Personal Appearance Policy for Nursing Education Programs

The Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Nursing Program believes that professionalism begins with appearance and attire. The Professional Attire Policy is formulated to ensure high standards of dress and appearance that represent our College to area hospitals and community settings. The values of asepsis, client safety, and client sensitivity are also incorporated into the policy. Faculty reserve the right to ask a student to leave the clinical area if appearance is not in keeping with the Professional Attire Policy: This will result in an overall Unsatisfactory for the clinical day based on criteria #5 of the Clinical Evaluation Policy.

The Student Identification Badge is to be worn at all times during class, lab, and clinical experiences.

Program Uniform/Lab Coat

Uniforms are purchased locally from Carolina Uniforms in Kannapolis, North Carolina. The student will be fitted at NCRC at specified dates and times. Students must purchase at least one (1) complete uniform which includes the lab coat. Uniform price and style will be provided for both the PN and ADN programs during the Health Packet Submission Session.

Female Uniform

A full uniform consists of the following:

• Lab coat with RCCC monogram
• RCCC patch should be sewn on left shoulder of lab coat. The patch can be purchased from the RCCC bookstore on either the North or South campus.
• White nursing shoes with a closed back or white, leather tennis shoes
• White hosiery/socks and undergarments which do not show through the uniform
• Student Identification Badge worn at chest level and visible at all times
• Watch with second hand
• Bandage scissors
• Stethoscope
• Penlight

Male Uniform

A full uniform consists of the following:

• Lab coat with RCCC monogram
• RCCC patch should be sewn on left shoulder of lab coat. The patch can be purchased from the RCCC bookstore on either the North or South campus.
• White nursing shoes with a closed back or white, leather tennis shoes
• White socks and white undergarments which do not show through the uniform
• Student Identification Badge worn at chest level and visible at all times
• Watch with second hand
• Bandage scissors
• Stethoscope
• Penlight

Uniforms

Uniforms must be clean, neat, wrinkle free and fit properly. Dress length must cover knees. A solid white undershirt is recommended under the scrub top. Undershirts may be tank cut, short sleeve or long sleeve. The undershirt/tank must be clean and tucked in the scrub pant. When in the clinical agency and not in uniform, the RCCC lab coat is required. Professional attire is to be worn with the lab coat, (no jeans, leggings, shorts, short skirts, or open toed shoes or sandals). Nametags are required at all times. For some clinical experiences no lab coat is required. OR/ LDRP, scrubs will be worn in specialty rotations. Directions for scrub attire will be given to the student by the Clinical Coordinator for that NUR course and noted in the NUR course syllabus. In situations where the student is not wearing an official uniform, the student must wear professional attire. Clothing must not reveal bare shoulder, cleavage, or expose private body parts, piercings or tattoos.

1. Hair: must be clean, neatly arranged, and off the shoulders. Hair must not fall in face during nursing activities. When necessary, uses hair barrettes that blend with hair color. Extremes in hair styles such as cutouts, mohawks or unnatural/dyed hair color is not acceptable. Decorative hair ornaments, crocheted bun covers, or hats are inappropriate. Beards and mustaches must be neatly trimmed or face clean-shaven.
2. Fingernails: Maintains fingernails no longer than the tip of the finger, use no polish or artificial nails.
3. Cosmetics: Ensures that make-up is subdued and no perfume is worn.
4. Jewelry: Limits jewelry to watch without jewels, wedding band with no sets, pierced earrings of small stud-type (silver, gold, or pearl) and only one per ear lobe. No other jewelry or body area studs are permitted.
5. Shoes: White leather shoes must be polished and shoestrings clean and in good repair. These may be professional nursing shoes or all white low-top athletic shoes with closed heel and toe. The heel and sole of the shoe must be white. For safety reasons, no more than three inches in height. Canvas shoes are not permitted.
6. Hosiery: Full- length, solid white stockings with uniform dress or skirt; solid white socks that cover the ankle with pants. No leggings allowed.
7. Tattoos: Any visible body tattoo must be masked with flesh-colored covering.
8. Hygiene: Practices good body and dental hygiene at all time

*Nursing faculty may impose other restrictions as deemed necessary, contingent upon clinical site policies.

**Compliance with this policy is required throughout the entire enrollment in the nursing program. Noncompliance with this policy will result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the nursing program.