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Policy No: 2136

Responsible Office: Student Affairs

Last Review Date: 11/06/2025

Next Required Review: 11/06/2030

Policy No: 2136

Responsible Office: Student Affairs

Last Review Date: 11/06/2025

Next Required Review: 11/06/2030

Dress Code for USA COM Medical Students

1. Purpose

This policy provides dress code guidance.

2. Applicability

The dress code is to be followed by COM medical students while in Clinics-Hospitals-Clerkships and during clinical skills sessions with patients.

3. Definitions

N/A

4. Policy Guidelines

The dress code is to be followed while in Clinics-Hospitals-Clerkships and during clinical skills sessions with patients. Professional appearance is important. Medical students working in the USA Hospitals and Health Systems are expected to maintain high standards of professional appearance in all locations.

During the COVID-19 season: Medical students will only be allowed to wear the official grey scrubs – No white coats or business attire.

4.1 Dress Code Guidelines

4.1.1 Business Attire Guidelines

4.1.1.1 Allowed Pants, Bottoms, Dress, Skirts

4.1.1.1.1 Dress Pants/ Slacks, slacks no higher than 2” above ankle

4.1.1.1.2 Dress or Skirts (at least 3/4 thigh length)

4.1.1.2 Business Casual

4.1.1.2.1 Male students: wear dress slacks or khakis and a dress shirt with regular tie/bow tie and white coat.

4.1.1.2.2 Female students: may wear dress slacks, skirt /dress of appropriate length & white coat.

4.1.1.3 NOT Allowed

4.1.1.3.1 Men’s polo style shirts, sweat shirts, t-shirts, Jeans (any color or any style)

4.1.1.3.2 Sweat pants, Stretch pants, Yoga pants, Leggings in any style or color, Capri pant or shorts, Sleeveless Tops

4.1.1.3.3 Sandals or opened-toed shoes Plunging necklines or any tops that expose chest hair or cleavage

4.1.2 Clinical Scrub Uniform Guidelines

4.1.2.1 Allowed Pants/Bottoms

4.1.2.1.1 Official STEEL/GREY Scrub bottoms

There is a certain style for medical students- check with SCRUBS by Zoghby’s

4.1.2.1.2 Uniforms clean, neat without wrinkles in good repair. Appropriate size and length, hemline not touching floor. Scrubs must be tucked into pants.

4.1.2.1.3 Shoes: No tennis shoes with mesh. Shoes must be black, brown, grey or white closed toe, non-skid sole, free from obvious colors or logos. Shoes must not be scuffed, dingy, unpolished or untied. No boots. Must be able to wipe down with Clorox wipes. Socks are Required— See note on shoes below

4.1.2.2 Allowed Tops

4.1.2.2.1 Official STEEL/GREY Scrub Tops

4.1.2.2.2 Scrub tops that expose the chest or cleavage MUST be covered with under shirts. Students should wear solid white, gray or black crew neck t-shirts under scrub tops – Long sleeves in the same 3 colors allowed on most rotations.

4.1.2.2.3 NOTE: During Surgery & OB-GYN rotations T-shirts under scrubs are NOT allowed. Must wear them on all other rotations.

4.1.2.3 NOT Allowed

4.1.2.3.1 Any hospital issued scrubs

4.1.2.3.2 Opened-toed shoes, sandals or boots

4.1.2.3.3 Sleeveless tops

4.1.2.3.4 Colored undershirts with visible logos. (wear white, gray or black crew necks only)

4.1.2.3.5 Thermal underwear, henley’s, any waffle type tops All Microfleece jackets are strictly prohibited from invasive procedural areas.

4.2 Attire During the COVID-19 season

4.2.1 During the COVID-19 season: Medical students will only be allowed to wear the official grey scrubs – No white coats or business attire.

