Professional Dress and Behavior
Students must obtain and wear an official Aspen University uniform and identification badge. For more information, please contact Clinical Coordination Office. Nursing students have a specific dress code listed below. All students are expected to present themselves as representatives of Aspen University’s program. All students are expected to be respectful to faculty, student colleagues, staff, patients, and their families. Reports of unprofessional behavior will result in your being counseled by the clinical faculty and/or the Program Director/Clinical Practice Manager and initiation of a Code of Conduct violation which is subject to review by the School of Nursing & Health Sciences. You are expected to follow Aspen University’s official Code of Conduct policy identified in the University Academic Catalog.
Student Nurse Uniform Attire
The student uniform should be worn for all on campus or clinical activities, unless otherwise specified by the clinical site. Any deviations in dress at clinical including simulation lab will result in a Code of Conduct violation or the student being sent home from clinical and placed on clinical probation. Proper identification MUST be worn at all times in all clinical, lab/skills simulation and classroom settings. The uniform and identification requirements of the clinical agency are to be followed.
The uniform consists of:
- Wrinkle free black scrub pants
- Wrinkle free Aspen blue scrub tops, embroidered with the University logo
- Wrinkle free white lab jacket (optional)
- A white lab jacket must be worn if appropriate street clothes are worn in place of the uniform for patient selection. Shorts, very short skirts, jeans, tank tops, tube tops, see-through clothing, exercise clothes (sweats), and open-toed shoes are not acceptable attire in any clinical agency. Clothing depicting offensive language or pictures is not acceptable.
- Scrubs and white lab jackets may be purchased through the Apparel Pro.
- Name Badge, available from the SONHS Clinical Coordination Office. The name badge will show your picture and lists your legal first name, and “Student Nurse” or “Nurse” as required by the Clinical Partner The name badge must be worn while attending any clinical activity, lab/simulation or classroom. Name badge will not be worn outside of the clinical agency or campus.
- White, black or neutral socks or hose are to be worn with the uniform.
- Shoes are to be predominantly white or black, duty leather shoes with predominantly white or black soles, closed heels or predominantly white or black, clean athletic shoes (no mesh). Shoelaces must also coordinate.
- Undergarments will not be visible through the uniform.
- Additional items included as part of the uniform are:
- Stethoscope with a bell and diaphragm head
- Penlight
- Bandage scissors
- Black pens
- If a belt organizer is used, it must be white or blue.
- Watch with a second hand.
- Optional items:
- White or black cotton tee shirts, crew neck or turtleneck, may be worn under uniforms for warmth or modesty.
- A white scrub jacket may be worn in the clinical setting for warmth.
Professional Appearance
- Hair should be short or pulled back and styled neatly. Natural hair color is required; no purple, green, pink, blue or similar hair color is permitted. Beards or mustaches, if worn, should be neatly trimmed. Artificial eyelashes or eyelash extensions are not permitted.
- Fingernails should be neatly trimmed and free of cracked nail polish. Only clear or neutral nail polish may be used, if desired. Acrylic nails, gels, overlays, dips, powders or any other nail enhancements are not permitted.
- Permitted jewelry includes one pair of studded earrings, a watch, and a plain ring band. No other visible jewelry is acceptable including tongue rings or other facial jewelry. Clear spacers may not be worn in place of facial piercings.
- Tattoos and any other body art should be covered. (Students are directed to follow the agency guidelines when in specified areas such as nursery, labor and delivery, and operating room.)
- Perfume, after-shave lotion, scented lotions, and heavy makeup are not acceptable in the clinical area.
- Gum chewing is not acceptable.
- Clothing worn in non-clinical setting activities not requiring student uniform should adhere to professional standards.
- Cell phone use is not permitted in the classroom, Lab/simulation or in the patient clinical setting. Students are expected to follow agency guidelines and clinical faculty directions regarding appropriateness of cell phone usage in the clinical setting.
- Please remember that students represent Aspen University. Your appearance must be clean, neat, and professional.
Professional Attire for Specific Community Health Experiences, Presentations, Behavioral Health Clinical, or as Indicated by Faculty
Please check with your Community Health faculty on agencies that require “street clothes,” also known as business casual. Business casual is acceptable and can be interpreted as:
- Women: wrinkle free slacks (dress pants), skirts (mid-calf to about two inches above the knee), blouses, shells, cardigans, blazers or dresses, shoes that cover the entire foot.
- Men: wrinkle free dress pants, button down shirts, polo shirts (short sleeved shirts with a collar), blazers, shoes that cover the entire foot.
- Do not wear:
- Denim material
- Anything that is see-through, short, tight, or shows too much skin.
- Flip-flops or tennis shoes/sneakers.