1.4 Dress Code 

Regardless of the academic setting, adherence to dress code standards is at the faculty's discretion. Students must adhere to the faculty's determination of appropriate appearance. It is the philosophy of the School of Nursing (SON) that the student has a responsibility to be neatly groomed and modestly dressed. Appearances should promote the student's good health, safety, and general well-being.

Clothing should avoid brevity and design that are offensive to the dignity and rights of others. Items to be avoided in all school-related functions (including but not limited to): overly frayed, worn, or soiled garments; costume look, transparent blouses, bare midriff shirts, tank tops, spaghetti straps, muscle shirts, overtly sexual styles, gang colors or logos, facial or body piercing, obscene slogans or pictures, bedroom wear, short shorts, short skirts, or clothing that may be offensive to others.

School officials have the right and responsibility to counsel the student or take any other corrective action. Types of clothing (other than those specified in this document) may be worn at the direction of the nursing instructor for special events.

If the dress code rules are broken and a change of clothes is unavailable, the student may be removed from the school-related function for the remainder of the day. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken for repeated violations of this code.

1.4.1 Classroom

Casual or everyday business wear is recommended. This includes but is not limited to slacks, modest skirts, sweaters, blouses, and shirts. Jeans and conservative shorts (mid-thigh or longer) may be worn but avoid frayed or soiled items. Shoes must be worn.

Students may have occasion to present as part of course requirements. On these occasions, business or dressy day social attire will be worn: suit, dress, dressy separates, jacket, tie, nice fabrics, and dress shoes. Denim, jeans, t-shirts, or other casual clothes are not considered appropriate for presentations and are not allowed.

1.4.2 White Coat Ceremony 

Before the first clinical experience, undergraduate students will participate in a professional White Coat Ceremony to mark a milestone in the student's professional development. Prelicensure students will wear the UT Tyler nursing student uniform under the white coat. Students in the RN-BSN program may wear business attire, such as a black skirt, pants, or dress and a white shirt. The white coat must be an approved style from the designated vendor. The UT Tyler school patch should be placed on the front left upper chest area.

1.4.3 Pre- or Post-Clinical Experiences

Pre- or Post-Clinical Experiences in the Health Care or Community Setting: Students may be required to attend conferences or visit the clinical areas as part of their course requirements. Students will wear the approved lab coat, name badge, and UT Tyler school patch. Professional attire will be worn under the lab coat. The following items will be avoided: jeans, shorts, sandals, jogging/athletic suits, t-shirts, and ball caps. Alternatively, the UT Tyler nursing student uniform may be worn with a name badge. Faculty discretion may be used for particular events.

1.4.4 Clinical Experiences: Undergraduate

Skills Laboratory, Simulation, and Clinical Experience (Includes the Community Clinicals): Unless instructed otherwise by faculty, when attending any clinical experience, students must wear the adopted UT Tyler nursing student uniform with name badge and school patch. Students will refrain from wearing the UT Tyler nursing student uniform to non-UT Tylerrelated activities (e.g., restaurants, shopping, etc.) As a representative of UT Tyler and the SON, students are expected to be professional in appearance and behavior at all times.

When student uniforms are required for clinical experiences, as specified by the course, the
following guidelines must be adhered to:

