undergarments must be worn at all times, and color and/or design must not be visible through clothing. Socks or hosiery must be worn. Bare legs and feet are not acceptable.
   
   
3. A short white coat with appropriate School of Medicine identification (embroidery) is to be worn at all times during patient care activities, unless the students duties require wearing other items such as scrub clothing in the operating or delivery room.
   
   
4. Hair is to be neat and clean. Long hair must be so styled and/or restrained so as not to interfere with work performance, safety and infection control. Hair may not obscure vision or come in contact with patient or other surfaces. Head coverings mandated by religious beliefs are acceptable. Mustaches and beards must be clean and neatly trimmed.
   
   
5. Fingernails must be kept short (i.e., not to exceed 1/4 inch past the fingertip) and clean. Chipped nail polish or enhancements such as jewels may not be worn. Nail enhancements of any kind (e.g., wraps, acrylics, gels and stones) may not be worn in the Operating Rooms, Same Day Surgery, Intensive Care Units (for example, ICU, BMT, Burn unit, NICU, PICU, pheresis), step-down ICU units, or other areas where invasive procedures are routinely performed or when procedures require a surgical scrub. (CDC Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings. MMWR 51(RR16); 1-44: 2002).
   
   
6. Jewelry must not create a hazard to self or others, and should be kept to a minimum. Visible adornment with tattoos or body paint is not acceptable. No visible ornamental piercing except for ears. No bracelets are to be worn by students while engaged in patient care activities.
   
   
7. School of Medicine and/or appropriate Hospital Identification (Badges) must be worn at all times, on the upper chest or shoulder area, while on duty. Full name and photo must be visible. Badge holders/lanyards must not interfere with patient care activities and be worn above waist level.
   
   
8. Shoe covers, where required, must be removed when leaving the patient care area.
   
   
9. Makeup should be appropriate for office daytime wear. Perfume and scented after-shave lotion must not be worn due to the health risk to others.
   
   
10. Personal headphones or personal cell phones are not to be used or worn while on duty in direct care of patients. Personal beepers may be worn, but must be on vibrating (non-audible) mode and must not be visible.
    
    
11. Non-Direct Care Activities: Unless otherwise directed, casual business wear may be worn while in orientation, or at other educational offerings. This includes appropriate shoes/hose. However, if a portion of the day is spent in the clinical area, the above guidelines regarding dress and grooming then apply.
    
    
12. Off-Site Functions: Wayne State University School of Medicine Clinical Student Dress and Grooming Standards must be adhered to when employees or contract employees represent the DMC at any outside conferences, community outreach functions, and other professional/educational events.
    
    
13. The following types of clothing are not permitted:
    Jeans or clothing of denim-like material
    T-shirts (without hospital approved design or logos)
    Sweatshirts, sweatpants, or jogging suits
    Exception: Staff may wear sweatshirts with hospital approved logo-site specific. Personal Trainers at RIM wear RIM Logowear warm-up suits.
    Shorts or Capris
    Tank or tube tops
    Military fatigues
    Stretch pants, spandex, stir-up pants
    See-through or revealing clothing
    Exercise apparel
    Mini-skirts or mini-dresses (mid-thigh) or slit above mid-thigh
    Leather
    Excessive or inappropriate jewelry
    Sunglasses
    Open toe shoes or sandals
    

SPECIALTY AREAS

1. Approved hospital-provided and laundered scrubs are to be worn in designated areas only. These include, but are not limited to, the Burn Center (DRH), Labor and Delivery, LDRP, Dialysis and Perioperative areas.
   
   
2. Refer to site or department policy for students assigned to the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, and Psychiatric or Chemical Dependency areas.

RESPONSIBILITY

1. Each student is responsible for maintaining an appearance consistent with this policy. It is the responsibility of School of Medicine Administration, in conjunction with resident and attending faculty along with administration of all assigned health care institutions, to assure compliance with these guidelines.
   
   
2. Resident and Faculty, or the student’s counselor from the Office of Student Affairs, are expected to counsel students who wear inappropriate or unsafe clothing.
   
   
3. Students repeatedly arriving at work in apparel deemed unacceptable or unprofessional will be sent home for more appropriate attire. Students may then be required to make up time missed from clinical activities.
   
   
4. If the student does not respond to counseling, he or she will be referred to the Professionalism Committee for further action.
   
   
5. Faculty and resident physicians to whom students are assigned may make exceptions to the above policy for specific purposes and events.