Uniform Policy: Pre-Licensure Students

The uniform policy is designed to protect the personal safety of students and patients, protect the professional image of nursing and identify University of Arizona College of Nursing students. The uniform, including the name badge, should be worn in clinical settings and special College of Nursing activities. The uniform is not to be worn in non-clinical settings without prior written approval from the College of Nursing. This policy must be observed by all nursing students.

Please note: clinical sites may have additional requirements. In these instances, clinical faculty will provide students with special instructions. Students must adhere to all additional requirements of their clinical sites regarding dress code, identification badges, and specialized scrubs for specific units.

In order to help protect the professional image of nursing, images of students wearing the College of Nursing uniform may only be published if the student is in a professional setting. This includes images published to any form of electronic communication or social media. If there is a question whether or not the image represents a professional setting, students should first request permission from their faculty.

1. The College of Nursing uniform is worn:
   1. When engaged in skill acquisition and clinical practice – both inside and outside the College.
   2. When representing the College in designated course-required activities.
2. The College of Nursing uniform is not worn:
   1. As casual wear in the community, i.e. grocery store, coffee shop, etc.
   2. When engaged in any activity other than the two items outlined in #1.
3. Uniforms must be:
   1. Clean to prevent contamination.
   2. Neat, without excessive wrinkles, to protect the professional image of nursing.
   3. Properly fitted to prevent exposure during bending, lifting, and other activities.
4. Uniform components include:
   1. Scrub top: Cherokee model #4876 in navy is the only approved scrub top. It must be embroidered with the approved "University of Arizona College of Nursing" logo on the top left side of the front. The uniform top must include the University of Arizona College of Nursing patch attached securely to the uniform.
   2. Scrub pants: Cherokee model #4100 in navy is the only approved scrub pant.
   3. Name tag on the front right of the exterior garment, level with the embroidered logo. The name tag must be visible during all assigned clinical experiences. The name tag must also be worn in clinical settings where street clothes are required. A name tag will be provided upon admission. Students may elect to purchase additional or replacement tags from the university bookstore. Name tags include:
      1. UA Nursing logo (required)
      2. Student first name and last initial on the first line (required)
      3. Student pronouns on the second line (optional)
      4. Student degree program on the third line (required)
      5. ‘College of Nursing’ on the fourth line (required)
   4. Shoes must be:
      1. Clean.
      2. 100% white or 100% black.
      3. Worn with plain, solid white or black socks.
      4. Closed-toed and closed-heeled.
      5. Of solid, non-mesh, non-canvas material.
      6. Non-slip bottom.
      7. Professional work shoes intended for long periods of standing and walking.
5. Optional Uniform Components include:
   1. Navy or black v-neck or crew-neck undershirt. Undershirts must not have any visible decoration or logos of any kind. No other color, including white, may be worn.
   2. Scrub jacket: Cherokee model #4350 in navy. The jacket must be embroidered with the approved "University of Arizona College of Nursing" logo on the top left side of the front. The scrub jacket must also have the CON patch attached. No outer covering other than the approved uniform jacket may be worn over the uniform in the clinical setting – unless otherwise approved.
   3. Additional coats or jackets may be worn to and from a clinical facility and must be removed upon entering the building. These coats/jackets must be stored in a tote bag or backpack.
6. Hair
   1. In order to support the requirements of some of our clinical partners, hair must be clean, neat and of natural color. Shoulder length or longer hair must be pulled back and secured to the head in a tight, clean bun, braid, or ponytail to keep it secured above the shoulder, away from the face and from impeding vision or creating an infection control hazard (i.e. come in contact with the patient). Hair may be secured with neutral color elastic hairband or a plain headband that is 100% black or navy. Bangs or shorter strands of hair that hang in the face must be restrained with bobby pins, hair clips, or headbands.
   2. Facial hair must be neatly trimmed or cleanly shaved.
7. Head coverings
   1. Students may wear a scarf as a head covering in navy blue (match uniform color as much as possible) or black.
   2. The head covering should be secured away from the face to prevent it (like hair) from impeding vision or creating an infection control hazard (i.e. come in contact with the patient).
   3. The head covering should be clean and without pattern, logo or other adornments.
   4. All other head coverings (baseball hats, visors, etc.) are not permitted while in uniform.
8. Jewelry
   1. Watches that display seconds are required. Watches are recommended to be plain, solid color, with minimal decoration, and be of a small/moderate size as not to impede with patient care.
   2. Jewelry is not allowed with the following exceptions:
      1. One plain (without stones) wedding or personal ring
      2. One small, non-dangling post earring in each ear. Earrings must be neutral color and professionally appropriate. No hoop, gauge, cuff, bar, or spiked stud earrings may be worn.
      3. Nose piercings must be removed when in uniform.
      4. All other body piercing jewelry and ankle jewelry must be covered or removed during clinical experiences. No body piercing jewelry may be visible. No tongue or eyebrow jewelry is permitted. Holes left by gauges in ears must be covered with a skin tone bandage.
9. Personal Hygiene, Fingernails and Skin
   1. Daily bathing and regular oral hygiene are required to reduce the possibility of patient sensitivities to body and mouth odors.
   2. Fingernails must be clean, short, and smooth to ensure student and patient safety. In accordance with the Center for Disease Control Guidelines, only natural nails may be worn during assigned clinical experiences.
   3. Nail polish, gel coatings or artificial nails of any kind are not permitted.
   4. No heavily scented perfumes, aftershaves, body sprays, powders, lotions, and/or colognes should be worn in patient care areas. This includes no strong scents from tobacco or laundry detergents. This is restricted to avoid the possibility of patient sensitivity.
   5. All body art and tattoos must be completely covered during clinical experiences. A long sleeve undershirt, fragrance-free make up, or skin-tone bandages are authorized coverings for exposed tattoos.
   6. Extreme make-up is not permitted.
   7. Artificial eyelashes are not permitted.