3.1.1 Dress Code
It is the responsibility of department manager and supervisors to communicate and manage appropriate attire for the employees or interns who are their direct reports. The following guidelines should be used to establish team/department standards.
The primary factors to be considered when determining dress:
- Safety
- Hygiene
- Professionalism
Purpose: To provide and communicate a consistent and professional guideline for employees and interns within the Department of Clinical Services and academic programs that supports the NWHSU brand. An individual’s attire reflects on the image and brand of NWHSU. What one chooses to wear directly impacts the patient/client perceptions of skill level, ability and professionalism. Whenever there are questions regarding attire the clinical administration and Clinical Education departments will work collaboratively to provide a consistent recommendation.
While in the clinical environment and directly interfacing with patients/clients all clinic employees, faculty, and interns:
- Your clothing must be neat, clean, without holes, and wrinkle –free.
- Clothing should fit well and allow for comfortable movement throughout all required work activities without compromising safety or professional image.
- Follow business or business casual standards based on clinical site requirements.
- Scrubs – based on clinical site requirements.
- Clinical white coat – based on clinical site requirements.
- Do not wear anything that might be perceived as too revealing or provocative, such as low pant/neck lines and exposed undergarments. Tops must not reveal cleavage when standing or bending forward.
- Wear nametag in an easily visible location.
- Footwear: Dress shoes or neutral colored tennis shoes.
- Closed-toe shoes are required in environments that fall under OSHA standards including, but not limited to the ACM clinic, clinical laboratory and herbal dispensary.
- Long hair must be pulled back when providing fire cupping or moxa. Ensure hair (including facial hair) does not contact the patient during clinical care.
- Practice personal hygiene and be free of offensive odor. Refrain from wearing perfume, cologne or after-shave.
- Hands must be kept clean; fingernails must be short, smooth, and clean.
- Body art including piercings, studs, visible tattoo’s and extreme hair/make up color must not distract from the care provided to our patients and must appear professional.
- NWHSU permits the display of body art that do not pose a conflict with the individual’s job environment. Factors that NWHSU will consider when determining whether body are is unacceptable to display include: Offensiveness to patients, customers, vendors or colleagues based on racial, sexual, religious, ethnic or characteristics or attributes of a sensitive or legally protected nature.
- Off-site clinical environments may have additional requirements.
- Some additional exceptions may apply based on clinical site requirements. Please check with your supervisor or Clinical Education department.
Unacceptable clothing, unless otherwise stated within the policy:
- Tops that include: tube tops, halter tops, corsets, see-through blouses, midriff blouses/tops, tight shirts
- Bare stomach and back
- Bottoms that include: jeans, shorts, mini-skirts
- Clothing with graphics
- Footwear: flip flops, crocs
- Workout or gym attire including yoga pants, jogging pants, tennis shoes (not neutral in color)
Noncompliance
An individual who is found to be noncompliant with this policy may receive a verbal or written warning for minor infractions. Safety concerns, repeated or egregious infractions will lead to the removal of the individual from the clinic environment.
Clinical supervisors will bring any dress code concerns to Clinical Education and clinical administration to discuss and make the final decision on appropriate attire for the site.