4.3 Personal Face Mask must be worn at all times.

4.3.1 Personal Face Mask must be worn at all times.

4.4 Identification: University Hospital ID badge are to be worn at all times while on duty.

4.4.1 Identification: University Hospital ID badge are to be worn at all times while on duty.

4.5 T-shirts under scrubs

4.5.1 White, gray or black crew neck t-shirts under scrub tops must not hang out under the scrubs at the waist and all others layers must be tucked in and not visible at the waist. Long sleeve white, gray or black t-shirts are allowed under scrub tops on most rotations. The under shirts are NOT allowed while rotating on Surgery & OB-GYN rotations.

4.6 SHOES

4.6.1: NO tennis shoes with mesh allowed. Colors: Black, Brown, Gray or White Shoes are to be solid, wipe able with Clorox wipes, no open toe shoes in all clinical areas and no mesh shoes-- (a needle stick should not be able to penetrate through) Teresa M. Aikens, RN, MSN, CIC

Infection Prevention/Control & Employee Occupational Health

University of South Alabama Health System

4.7 FINGERNAILS

4.7.1 Nails should be neat and clean. No artificial nails or extenders nails; natural nails must not be longer than ¼ inch long and polish is NOT allowed.

4.8 GROOMING/ FRAGRANCE

4.8.1 Due to close contact with patients, guests and other members of the healthcare team, all medical students must be clean and maintain appropriate personal hygiene with regard to their body, hair and nails. Scented body lotions, fragrances and colognes should not be used to excess and may not be worn in patient areas. Cosmetics, if worn, must be modest. Medical students must exhibit good personal hygiene at all times.

4.9 HAIR

4.9.1 Hair must be neat and not distracting (not, for example, fluorescent or neon colors or stripes.) Hair must not interfere with an employee's ability to provide patient care. When providing patient care. Hair longer than shoulder length must be contained and pulled back. Short neatly trimmed beards no longer than 1 inch below the chin and mustaches are acceptable. Head coverings accepted when associated with professional, medical or religious rationale or are required for reasons related to practice or Board of Health Regulations.

4.10 TATTOOS

4.10.1 Visible tattoos must be covered.

4.11 JEWELRY

4.11.1 Rings are limited to two fingers per hand. Only two piercings per ear allowed. Earrings no more than 1 inch below earlobe. Jewelry should be small and in good taste and not interfere with job performance. Jewelry may not be worn in any other facial/tongue piercings during duty hours.

4.12 TOBACCO

4.12.1 The University of South Alabama and USA Health System are Tobacco-Free campuses.

4.13 Questions?

4.13.1 Contact The Mastin Building office of Student Affairs 251-471-7145 Failure to follow the dress code will be grounds for disciplinary action.

4.14 Other USA Hospitals Scrub Uniform colors by department

4.14.1 NOTE: Other USA Hospitals Scrub Uniform colors by department

(Color is determined by primary function)

- Registered Nurses: Landau Royal Blue with white jacket
- LPNs and MAs : Landau Ceil Blue with white jacket
- Radiology/U/S,EKG,EEG Techs : Landau Navy Blue with coordinating jacket
- Laboratory (Lab Corp): Landau Black with coordinating jacket
- Therapy: Landau Hunter Green with coordinating jacket
- Pediatric Caregivers: Coordinating cartoon jackets
- Front Office Clinical Staff: Landau Steel Grey with coordinating jacket
- Mammography Techs: Landau Pink with Steel Grey jacket
- PA students: Burgundy scrubs & short white coat rev. by k.braswell Jun. 24, 20

4.15 SCRUBS by Zoghby’s

4.15.1 Zoghby’s

3170 Dauphin Street Suite A-B Mobile, AL 36606
251-316-7336
Ms. Melanie’s cell: 251-463-4612
USA COM Contact: Melanie
(Located behind Chick-fil A on Dauphin Street)

4.15.2 Medical Students from the University of South Alabama will receive a discount 20 % off for their purchases. The store will have a roster list of all of our medical students (M1s) or you can show your USA ID badge.

