NURSING AND MIDWIFERY UNIFORM POLICY. RHSC Professional Policy 2.7

Transcription

1 NURSING AND MIDWIFERY UNIFORM POLICY RHSC Professional Policy 2.7

2 Yorkhill Division Nursing and Midwifery Policy Committee Policy Number: RHSC POLICY 2.7 Policy Name: NURSING AND MIDWIFERY UNIFORM POLICY PERSONNEL POLICY APPLIES TO: This policy applies to all registered nurses and midwives working within Yorkhill Division of NHS Greater Glasgow. STATEMENT: This policy informs Divisional nursing and midwifery staff of the correct wearing of uniforms. Nursing students, Agency and Bank nurses and nurses from other Divisions are expected to comply with this policy when working within Yorkhill Division. While the health and safety of staff and patients/clients is paramount when working, the appearance of the uniform is also important. All newly appointed staff will be issued with this policy. 1.0 Uniform This will be provided by the Division, and worn as appropriate to grade or post. (Please see Appendix I, which details standard uniform issue). Staff who wear nonstandard uniform or theatre attire must comply to the same dress code. Where the wearing of trousers is permissible, this does not imply that non-tailored type trousers e.g. jeans and leggings can be worn Uniforms must fit properly to allow full range of movement. Theatre type scrub attire may only be worn by staff in designated areas as agreed by the Director of Nursing Uniforms must be maintained in a good state of repair and be clean at the commencement of duty. (Please see No. 14.0). Uniforms do not last indefinitely and staff must request replacements when necessary 2.0 General Appearance Jewellery: Plain band wedding rings may be worn. Only plain stud earrings may be worn. All other visible jewellery and body adornments must be removed when in uniform. If working in theatre, all metal jewellery must be removed even if it is not visible. Watch with second hand required. This may be worn on the uniform, or if it is a wrist watch, it must be removed from the wrist in clinical situations Nails to be kept neat and short. Nail varnish or nail enhancements must not be worn with uniform Hair must be kept neat and tidy, with any adornments being discreet. If hair is long it must be firmly secured to ensure it is no longer than shoulder length 1

3 3.0 Shoes A full shoe, either lace-up or slip-on, with safe grip soles and flat heels to be worn White trainers of the shoe type, with no additional colour may be worn No canvas, sand or moccasins to be worn Colour of shoe is dependant on grade and/or post as detailed in Appendix I. However, if staff experience difficulty in purchasing an appropriate white shoe, black may be worn as an alternative. Clogs may be worn only in designated areas e.g. Theatre, PICU, Cardiology, Neonatal Unit. 4.0 Cardigans & Tabards Only navy blue or black cardigans may be worn with uniform but must be removed before undertaking clinical duties 5.0 Tights/Stockings Please refer to Appendix I 6.0 Belts and Buckles No belts or buckles to be worn with dresses. This also applies to Agency Staff. 7.0 Badges Division identity/name badges to be worn at all times Registration, training hospital/college/university, professional organisation and trade union badges may be worn. This can be to a maximum of two badges, providing they do not compromise the safety of patients Team badges, in relation to the named nurse principle, may be worn Any other badge should only be worn on cardigans 8.0 Uniform off Campus Hospital based staff must not wear uniform to and from work (DOH,1998) Hospital based staff who have a clinical remit off campus, e.g. satellite clinics, may wear uniform to and from the site. This must be agreed by the Service Manager or equivalent 9.0 Community Staff Only staff who have a regular clinical remit in a community setting, e.g. Children s Community Nursing Team and Community Midwives, may wear uniform outside Division premises. Standards and dress code as set out in this policy will apply 10. Student Nurses/Midwives All student nurses and midwives on placement within the Division are expected to comply with this uniform policy. Lockers are situated in the ground floor changing rooms. If lockers are unavailable, alternative arrangements for changing and storing personal belongings must be made with the head of department of clinical placement area. 2

