Nursing Education Programs Professional Attire: Dress Code

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 will ask a student to leave the class, lab, or clinical area if appearance is not in keeping with the Professional Attire Policy. This will result in missed class time and an unsatisfactory in lab and/or clinical.

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

Students will be required to wear their uniform each day to class, lab, and in the clinical setting and abide by the policy guidelines at all times. This is to promote the concept of professionalism in the field of nursing.

*Students do not have wear their uniform during online class sessions. However, uniforms will be required for online lab and clinical sessions to promote professionalism.

Program Uniform/Lab Coat

Uniforms are purchased locally from Carolina Uniforms in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Students must purchase at least three (3) complete uniforms along with at least one (1) lab coat. Uniform style will be provided for both the PN and ADN programs during the Health Packet Submission Session. The cost of uniforms is included in the nursing student fee. If a student desires to purchase more than three uniforms, they must pay out of pocket.

Female Uniform

A full uniform consists of the following:
(Color – Galaxy Blue for ADN, Teal for PN, and Grape for LPN to ADN)

• Lab coat with RCCC monogram

• Solid earth tone colored leather shoes (black, brown, gray, or white) with a closed back and closed toe. No wedged shoes are allowed.

• Solid earth tone colored hosiery/socks (black, brown, gray, or white) that match the color of the shoes.

• 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:
(Color – Galaxy Blue for ADN, Teal for PN, and Grape for LPN to ADN)

• Lab coat with RCCC monogram
• Solid earth tone colored leather shoes (black, brown, gray, or white) with a closed back and closed toe.
• Solid earth tone colored hosiery/socks (black, brown, gray, or white) that match the color of the shoes.
• 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 or black 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. Nametags are required at all times. For some clinical experiences no lab coat is required. In the 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.

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. Students are allowed to wear surgical caps as long as they match the color of the uniform or are a solid natural color such as black, brown, or white. No designs are allowed. 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. If eyelash extensions are used, length must be natural. Make-up cannot be worn with an N95 mask due to the inability to be disinfected. Artificial eyelashes may not touch any protective eyewear and must be natural length.
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. Student may wear a clear stud/spacer/plug/retainer in the pierced area.
5. Shoes: Solid earth tone colored leather shoes (black, brown, gray, or white) must be polished and shoestrings clean and in good repair. For safety reasons, no more than three inches in height. Canvas shoes are not permitted.
6. Hosiery: Solid earth tone colored hosiery/socks (black, brown, gray, or white) that match the color of the shoes with uniform dress or skirt; or 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 times and avoids any offensive odors.

*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.

Revised 11/8/21