Professional Appearance for Clinical Experiences Policy

The purpose of the Professional Appearance for Clinical Experiences Policy is to prescribe standards for professional attire and ensure these are met by Master of Physician Assistant (MPAS) students when they are in clinical learning experiences. The policy seeks to ensure that students represent both the MPAS Program and the Physician Assistant profession in a professional manner, while ensuring student attire does not pose a health or safety risk to patients, other students, or staff.

This policy is aligned with Schedule L of the Clinical Placement Agreement (CPA) which was developed by the Saskatchewan Academic Health Sciences Network and which went into effect on May 1, 2017. The CPA is a binding agreement between the College of Medicine, the University of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) formerly referred to as the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs), and the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency (SCA).

• Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) formerly referred to as theRegional Health Authorities (RHAs): as defined by The Provincial Health Authority Act, provide most health services in Saskatchewan, either directly or through affiliated health care organizations.
• Saskatchewan Cancer Agency (SCA) is responsible for the planning, organization, delivery and evaluation of cancer care and related health services throughout the province.

This policy applies to all students registered in the Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program at the University of Saskatchewan irrespective of the geographically distributed site/campus to which they are currently assigned.

Student Responsibilities:

• Physician Assistant students will make reasonable effort to ensure they meet the requirements of the Professional Appearance for Clinical Experiences Policy and will seek support from the MPAS Learner Experience Coordinator if they are unable to meet a requirement.
• Given the nature of certain clinical settings, alternate dress policies may exist in various clinical units/clinics/facilities. The facility may require specific apparel for clinical settings with special needs (e.g. organ transplant unit, burn unit, psychiatric unit, intensive care unit). It is the responsibility of the student to clarify the appropriate dress policy for each clinical placement with the Clinical Instructor.

MPAS Program Responsibilities:

• Ensure students have photo ID tags prior to clinical experiences/placements.
• Share responsibility with the SHA/SCA and other facilities in ensuring students are abiding by this policy.

Students will wear attire deemed to meet the professional expectations and safety requirements of their educational program and their host, including SHA/SCA and other facilities. Where appropriate and necessary, students will follow the protocols of individual departments, units or services that have specific dress code requirements.

1.0 Footwear worn during a clinical experience/placement

• Must be closed toe and closed heel.
• Must be clean and in good condition.
• Must have soles that are non-marking and non-slippery.
• Must be easily wipeable in the event of contamination.

2.0 Hair worn during a clinical experience/placement

• Should be clean and well groomed.
• If long, should be tied or pinned back in patient care areas.

3.0 Beards and mustaches during a clinical experience/placement

• Must be clean, trimmed and well groomed.
• Must comply with the wearing of an N95 mask.

4.0 Fingernails during a clinical experience/placement

• Must be clean and trimmed short.
• Shall not have nail polish.
• Are not permitted to include artificial/gel nails/nail extensions in patient care areas since they are a source for harbouring and spreading infection.

5.0 Jewelry during a clinical experience/placement

• Cannot present a safety hazard to patients and cannot interfere with job duties.
• Can include plain, flat, smooth rings such as wedding bands.
• Cannot include rings with exposed stones for infection and safety reasons.
• Can include chains if worn inside of clothing.
• Can include small stud-like earrings.
• Will not include bracelets unless a medical ID
• Will only include watches if required by the education program, cleaned after each shift, and worn high on the arm or taken off during hand washing.

6.0 Piercings during a clinical experience/placement

• May include a facial piercing if the jewelry is small and stud-like and is securely fastened.
• Shall not include piercings on the hand or wrist for infection control reasons.
• Piercings that are unhealed or infected will be covered and contained before commencing clinical experience/placement.

7.0 Tattoos during a clinical experience/placement

• Exposed tattoos shall not be racist, offensive, violent, or sexual in nature.
• Shall be covered if deemed inappropriate by the Instructor or Unit/Service Manager.
• Students must be aware that any/all tattoos may need to be covered.
• Tattoos that are unhealed or infected will be covered and contained before commencing clinical experience/placement.

9.0 Cosmetics during placement

• Can be worn in moderation.
• Shall not include any cologne, perfume or other scented body products.

10.0 Personal Hygiene

• Students should practice good personal hygiene, including control of body odour and cleanliness, in order to promote a positive work environment and infection control.

11.0 Photo Identification

• Photo identification badges must be worn at all times during a placement in an SHA/SCA facility. The photo identification badge must be worn above the waist, with picture and name clearly visible to patients, staff and visitors.

12.0 Clothing must

• Be appropriate to the Physician Assistant profession.
• Be clean, in good repair and fit appropriately.
• Cover midriff and lower back.
• Not be low cut or tight (at the discretion of the instructor or unit manager).
• Fully cover undergarments.
• Be cleaned daily and changed during shift if contaminated with blood or bodily fluid.
• Casual clothing such as sweatshirts, yoga pants, jeans, etc. should be avoided.

