Uniform Policy
Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital
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Female Staff
· Tunic/trousers should be worn with the appropriate sleeve tabs or epaulettes (seeAppendix 1).
· If uniform dresses are worn appropriate sleeve tabs or epaulettes are required.
· Dress length should be appropriately below the knee.
· Belts and buckles are optional if dresses are worn.
· Tights/stockings should always be worn by female staff when wearing a dress and should be black in colour. Exceptions to this are during the months of May-September inclusive.
· Plain dark socks should be worn with tunics and trousers.
Male Staff
· Male staff should wear uniform trousers with tunic top with the appropriate sleeve tabs or epaulettes (see Appendix 1).
· Plain dark socks should be worn with tunics and trousers.
Footwear
· Shoes should be low-heeled, and black with non-slip soles and low-noise heels.
· Suede or fabric shoes are not acceptable.
· Trainers and sandals (with open toes) are not acceptable.
Staff who choose to wear open backed footwear must adhere to the above points and do so at their own risk.
Special precautions apply to those staff who are required to wear anti-static footwear
i.e. operating theatres
Hair
· Hair should be clean, neat and tidy.
· Long hair should be tied up at all times.
· Hair fastenings should be minimal.
· Hair beading is not acceptable.
Jewellery
· Wrist-watches must not be worn in clinical areas - only fob watches are allowed.
· Only one plain ring band may be worn - rings with stones are not acceptable.
· No ‘visible’ necklaces/chains/bracelets to be worn. This includes bracelets worn for therapeutic purposes.
NB The Trust is liable for any injury caused to a patient by the wearing of any jewellery item not recommended in this policy.
The Trust will not be liable for any injury sustained to staff, caused by the wearing of chains/necklaces or ornate rings.
Badges
The approved additions to uniform are:
· A name badge and identity badge, issued by the Trust, must be worn at all times.
· The badge of the hospital training school (optional).
· The badge of a professional organisation or trade union (optional).
Cardigans/Sweat Shirts
If you chose to wear a cardigan:
· It should not be worn in clinical areas.
· To be worn outside the clinical area (e.g. to go to the dining room), it must be dark navy and of a suitable length when worn over tunics/dresses e.g. to cover tunic length.
Tabards
In paediatric areas the wearing of a children’s material tabard is acceptable. If worn over a tunic the tabard should be approximately the same length as the tunic or shorter. Tabards are provided by staff themselves and subject to the usual laundering recommendations.
Body Piercing
· Staff who have pierced ears may wear small, plain, studs or sleepers.
· No other visible body piercing is allowed.
Finger Nails
· Should be kept short and clean.
· Nail varnish, false nails, and nail extensions are not permitted in any clinical setting.
Outdoor Wear
· Hospital uniform must not be worn outside the hospital premises, unless covered by an
appropriate length outer garment i.e. to cover tunic top or dress length.
Preferably: Nursing staff should change out of uniform into casual dress.
Laundering of Uniforms
A clean uniform must be worn every shift and preferably washed separately from general household laundry. National guidance recommends washing at 71 degrees centigrade for 3 minutes or 65 degrees centigrade for 10 minutes to achieve thermal disinfection. Household washing machines cannot be guaranteed to achieve or sustain these temperatures. Heavily soiled uniforms should therefore be laundered by the Trust's approved contractor. Washing at lower temperatures will require steam ironing or tumble drying of garments.
Supply of uniforms
Nursing staff will be supplied with the following:
Full time staff 5 tunic tops and trousers or 5 dresses with 5 sets of tabs (10)
Part time staff 0.8WTE 4 tunic tops and trousers or 4 dresses with 4 sets of tabs (8)
0.6WTE 3 tunic tops and trousers or 3 dresses with 3 sets of tabs (6)
0.4WTE 2 tunic tops and trousers or 2 dresses with 2 sets of tabs (4)
0.2WTE 1 tunic tops and trousers or 1 dresses with 1 sets of tabs (2)
Staff working 12 hour shift patterns will be provided with three sets of uniforms based on the above.
Compliance
It is the responsibility of all Nursing and Midwifery staff to comply with this policy. Noncompliance will be challenged by Senior Managers/Nurses/Matrons/Ward Sisters/Charge Nurses.
Specialist Nurses/Nurse Practitioners must adhere to the uniform policy when attending to a patient in the clinical area.
Repeated breaches of Uniform Policy may be the subject of action under the Trust Disciplinary Policy.
Requests for variations to the policy
Requests for variations to the policy to meet specific requirements based on religious or cultural norms will be considered by the Service Manager, Senior Nurse, or in consultation with the Matron from their area.
Objectives of the policy
· To comply with Infection Control and Health and Safety legislation.
· To ensure that staff are familiar with current evidence available on the wearing of uniforms.
Rationale
Uniform is provided by the Trust as protective clothing for use on duty and remains the property of the Trust at all times. When wearing uniform, members of nursing staff should remember that the image of the profession is influenced by their appearance and behaviour. The principles within this document apply to all staff attending patients. This policy has been updated to reflect best practice and available evidence base with regard to the wearing of uniforms. All recommendations have been made in light of recent advances in legislation i.e. Infection Control, Health and Safety, and the Human Rights Act (1998).
Auditable standards
Staff compliance to this policy may be measured by:
a) Spot checks of the uniform and accessories worn by staff working in clinical areas.
b) Questioning samples of staff regarding the temperature and length of time when laundering uniforms.
References
Barrie D 1994 “How hospital linen and laundry services are provided
Journal of Hospital Infection Vol.27 pp 219 - 235
Callaghan. I. 1998 “Implementing change, influencing the process”
Nursing Standard Sept. 30 Vol.13: No.2 pp 41-44
Gill.J. & Slater.J. 1991 “Building barriers against infection”
Nursing Times Vol.87: No.50 pp 53-54.
Halls.F. et al 1984 “A question of uniform”
Nursing Times Vol.87: No.50 pp 53-54
Walker.A. & Donaldson.B. 1993 “Dressing for Protection”
Nursing Times Vol.89: No.2 pp 60-62.
Author/s: Modern Matrons Date of issue: May 2003
Valid until: May 2006 Policy ref. no. F1 Version 2
Document: C:\ Enhanced Practice\New Policies\Uniform Page 6 of 6
Copy of complete document available from: All clinical areas & Nursing Practice Department
Summary of development and consultation process undertaken before registration and dissemination
This policy was drafted by the author listed above on behalf of Professional Protocols, Policies and Guidelines Committee which has agreed the final content. During its development it has been circulated for comment to: Matrons, Service Managers, Senior Nurses, all Sisters / Charge Nurses, Nursing Practice Department, Infection Control Team, and Health and Safety.
Distribution list/ dissemination method
All Wards/Departments
Service Managers
Senior Nurses
Matrons
Nursing Practice Department
Professional Protocols, Policies and Guidelines Committee
Library
Infection Control and Health and Safety Teams