4 11.0 Required Extras Individuals are required to provide:, /socks, non disposable blunt edged scissors. If cardigans are worn, they must also supply these 12.0 Staff Who Do Not Wear Uniform In The Course Of Their Work Nurses, midwives and health visitors who do not wear a uniform must also comply with an acceptable dress code. Clothing should be clean, smart and of a proper fit e.g. no jeans, jogging pants, leggings, shorts, cropped tops, canvas or sand. Clothes must be well laundered and, together with footwear, in a good state of repair. Jewellery should be discreet Any staff providing clinical care must comply with the above standards relating to jewellery, watches, hair and nails. They must also wear protective clothing when deemed appropriate Division identity/name badges to be worn at all times 13.0 Disciplinary Action and Enforcement All ward managers and heads of departments have a responsibility to ensure that this policy is adhered to by staff in their ward or department Contravention of the policy may result in disciplinary action being taken against an individual 14.0 Guidance On Laundering of Staff Uniforms 1. The risk of cross-infection from a uniform which has been properly protected by the correct use of protective clothing is minimal. The following guidance is important to reduce the risk of taking home micro-organisms from hospital on uniforms. Nurses and midwives provide the most intimate and direct patient contact and their uniforms are at most risk of contamination. A clean uniform should be used each day. 2. Apart from uniforms grossly contaminated by bodily fluids and uniforms of theatre/ laboratory staff, uniforms may be laundered at home with the following recommendations: Uniforms are taken home in a plastic bag which is not reused Uniforms are laundered at a temperature of at least 40 0 C Uniforms should be washed separately from other items Hands are washed after uniforms are placed in the washing machine Uniforms should be tumble dried at a high heat Hot ironing of dry uniforms is recommended Uniforms are taken back to the hospital in a clean plastic bag and stored appropriately prior to use (NHS Greater Glasgow Uniform Policy, 2004) 3. Any uniform contaminated with blood or body fluid must go to the hospital laundry in an alginate bag as fouled/fouled infection linen. 4. It is the duty of purchasers to ensure that uniforms provided for staff can withstand the temperature listed above. 5. It is the duty of employers to ensure staff have sufficient uniforms. 3

5 15.0 Ratification Ratified by the Director of Nursing and Patient Services Signature:... Date:... May 1999 Reviewed February 2000 Reviewed June 2002 Reviewed March

6 Standard Nursing/Midwifery Uniform Issue RHSC Appendix I Clinical Coordinator Night Coordinator Nurse Practitioner Specialist Nurse Infection control team Clinical Educator Moving & Handling Advisors Ward Manager Senior Staff Nurse (Female) Senior Staff Nurse (Male) Staff/Enrolled Nurse (Female) Staff/Enrolled Nurse (Male) Nursing support worker (Male) Nursing Support Worker (Female) Nursing Auxiliary. Health Care Assistant. Clinic Assistant. (Female) Nursing Auxiliary. Health care assistant. Clinic Assistant. (Male) Navy spotted tunic /skirt Pale blue /skirt Pink tunic /skirt Dark blue Dark blue trousers Light blue Navy skirt/trousers Metro blue Navy skirt/trousers White polo shirt White blouse Royal blue dress/ tunic Light blue Light blue tunic Training as per policy Black Blue/white pinstripe Navy dress White tunic Pale green tunic Dark green trousers Pale green Dark green trousers Lilac/white pinstripe White polo shirt Black Navy fleece Black Black 5

7 QMH Sister Staff Midwife Breast Feeding support nurse Nursery Nurse Enrolled Nurse Nursing Auxiliary Dark blue/white pinstripe Dark blue dress Blue/white pinstripe tunic White dress Green/white pinstripe Green trousers Grey/white pinstripe Green/white stripe tunic Green Trousers Lilac/white pinstripe dress/tunic Black Black/navy White/Black/ Navy / Navy / Navy / navy Black/white/ navy May 1999 Reviewed February 2000 Reviewed June 2002 Reviewed March