13.0 Uniforms, when required, must be

• Changed daily.
• Changed into on site and changed out of before leaving the facility.
• Changed during a shift if contaminated with blood or bodily fluid. The SHA/SCA will provide decontamination services if appropriate and provide the student with an alternative uniform for the remainder of that shift.
• Deposited in an appropriate laundry bin for laundering services if the uniform was provided by the SHA/SCA.

14.0 Sweaters, lab coats or warm-up jackets

• Sweaters, lab coats and warm-up jackets should not be worn in patient rooms unless they have a ¾ length or shorter sleeve, or can be rolled up to ¾ length.

15.0 Gowns/Protective wear

• Gowns/protective wear should be clean, appropriate in fit, and changed according to facility policy.
• Gowns/protective wear provided on a unit shall not be worn off the unit or for any other purpose than it was intended.

 

Students will wear attire deemed to meet the professional expectations and safety requirements of their educational program and their host, including SHA/SCA and other facilities. Where appropriate and necessary, students will follow the protocols of individual departments, units or services that have specific dress code requirements.

1.0 Footwear worn during a clinical experience/placement

• Must be closed toe and closed heel.
• Must be clean and in good condition.
• Must have soles that are non-marking and non-slippery.
• Must be easily wipeable in the event of contamination.

2.0 Hair worn during a clinical experience/placement

• Should be clean and well groomed.
• If long, should be tied or pinned back in patient care areas.

3.0 Beards and mustaches during a clinical experience/placement

• Must be clean, trimmed and well groomed.
• Must comply with the wearing of an N95 mask.

4.0 Fingernails during a clinical experience/placement

• Must be clean and trimmed short.
• Shall not have nail polish.
• Are not permitted to include artificial/gel nails/nail extensions in patient care areas since they are a source for harbouring and spreading infection.

5.0 Jewelry during a clinical experience/placement

• Cannot present a safety hazard to patients and cannot interfere with job duties.
• Can include plain, flat, smooth rings such as wedding bands.
• Cannot include rings with exposed stones for infection and safety reasons.
• Can include chains if worn inside of clothing.
• Can include small stud-like earrings.
• Will not include bracelets unless a medical ID
• Will only include watches if required by the education program, cleaned after each shift, and worn high on the arm or taken off during hand washing.

6.0 Piercings during a clinical experience/placement

• May include a facial piercing if the jewelry is small and stud-like and is securely fastened.
• Shall not include piercings on the hand or wrist for infection control reasons.
• Piercings that are unhealed or infected will be covered and contained before commencing clinical experience/placement.

7.0 Tattoos during a clinical experience/placement

• Exposed tattoos shall not be racist, offensive, violent, or sexual in nature.
• Shall be covered if deemed inappropriate by the Instructor or Unit/Service Manager.
• Students must be aware that any/all tattoos may need to be covered.
• Tattoos that are unhealed or infected will be covered and contained before commencing clinical experience/placement.

9.0 Cosmetics during placement

• Can be worn in moderation.
• Shall not include any cologne, perfume or other scented body products.

10.0 Personal Hygiene

• Students should practice good personal hygiene, including control of body odour and cleanliness, in order to promote a positive work environment and infection control.

11.0 Photo Identification

• Photo identification badges must be worn at all times during a placement in an SHA/SCA facility. The photo identification badge must be worn above the waist, with picture and name clearly visible to patients, staff and visitors.

12.0 Clothing must

• Be appropriate to the Physician Assistant profession.
• Be clean, in good repair and fit appropriately.
• Cover midriff and lower back.
• Not be low cut or tight (at the discretion of the instructor or unit manager).
• Fully cover undergarments.
• Be cleaned daily and changed during shift if contaminated with blood or bodily fluid.
• Casual clothing such as sweatshirts, yoga pants, jeans, etc. should be avoided.

13.0 Uniforms, when required, must be

• Changed daily.
• Changed into on site and changed out of before leaving the facility.
• Changed during a shift if contaminated with blood or bodily fluid. The SHA/SCA will provide decontamination services if appropriate and provide the student with an alternative uniform for the remainder of that shift.
• Deposited in an appropriate laundry bin for laundering services if the uniform was provided by the SHA/SCA.

14.0 Sweaters, lab coats or warm-up jackets

• Sweaters, lab coats and warm-up jackets should not be worn in patient rooms unless they have a ¾ length or shorter sleeve, or can be rolled up to ¾ length.

15.0 Gowns/Protective wear

• Gowns/protective wear should be clean, appropriate in fit, and changed according to facility policy.
• Gowns/protective wear provided on a unit shall not be worn off the unit or for any other purpose than it was intended.

 

Gayathri Manoharan
Manager, Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) Program
Gayathri.manoharan@usask.ca 

MPAS Attendance Policy
Clinical Placement Agreement