Clinical Policies

STUDENT UNIFORM

In most instances, the student uniform will be worn by students providing direct patient care. Observing in an office, clinic or agency or researching a patient assignment in a clinical facility will usually require wearing the lab coat. Exceptions will be announced prior to each experience. If a student appears at a clinical agency inappropriately attired, it will be the clinical instructor's prerogative to ask the student to take corrective action which may include leaving the premises. The student's grade may be affected.

Besides being a very practical method of contributing to medical asepsis, identifying a Clinton student, etc., the student uniform is a symbol of the Department of Nursing, and every student privileged to wear it should exercise meticulous care when appearing in uniform to make sure it is in good condition, is complete, and is correctly worn.

REGULATION UNIFORM FOR WOMEN CONSISTS OF:

Navy blue tunic top with white slacks,
White stockings (white socks acceptable with pants).
White shoes with white soles. Nurses "duty" shoes or leather athletic shoes.
Tee shirts worn under uniform must be white or navy.
Name pin attached to left side of dress or tunic.
Bandage scissors, stethoscope.
Pen, small notepad.
Wrist watch with second hand.
School emblem worn on left sleeve of uniform.
“Senior” chevron worn on left sleeve under school emblem.

REGULATION UNIFORM FOR MEN CONSISTS OF:

Navy blue “scrub” type shirt, with emblem on left sleeve.
White trousers.
White socks.
White shoes with white soles. Nurses "duty" shoes or leather athletic shoes.
Tee shirts worn under uniform must be white or navy.
Name pin on left side of shirt.
Bandage scissors, stethoscope.
Pen, small notepad.
Wrist watch with second hand.
“Senior” chevron worn on left sleeve under school emblem.

LABORATORY COATS

Each student is expected to have a white, full length, buttoned lab coat. Lab coat use:

· Lab coats are to be clean and pressed.

· Lab coats are to be worn buttoned.

· CCC patches are to be worn on the left sleeve of the lab coat.

· The name pin is to be worn on the left side of the lab coat.

· All lab coats are to be full length, covering dresses or dress slacks, etc. No jeans or shorts are acceptable under lab coats.

· Appropriate dress must be worn under the lab coat. Faded, tattered, or patched clothes are not permitted. No jeans are permitted.

SCHOOL CAP - SCHOOL EMBLEM - NAME BADGE

The cap, which is optional and worn by second year students only, must be folded and worn on the head in a particular manner. A 1/4 inch bright orange velvet ribbon adorns the cap. Caps may be purchased from Kay’s Caps, Inc., P.O. Box 818, Valley Stream, NY 11582. Sample cap and ribbon are maintained in the office of the Director of Nursing and Allied Health (Room 504).

Regulation name badges are available from Meridy’s, 208 Madison Street, Vidalia, GA 30475 (telephone number – 1-800-237-9164). Order forms are available at Summer Orientation and from the office of the Director of Nursing and Allied Health (Room 504).

The college emblem “patch” worn by all nursing students on the uniform on the left sleeve and the “senior” chevron worn by second year students only, may be purchased from the CCC Bookstore.

GENERAL UNIFORM USE

When in a clinical area for either research or lab purposes, a student must be "in uniform."

The uniform is to be complete and in good repair whenever it is worn. Students will be judged on personal cleanliness and cleanliness of the complete uniform. The following rules apply whether in blue uniform, lab coat or special dress for specific clinical experiences.

· Hair must be clean, neat, and in a style appropriate to professional dress. Hair must be off the face and the uniform collar. If hair is long, it must be pinned up securely, worn in a style which neatly secures the hair.

· Facial hair on men must be neatly trimmed or shaved.

· Finger nails are to be short and clean (artificial nails and nail polish are prohibited).

· Makeup must be minimal and appropriate for daytime wear.

· Perfume and aftershave are prohibited.

· Jewelry (rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets of any kind) is not to be worn with the uniform. The only exceptions are: a plain wedding band and one pair of small post pierced earrings. No visible body piercing, jewelry or tattoos. If a tattoo is unacceptable at a clinical site the student may be asked to leave the site.

· Sweaters are not allowed. For those who require additional warmth, white or navy short-sleeved tee (T) or white turtle neck shirts are allowed to be worn under the uniform. Consult your instructor.

· There is to be no gum chewing in uniform at any time.

· The uniform is to be worn in the clinical unit only (hospital, nursing home, physician's office, clinic or wherever the clinical experience is occurring).

· For reasons of asepsis, all uniforms, lab coats, etc. should be laundered daily.

· CVPH Medical Center is a nonsmoking facility.

· All white shoes must be worn. The foot should be covered.

· The present uniform supplier is Meridy’s, 208 Madison Street, Vidalia, GA 30475, telephone number – 1-800-237-9164. Order forms are available at Summer Orientation and the office of the Director of Nursing & Allied Health (Room 504).

PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR/CONFIDENTIALITY IN THE CLINICAL UNITS

Students must maintain a professional attitude and appearance within the clinical units at all times. When in the hospital, nursing home, doctor's office, etc., the uniform or lab coat must be worn unless otherwise specified. If street clothes are appropriate, a professional appearance must still be presented.

When in any clinical site, students are expected

to abide by the policies of that institution, e.g. parking, visiting patients, use of elevators, etc.

It is very important for all students to remember that when you are in a clinical site for laboratory field work, research, etc., you are there as a student in the Department of Nursing at Clinton Community College. You are not there as a citizen of Clinton County, parent, taxpayer, former or current employee, etc. Your purpose there is to fulfill your assigned educational objectives. You will be allowed appropriate professional privileges such as receiver of confidential and privileged information, access to very personal information, and practices. If an occasion arises when you become aware of a situation that distresses or confuses you, please discuss this with your instructor or the Director of Nursing & Allied Health before you take any action on your own. A great deal of time, effort and financial resources go into planning these experiences.

Any information learned while fulfilling your educational role is to be treated as privileged information - hence, not divulged or discussed with others. All information regarding patients or patient records obtained during clinical experience is confidential under applicable state and federal laws (including NYS HIV confidentiality law) and may not be disclosed without the written consent of the patient – HIPAA – Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. In addition, prior approval must be obtained from the CVPH Medical Center before publishing any material relating to the clinical experience. Students are not to leave clinical settings with any patient related written/printed information. Students are not permitted to print off, make copies of or transfer electronically any patient related data.

Students are restricted from unauthorized use of, theft, or damage to any agency property or equipment. They are further restricted from unauthorized presence in, or improper use of any agency facility. Students violating policies of our cooperating agencies will not be allowed in that facility.

Our clinical affiliates can revoke clinical, as well as any other privileges from students. Bear in mind you cannot complete the program without clinical privileges.

PARKING AT CVPH MEDICAL CENTER

Parking at CVPH Medical Center is restricted. Students need to plan to car pool, as there are a very limited total number of parking spaces allotted to all of the area nursing schools. Failure to respect this parking restriction could jeopardize our parking spaces at CVPH in the future. CCC students who are also CVPH employees must adhere to any student parking regulations while on the CVPH campus during their clinical experiences.