4.15.3 The official lab coat for the M1 & M2 is below:

(NO name or patch to be added to the M1 – M2 coats)
MEN: LANDAU Consultation Coat Style: 3200 wwy (3 button)
LADIES: LANDAU Consultation Coat Style: 3230 wwy (2 button)
The LANDAU Steel Grey (STP) unisex scrubs will be used for all 4 years of medical school.
LANDAU V-neck Unisex tops: #7502 - COLOR: STEEL GREY (STP) LANDAU Bottoms #7602 – Ladies Petite style #9502 COLOR: STEEL GREY (STP)

4.15.4 Shoes: No tennis shoes with mesh. Shoes must be black, brown, grey or white closed toe, non-skid sole, free from obvious colors or logos. Shoes must not be scuffed, dingy, unpolished or untied. No boots. Socks are required

4.15.5 T-shirts under scrubs can be white, black or grey – but cannot be worn during Surgery & OB-GYN rotations.

4.15.6 Personal Face Mask - required

4.16 Student COVID-19 Reminders

4.16.1 Do not come to the hospital if feeling ill (scratchy throat, fever, muscle aches, cough, SOB, loss of smell and taste).

4.16.2 You will be screened for the above upon entering each facility

4.16.3 Bring your own mask each day and don it before entering the building.

4.16.4 We will not assign students to COVDI-19 patients or the COVID-19 unit.

4.16.5 Study the “Proper PPE” chart available at USA Health so as to preserve and conserve vital PPE.

4.16.6 Maintain social distancing as much as possible, even during breaks such as lunch.

4.16.7 Keep work shoes outside your home, if possible.

4.16.8 Launder scrubs separate from other laundry.

4.16.9 Report to work in freshly laundered scrubs each day.

4.16.1 Onboarding and returning USACOM medical students to the USA Health Clinical Learning Environments

4.17 COM Medical Student Reintegration into the Clinical Learning Environments

4.17.1 The USACOM plans for reintegration of medical students into the clinical learning environments on June 1, 2020. Prior to reintegration, each USACOM medical student should continue good practices of maintaining social distancing and not travel, and self monitor for symptoms of fever, cough, shortness of breath, rhinorrhea, loss of sense of taste or smell, sore throat, myalgias, unusually severe headache, and/or diarrhea. During this time of self monitoring, if the student develops symptoms, the student should either call their primary care physician (PCP) if local or USA Student Health, 251-460-7151, if their PCP is outside the Mobile area. Establishing a relationship with a local PCP in the Mobile area is strongly encouraged; however, if no relationship exists, and the student becomes symptomatic, USA Student Health must be contacted to provide a referral to the designated Ambulatory Testing Site if the clinical symptoms warrant evaluation.

4.18 COM Medical Student Healthstream Training Modules

4.18.1 In keeping with AAMC recommendations and in order to deliver a didactic component to the onboarding process, each USACOM medical student will be assigned and complete the following Healthstream modules. In addition to best practices, these modules provide timely information to the medical students providing them the same information provided to other USA Health physicians and employees thereby holding them to the same standards as others in the healthcare system:

- Hand Hygiene
- Infection Control
- Respiratory Protection parts 2 and 3
- Transmission based precautions: Airborne
- USA Health COVID-19 Update
- COVID-19 What healthcare professionals need to know
- COVID-19 Contact and Droplet Transmission Based Precautions in the
- Acute Care Setting
- HIPAA

4.19 COM Medical Student Reintegrating into USA Health Learning Environments

4.19.1 In reintegrating to the USA Health clinical learning environments, students will not have direct patient contact with the following:

- COVID-19 known positive patients
- Persons under investigation (PUI)
- Patients under standard airborne precautions, contact precautions for COVID 19, or COVID PUI
- Patients for whom care requires donning the N95 respirator mask
- Patients who are undergoing aerosolizing procedures whose COVID status is unknown, who are COVID +, or who are PUI.