1. School patch on the front left upper chest area of lab coat and uniform top.
2. The UT Tyler name badge with photo will be worn in all clinical settings. The name badge must be worn above the waist, so the name and title are visible.
3. White or neutral hose are worn with a dress/skirt; neutral hose, knee-highs, or white socks are worn with pants. Socks must cover ankles.
4. Clean, white or black clinical shoes or white or black non-slip, closed-toe shoes made of material that will not absorb bio-hazardous material and that can be appropriately cleaned, no canvas, mesh, or clogs. Shoes may be primarily white or black. If stripes or logos are on shoes, these must be minimal. Shoes must be closed toe and heel. 
5. Jewelry: wedding or engagement rings only; single stud earrings and only 2 in each lobe (no dangling or hoops); no rings or studs in the nose, tongue, lip, or any other visible facial or body piercing; no necklaces or bracelets (except Medic Alert). Students must have a watch with a second hand.
6. Make-up, hair, lashes, and grooming should be conservative. Hair color must be a natural shade (i.e., a shade of black, brown, red, gray, or blonde). No colors such as pink, blue, etc., are allowed. Hair shoulder length or longer must be pulled back in a ponytail or bun and restrained, so the hair does not fall forward when bending over to provide care. Hair clips, bands, etc., shall be functional, not decorative (no bows) or distracting adornments. Mustaches and beards must be clean, neatly groomed, and trimmed short. 
7. Tattoos must be covered and not visible.
8. Nails must be clean and neatly trimmed to no more than fingertip length. Nail polish and artificial nails are not permitted.
9. No perfume, after-shave, or other strong scents are allowed.
10. Gum chewing is not allowed.

Students having questions concerning adherence to the dress code should discuss this with their course instructor. Faculty have final discretion. 

To meet the variety of needs for thermal regulation, the following guidelines for undershirts and
jackets should be followed:

1. Undershirts for females are not required if the uniform top neckline is such that complete modesty is maintained and no cleavage is shown.
2. Sleeveless, white or black, round-neck tank tops are permitted.
3. Short-sleeved, round neck, royal blue or white tops are permitted.
4. ¾-length sleeves and white or black tops are permitted.
5. Men will wear a round-neck white or black undershirt without visible logos or advertising. Short sleeves should not be visible hanging from under the sleeve of the uniform top.
6. Long sleeve or turtleneck tops are not acceptable. 
7. An approved royal blue jacket available through a designated vendor with the UT Tyler SON logo or patch on the upper left pocket area may be worn over the student's UT Tyler uniform.

Failure to comply with the above requirements may result in an unexcused clinical absence and/or negative clinical evaluation. Some individual situations may require a collaborative effort by faculty to reach an appropriate solution to best deal with tattoos, skin disorders, etc.

1.4.5 Clinical Experiences: Graduate

Skills lab, Simulation, Clinical, and OSCEs:

1. Students will dress professionally, appropriate to the area of clinical practice and the dress code of the agency assigned.
2. All students must wear a UT Tyler school patch on the upper left chest of the uniform jacket and lab coat. UT Tyler SON patches can be ordered at CR Scrubs.
3. The name badge must be worn at all times, either on the jacket or the uniform. The name badge should be ordered through the graduate nursing advisor of the School of Nursing.

1.4.6 Professional Presentations/ Conferences

Students presenting at or attending professional conferences are representatives of UT Tyler and the School of Nursing. Professional attire is expected, including business or dressy day social: suit, dress, dressy separates, jacket, tie, nice fabrics, and dress shoes. Denim, jeans, Tshirt, or other casual clothes are not considered appropriate and are not allowed. For workshops/seminars attended by students, professional/business attire will be worn. Students will wear the approved UT Tyler SON white lab coat with the UT Tyler SON patch over professional attire at the discretion of the nursing instructor.

1.4.7 Nursing Convocation (Pinning Ceremony)

Convocation, or the pinning ceremony, is a professional ceremony held at the end of each semester to recognize graduates from the BSN program.
Men will wear black pants (no jeans) and a pressed, white button-down, long-sleeved shirt with
a collar and a dark-colored tie such as black, dark gray, or navy. The white lab coat with the UT Tyler patch on the left front upper chest is to be worn over the shirt and slacks. Shoes should be black dress shoes (no tennis/ running shoes).

Women will wear black slacks (no jeans or leggings) or black knee-length or longer skirts with a pressed, white long-sleeved or ¾ length shirt with skin-tone undergarments. Flat or low heeled, closed or peep-toe black shoes are allowed (no sling-backs). Students are required to wear their white lab coats with the UT Tyler patch on the left front upper chest over the shirt and slacks/skirt. Jewelry must be conservative (e.g., no large/ oversized earrings or necklaces).

Gum chewing is not allowed.