I. Outcome Goal: To convey a professional appearance to patients

Policy: Dress Code and Personal Appearance

Category

Clinical Operations

Policy Number

CL 20-06.05

Approval Date

April 2018

Effective Date

April 2018

Supersedes

February 2007

Inquiries: Accreditation & Standards (615) 936-5474

Applicable to

Adult Enterprise

Pediatric Enterprise

Behavioral Health Enterprise

Team Members Performing

All faculty

& staff

Faculty & staff

providing direct

patient care or contact

House Staff

APRN/PA

LPN

Other:

Responsible Committee

Clinical Operations Committee

Clinical Practice Committee

Quality Steering Committee

Infection Prevention Executive Committee

Pharmacy, Therapeutics, and Diagnostics Committee

Health Record Executive Committee

Information Privacy and Security Executive

Committee

Medical Center Safety Committee

Content Experts

Lead Author: Marcee Lupica, Associate Nursing Officer, Neurosciences PCC

Lori Harris, Adult Program Coordinator, VPH

Michele Hasselblad, Associate Nursing Officer, Medicine PCC

Jill Kinch, Assistant Director, Advanced Practice Nursing, Children’s Hospital

Laura Webb, Manager, Child and Adolescent Program, VPH

Benny Hopper, Manager, Diagnostic Imaging, Children’s Hospital

Cody Schmits, Director of Operations, Children’s Hospital

Vickie Thompson, Manager, Nursing Special Projects, Children’s Hospital

Ann Cross, Director of Nursing, VMG/Williamson

Rochelle Johnson, Director, Employee and Labor Relations

Jaclyn Thomson, Senior Human Resources Consultant

Susan Johnson, Assistant Director, VEHS

Vicki Brinsko, Director, Infection Prevention

Janice Smith, Interim COO, Adult Ambulatory Services

I. Outcome Goal:

To convey a professional appearance to patients, visitors, and co-workers.

II. Policy:

All staff working with patients or patients’ families or in public areas are expected

to dress in a professional manner.

Dress Code and Personal Appearance

Policy Number: CL 20-06.05

Page 2 of 4

III. Specific Information:

A. Identification badges are worn in clear sight above the waist with name,

title, and picture clearly visible.

B. Apparel is clean, neat and in good condition.

C. Hair is clean and contained in such a manner that it does not come in

contact with the patient or visitors. Natural or neutral hair color is

encouraged.

D. Shoes are closed-toe without perforations, clean, and in good repair.

E. No perfume/cologne/scents are worn in clinical care areas or areas where

patients/family congregate.

F. Fingernails are kept clean, well-cared for, and short. Artificial and long

natural fingernails are not permitted for those providing direct patient care.

The definition of artificial fingernails includes, but is not limited to, acrylic

nails, all overlays, tips, bondings, extensions, tapes, inlays, and wraps. Nail

jewelry is not permitted. Nail polish, if worn, is well maintained. Chipped

nail polish is not allowed.

G. The following are not allowed:

1. Faded, torn, ripped, or frayed clothing.

2. Midriff or off-the-shoulder blouses, sweaters, or dresses.

3. Tight, sheer, or revealing clothing (leggings are allowed if worn with

a top or dress that is mid-thigh in length).

4. Clothing with advertisement, sayings, or logos, with the exception of

unit-approved VUMC apparel when worn as part of the uniform.

5. Spaghetti strap or strapless shirts or dresses.

6. Denim jeans.

7. Shorts or sports attire (e.g., athletic sportswear, including hoodies),

unless part of unit-approved VUMC uniform.

8. Any clothing that restricts proper handwashing technique (e.g.,

thumb shirts/sweaters).

9. Hats, caps, bandanas, plastic hair bags/shower caps (particularly

worn within buildings), unless for medical condition or safety

purposes, or established religious customs.

Dress Code and Personal Appearance

Policy Number: CL 20-06.05

Page 3 of 4

10. Visible body piercing/jewelry except for ears with simple earrings.

11. Tattoos on face, neck, hands, and arms must be covered in patient-

facing areas. Regardless of location, no tattoos that are obscene,

commonly associated with gangs, extremists, and/or supremacist

organizations, or that advocate sexual, racial, ethnic, or religious

discrimination may be visible at any time.

H. Standard Attire for Clinic Check-in Areas:

The standard career apparel for the front desk staff (e.g., Patient Service

Specialist and other staff who regularly cover outpatient check-in and/or

check-out functions or who regularly interface with the public) is as

follows:

1. Female Attire:

An approved variety of sweaters, sweater sets, blouses and shirts

embroidered with the appropriate Vanderbilt entity logo and the

corresponding slacks in the approved entity colors are worn at all

times. The sweater set is provided to give short sleeve or long

sleeve options to the employee. A skirt may be worn in lieu of

slacks, provided it is the approved corresponding entity color. A

maternity outfit is also available in entity specific colors.

2. Male Attire:

A dress shirt with slacks in the appropriate entity colors is worn at

all times. A matching necktie is available and optional.

3. Entity Colors

a. Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt

(Children’s Hospital): Ivory or black sweaters/sweater sets,

blue blouse/shirt and khaki or black pants.

b. Vanderbilt Health at One Hundred Oaks: Ivory or black

sweaters/sweater sets, celery blouse/shirt and khaki or

black pants.

c. The Vanderbilt Clinic at Williamson County: Ivory or

black sweaters/sweater sets, blue blouse/shirt and khaki or

black pants.

d. The Vanderbilt Clinic, Main Campus and Nashville

Satellite Offices and PSR Floats: Ivory or black

Dress Code and Personal Appearance

Policy Number: CL 20-06.05

Page 4 of 4

sweaters/sweater sets, celery blouse/shirt and khaki or

black pants.

I. When staff’s clothing or uniform becomes contaminated while on duty

with blood, body fluids or hazardous chemicals, staff exchange their soiled

clothing for scrubs per Safety policy SA 60-10.02, Handling

Contaminated Clothing.

Departments may implement more restrictive policies to further define standards

of dress and grooming relative to jobs within their area.

Reasonable accommodations are made for dress or grooming directly related to an

employee’s religion, ethnicity, or disability unless such accommodations pose a

risk to the safety or health of the individual or others.

IV. Endorsement:

Clinical Operations Policy Committee February 2018

Executive Policy Committee April 2018

V. Approval:

Marilyn Dubree, MSN, RN, NE-BC 4/25/18

Executive Chief Nursing Officer, VUMC

C. Wright Pinson, MBA, MD 4/23/18

Deputy Chief Executive Officer and

Chief Health System Officer, VUMC

VI. References:

VUMC Policy Manual. (2018). Retrieved from https://vanderbilt.policytech.com.

Clinical Operations Category:

Scrub Attire: Inventory Control

Human Resources Category:

HR - Smoking, Tobacco, and e-Cigarettes

Safety Category:

Handling Contaminated Clothing

Smoking and Tobacco Use