4.20 COM Medical Student Asymptomatic During Self-Monitoring

4.20.1 Students who remain asymptomatic during self monitoring may return to the USA Health Clinical Learning Environments ensuring that the following guidelines are strictly adhered to DAILY:

1. Self monitoring should occur for two (2) hours prior to arrival at the USA Health facility. Ifsymptoms develop, stay at home, email the clerkship coordinator, clerkship director, and Associate Dean Student Affairs, then call PCP (if local) or USA Student Health, and proceed with recommendations provided.
2. If symptom free, the student may proceed to USA Health.
3. Upon arrival at the USA Health facility, the student will be screened.
4. In adherence to the USA Health policy of Universal Masking, each student will need aprivately owned mask. (i.e., cloth mask provided by each student). If the student cannot provide a privately owned mask, a paper mask may be provided by the healthcare facility. The paper mask must be used for several days until it becomes soiled.
5. The following guidelines must be adhered to regarding privately owned masks (POM).

- - POM never take the place of hospital approved PPE which must be worn in designated areas.
  - The student should bring the POM to the clinical facility in a closed Ziplockbag. The bag is to be retained by the student.
  - Don the POM immediately prior to entering the facility.
  - Wear the POM throughout the entire day in all activities.
  - Remove the POM immediately upon leaving the facility and place it backinto the Ziplock bag.
  - Wash the POM daily at home and dry it on the highest heat setting.

4.21 COM Medical Student Daily Adherence Responsibilities

4.21.1 In addition to themselves, COM students have a responsibility to individuals in their homes, close contacts and community. Upon returning home from the USA Health clinical learning environment, each COM student is strongly encouraged to DAILY adherence to the following:

Until further notice, the student’s gray scrubs and student physician name badge should be worn at all USA Health clinical facilities. No white coats are to be worn. The badge should be clipped to the scrub top.
Upon returning home, scrubs should be immediately removed, washed and dried with hot water and high dryer heat.
Wipe shoes, name badge, and stethoscope with a clorox wipe.
Shower with hot water.
Wipe and/or cleanse personal cellular devices.
Maintenance of a DAILY temperature log, personal contact log, and location log.

4.22 COM Medical Student Develops Symptoms or Close Contact

4.22.1 If at any time a COM medical student develops symptoms or comes into close contact with a COVID-19 patient while not wearing the appropriate PPE, the student must stay at home, notify the clerkship coordinator, clerkship director, and the Associate Dean of Student Affairs, then contact their PCP or USA Student Health, and follow those respective directives. Symptoms may include some of the following: fever >100.4 F, rhinorrhea, new onset or increasing cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, loss of sense of taste or smell, myalgias, unusually severe headache, and/or diarrhea . The CDC definition of close contact includes:

- Being within six (6) feet of a COVID-19 positive case for a prolonged period of time while not wearing the appropriate PPE.
- Having direct contact with infectious secretions of a COVID-19 case while not wearing appropriate PPE.

4.23 COM Medical Student Notification of COVID-19 Testing Referral

4.23.1 If a student has been referred to an ambulatory testing site, the student must notify the clerkship director and the Associate Dean of Student Affairs. The following guidelines are to be utilized when a COM medical student has been tested:

- If the student has a positive COVID-19 test, the student can return to the USA Health clinical learning environment seven (7) days after the onset of symptoms or after the student has been asymptomatic for three (3) days off antipyretics whichever comes last AND has tested negative for COVID PCR x two (2) at least 24 hours apart. The student must notify both the clerkship director and the Associate Dean of Student Affairs of the return date.
- If the student has a negative COVID-19 test, the student can return to the USA Health clinical learning environment after being afebrile for 24 hours without antipyretics. The student must notify both the clerkship director and the Associate Dean of Student Affairs of the return date.

5. Procedures

N/A

6. Enforcement

N/A

7. Related Documents

7.1 Could link to tables if they are saved on the COM medical student webpage?