Dress Code for Clinical Nutrition
Section I Staffing and Operations
CNI.18
Effective date: 09/01/2011
POLICY/STANDARD:
It is required that employees’ personal attire projects an appropriate image of the institution and
the Department of Clinical Nutrition and Lactation Services.
PURPOSE:
The following guidelines regarding dress were established in order to maintain a standard of
professional appearance while recognizing the need to wear comfortable clothing. Business
casual dress is the standard for the dress code for the department.
PROCEDURE/IMPLEMENTATION:
Clinical and office staff:
Business casual attire
White lab coat (if desired)
Appropriate comfortable footwear
Enteral Feeding Lab staff:
Uniform or scrubs
White lab coat or surgical scrub gown
Appropriate comfortable footwear with hose or socks
Hat or hair restraint
I.
General Guidelines
Clothing should not be too tight or loose, and should not reveal cleavage, stomachs, or lower
backs. Employees should wear clothing that is comfortable and practical for work, but not
distracting or offensive to others. Any clothing that has words, terms, or pictures that may be
Dress Code
Disclaimer: Policies and procedures are copyright of and owned by The Children’s Hospital of Alabama. They are
for informational and educational purposes only and are not to be relied upon as clinical advice or the standard of
care.
offensive to other employees is unacceptable. Clothing that has the company logo is encouraged.
Clothing should be pressed and never wrinkled, torn, dirty, or frayed.
No dress code can cover all contingencies so employees must exert a certain amount of judgment
in their choice of clothing to wear to work. If you experience uncertainty about acceptable casual
attire for work, please ask your supervisor.
A. Summary
Acceptable business casual dress includes the following: dresses, suits, skirts, dress pants, casual
pants (i.e.: Dockers®), casual blouses, sweaters, and other casual wear appropriate for business
casual dress.
Not acceptable: tight fitting knit pants or leggings, evening wear, athletic wear, shorts, sweat
suits, tee shirts, headwear (hats, visors, sweatbands or bandanas), sundresses, tank tops (tops
with straps less than three inches in width), or dresses and tops with spaghetti-straps.
Revealing, brief, or form-fitting clothing is unacceptable.
While hiking boots and sneakers are comfortable footwear, they are not appropriate footwear for
clinical staff. Sneakers may be worn by clinical staff only on declared “casual days”. Open-toed
shoes are not permitted.
Dress pants do not include jeans.
Dress Code
Disclaimer: Policies and procedures are copyright of and owned by The Children’s Hospital of Alabama. They are
for informational and educational purposes only and are not to be relied upon as clinical advice or the standard of
care.
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Fingernails must be neatly groomed. Artificial nails are not permitted. Visible body piercings
(other than a maximum of two sets of pierced earrings) are not allowed. Long, dangling earrings
are not permitted.
Hospital policy requires that nametags be worn in plain view at ALL times by employees.
a) Slacks and Pants
Slacks that are similar to Dockers® and other makers of cotton or synthetic material
pants, wool pants, flannel pants, and nice looking dress synthetic pants are acceptable.
Dressier gauchos and capris are acceptable. Pants that are below the knee with
finished edges are allowed.
Inappropriate slacks/pants include jeans (except on dress down days), sweatpants,
exercise pants, Bermuda shorts, short shorts, shorts, bib overalls, leggings, and any
spandex or other form-fitting pants such as people wear for biking. As a general rule,
shorts or pants that are above knee length are not allowed.
b) Skirts and Dresses
Casual dresses and skirts, and skirts that are split at or below the knee are acceptable.
Dress and skirt length should be at a length at which you can sit comfortably in
public. As a general rule, dresses and skirts that are above knee length and that do not
allow bending are not appropriate. Short, tight skirts that ride halfway up the thigh
are inappropriate for work. Mini-skirts, skorts, sun dresses, beach dresses, and
spaghetti-strap dresses are inappropriate. Generally slits in the center back of a skirt
— to facilitate walking and stair climbing — are acceptable, but should not be
designed to reveal the leg. Slips should not be visible.
c) Shirts, Tops, Blouses, and Jackets
Casual shirts, polo-type shirts, dress shirts, sweaters, tops, turtlenecks and suit jackets
are acceptable. Inappropriate attire for work includes tank tops; midriff tops; shirts
with potentially offensive words, terms, logos, pictures, cartoons, or slogans; haltertops; cut-off shirts, tops with bare shoulders; sweatshirts, and t-shirts unless worn
under another blouse, shirt, jacket, or dress. Fabrics suitable for evening wear are not
appropriate.
d) Shoes and Footwear
Conservative walking shoes, loafers, clogs, boots, flats, dress heels, and leather decktype shoes are acceptable for work. Make certain you can walk comfortably in your
shoes. Hose is not essential for business casual, but is recommended. Wearing no
stockings is acceptable in warm weather. Flashy athletic shoes, thongs, flip-flops,
Dress Code
Disclaimer: Policies and procedures are copyright of and owned by The Children’s Hospital of Alabama. They are
for informational and educational purposes only and are not to be relied upon as clinical advice or the standard of
care.
Page 3 of 5
slippers, and any shoe with an open toe are not acceptable in patient care areas,
including the Enteral Feeding Lab and Lactation Center. Closed toe and closed heel
shoes are required for safety in all patient care areas. Shoes with an open toe are
permissible only in the office.
e) Jewelry and Perfume
Accessories such as discreet jewelry are permitted and should be in good taste. Hand
jewelry is not permitted in the Enteral Feeding Lab during formula preparation or
handling of breast milk. Facial piercings are not permitted. Small earrings are
allowed, but not to exceed two piercings per ear. Tattoos should be covered.
Employees are required to comply with the CHS policy regarding use of
perfume/cologne.
If clothing fails to meet these standards, as determined by the employee’s supervisor and Human
Resources staff, the employee will be asked not to wear the inappropriate item to work again. If
the problem persists, the employee may be sent home to change clothes and will receive a verbal
warning for the first offense. All other policies about PTO use will apply. Progressive
disciplinary action will be applied if dress code violations continue.
REFERENCES/REGULATORY GUIDELINES/EVIDENCE BASED STANDARDS:
Peregrin T. Clothes call: Your professional image can have a big impact on your career. J Am
Dietetic Assoc. 2009;109:395-397.
INTEREST GROUPS:
Department
CROSS REFERENCES:
Not Applicable
Dress Code
Disclaimer: Policies and procedures are copyright of and owned by The Children’s Hospital of Alabama. They are
for informational and educational purposes only and are not to be relied upon as clinical advice or the standard of
care.
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ACTION TAKEN
Tracking Record –[Policy #]
REASON FOR DEVELOPMENT/CHANGE OF STANDARDS
CHANGE IN
PRACTICE
New Reviewed Revised Org. Research/ PI Equipment Standard Compl. Practice Other NO YES Comment/
Procedure
Changes Literature
Change Of Care Reg. Change
Explanation
AGC
of Impact
Title: Dress Code for Clinical Nutrition
Developed: 2/01
Reviewed/Revised: Clinical Nutrition 9/12/03, 5/4/05, 3/30/09, 10/13/10, 05/11
Approved: [group name] [date]
Dress Code
Disclaimer: Policies and procedures are copyright of and owned by The Children’s Hospital of Alabama. They are
for informational and educational purposes only and are not to be relied upon as clinical advice or the standard of
care.
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