Standards of Dress and Appearance

Medical students are invited into virtual and interpersonal spaces that are perhaps the most challenging of any such spaces that humans traverse. This is not a space where we seek to further our own identity. Rather, we enter into our patients lives to provide compassionate care. In keeping with this role in service to others, students are expected to convey a professional demeanor, not only in their behavior but also in their dress and appearance. A professional image conveys credibility, trust, respect, and confidence to one's colleagues and patients.

In all educational settings–classroom, laboratory, clinical environment–students are expected to be clean, well groomed, and dressed in a manner appropriate to their responsibilities and the standards of their assigned clinical sites. When patient-student contact is part of the educational experience (including interactions in the clinic, in the hospital, and with simulated patients), students are expected to dress professionally and wear a clean white coat unless otherwise instructed by EUSOM faculty. When patients are invited into the classroom as part of the Foundations curriculum, medical students should wear respectful and professional attire, as would be expected when seeing patients in the clinical environment, save for white coats, which are not necessary.

Of note, students must conform to dress policies set by each healthcare facility in which they rotate.

All students are required to be clean and maintain appropriate personal hygiene regarding their body, hair, and nails. Hair and nails need to be clean, neat, and of a length to not interfere with the student's and/or patient's safety or ability to perform their duties.

Professional dress for clinical duty is outlined below.

The guidelines represent minimum standards for dress and appearance to ensure that students present a positive and professional image to patients. You will receive feedback about your grooming and attire from simulated patients, faculty, course directors, and peers when your appearance does not meet expectations for professional and clinical environments. If a faculty member, course or clerkship director or staff member feels that the clothing is inappropriate for the setting, they may ask you to change prior to continuing in that environment.

Hair Maintenance

Hair, including facial hair, should be neatly groomed, clean, and of a length that does not interfere with student and/or patient safety (including interfering with standardized personal protective equipment) or ability to perform clinical duties. No extreme hair styles or color are allowed. Unless head coverings are required as part of a medical uniform or for religious, cultural, or medical reasons, hats or other head coverings should be avoided.

Clothing

Students should wear business attire that is clean and in good repair. In general, clothes should be of a length, fit and style that are appropriate for the clinical environment. Avoid clothing with rips, tears, or frayed edges. Shorts and jeans are not appropriate professional dress. Shoes must be clean, close-toed and in good repair. Sandals should not be worn.

Scrubs

Scrub suits should be worn in specific patient care areas only. They are the property of the hospital and are not to be defaced, altered, or removed from the hospital. Scrubs are NOT to be worn in the School of Medicine Building (including ExCEL) unless otherwise specified. Scrubs may be worn in the Anatomy Lab when appropriate; there are changing rooms adjacent to the lab to use for returning to street attire when leaving the lab area. Stained or soiled scrub suits must be changed as soon as possible; they are a source of potential contamination. All Personal Protective Equipment (e.g., masks, hats, booties) must be removed upon leaving OR's/procedural/patient room areas.

Body Piercing and Tattoos

Tattoos should be covered to the extent possible. Piercings, other than simple ear and nose piercings, should be covered or removed in professional settings. Body jewelry should be minimal. Necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, or other adornments should be of a size and design to not interfere with student and/or patient safety or the ability to perform clinical duties.

Nails

Nails need to be clean, neat, and of a length to not interfere with the student's and/or patient's safety or ability to perform their duties. Students are not allowed to have artificial nails of any kind when caring for patients. Artificial nails are defined as any material applied to the nail but not limited to any fingernail enhancement or resin bonding product, including wraps, acrylics, nail jewelry, shellac, gel polish, SNS, or tips. Regular nail polish is allowed as long as it is not chipped. The length of the fingernail is not to exceed 1/4 inch from the nail bed. Nails should not be seen from the front of the hand.

Name Tags/Badge

Students should always wear their name tag/badge in the clinical environment. Name tags/badges should be above the waist, near eye level.