Dress Code Policy

Student Nurse Uniform

1. The student is responsible for keeping all uniform items clean, neat, well-fitted and in good repair.

2. The USI student nurse uniform includes:

Females

• Approved red uniform top.
• Navy uniform skirt or pants
• White lab jacket with USI logo
• Uniform and lab coat must be wrinkle free
• Socks should be black, white, or dark navy
• Long sleeved shirts should not be worn under the uniform.  White t-shirts cannot hang below any uniform apparel
• White, navy blue, or black leather shoes - no sandals, clogs, open-toed or sling back shoes
• USI name badge with picture

Males

• Approved red uniform top
• Navy trousers
• White lab jacket and USI logo
• Uniform and jacket must be wrinkle free
• Socks should be black, white, or dark navy.
• Long sleeved shirts should not be worn under the uniform.  White t-shirts cannot hang below any uniform apparel
• White, nave blue, or black leather shoes - no sandals, clogs, open-toed or sling back shoes
• USI name badge with picture

3. The student is expected to be well groomed to reflect a positive health image. Hair should be clean and secured so that it will not fall forward. Headbands should be a solid color of red, white, blue, brown, or black; one inch in width; and hold hair in place to promote a professional appearance.

• Fingernails are to be short, clean, and carefully filed. Only clear finger nail polish may be worn. No artificial nails.
• Perfumes and colognes must not be worn due to potential client/staff allergic
• Chewing gum is not permitted.
• Make up should be lightly applied, if used.

4. Pierced body ornamentation is limited to two earrings per ear.  The earrings need to be a small post, approximately the size of a typed letter “O”. No jewelry or body adornments outside of the ear are permitted including tongue studs, eyebrow, and/or nose rings.  Ornamentation that stretches or gauges the earlobe is not permitted.  No rings except a single flat band to promote good aseptic technique and client safety are permitted.  In some clinical settings, students may be required to remove all jewelry.

5.  All tattoos must be covered unless they are on the arm below the elbow and are no larger than the hospital/USI ID badge. Tattoos left uncovered below the elbow must not contain profanity or nudity. If an agency policy has more restrictions regarding tattoos, that agency’s policy will be followed.

6. During clinical experience, the student should have a watch with a second hand, a black ball point pen, paper, penlight, and a stethoscope. NO smart watches may be worn during the clinical experience.

7. Students are required to wear professional attire during all patient care experiences including simulation and anytime the student is representing USI as a nursing student unless directed differently by the instructor. A student may wear the USI clinical uniform or the USI polo shirt and khaki/tan colored pants on a clinical unit for clinical assignments, reviewing a client's medical record, and collecting information for a report. Blue jeans, shorts, halters, etc. are not to be worn to the clinical unit.

8. Students will wear the required USI polo shirt and khaki pants to attend all required educational conferences and selected clinical experiences. All aspects of the dress code should be observed except hair may be worn down and the student may wear jewelry.

9. Faculty approved khaki slacks should be full-length dress slacks. No capris, cargo pants, denim material, draw-string waist or hem, or slacks with cut-outs/lacings, etc. will be allowed. No low-rise waist. The hems of the slacks must be hemmed, no frayed edges, and may not touch the floor.

10. If working as a student nurse employee, the student must adhere to the dress code policy of the employing institution.

11. Students may be dismissed from clinical if not properly attired for their assignment at the discretion of the clinical instructor.