if you're a nurse respiratory therapist or someone else who works in a hospital setting you already
know you must adhere to a strict dress code there are several reasons for this including maintaining
a professional appearance and protecting yourself and your patients from acquiring an infection in
this video we'll discuss the most common hospital dress code requirements for medical professionals
so if you're ready let's get into it first you must wear closed-toed shoes
not only is it more professional but it's also to protect your feet from spills and
other accidents that can occur in a hospital such as an accidental needle stick can you
imagine dropping a dirty syringe on your foot without protective shoes do your feet a favor
and invest in a good pair of closed-toed shoes specifically for work you'll be glad you did
the next requirement is to wear scrubs of the right color most hospitals will require you to
wear scrubs while on duty scrubs are a traditional medical uniform and are easy to clean and maintain
however not all scrubs are created equal different colors of scrubs are typically worn by different
medical professionals in order to easily identify their role in the hospital for example nurses
may be required to wear blue scrubs while respiratory therapists may have to wear green
this is not always the case but most hospitals dress code policy requires certain workers to wear
a specific color while on the job another dress code policy that may or may not be a requirement
where you work is to wear a lab coat lab coats are recommended because they look professional
and they serve as an extra layer of protection against blood chemical spills and body fluids not
to mention they're often made of flame resistant materials that can help protect you in the event
of a fire and besides hospitals often tend to be colder in temperatures so a high quality lab
coat can also help keep you warm while at work the next requirement is to wear your id badge
most hospitals will require you to wear your identification badge at all times while on duty
this is for the safety of both patients and staff members your id badge should be clearly
visible and worn in a prominent location such as your chest or lapel not to mention
your id badge is likely what allows you to get access to certain areas of the hospital
so be sure to wear it at all times number five is to keep your uniform clean it should go
without saying but it's important to keep your uniform clean and free of wrinkles or stains
this not only looks professional but it also helps to prevent the spread of infection
be sure to wash your scrubs after each shift and iron them if necessary you're not only
representing yourself when in uniform but you're also representing the hospital in which you work
number six is to avoid wearing jewelry while you may be tempted to show off your personal style
with some bling bling it's important to keep it to a minimum while on the job this is because jewelry
can easily become caught on something which could potentially lead to an injury it can also hinder
your effectiveness of certain skills such as sticking a vein or artery with a syringe in
addition jewelry can also harbor germs in bacteria which can be dangerous in a hospital setting
speaking of bacteria you must also keep your fingernails clean and trimmed this also helps
to prevent the spread of infection as dirty or long nails can also accumulate bacteria
in addition long nails can make it difficult to perform certain medical tasks that require
precision with your fingers the next up is to keep your hair neat and clean yes this rule applies to
both men and women gentlemen should keep a clean haircut and facial hair that is well groomed
ladies should avoid loose long hair that could get in the way or fall into a patient's face while
providing care if you do have long hair be sure to tie it back in a low ponytail or bun while at work
number nine is to avoid wearing strong fragrances while it may be your thing to wear perfume or
cologne it's important to avoid wearing strong fragrances while working in the hospital
this is because some patients may be sensitive to strong smells which can potentially trigger
a headache or even an asthma attack in addition strong fragrances can also be overpowering in
small spaces such as the patient's rooms of most hospitals the next requirement is to avoid
chewing gum it may sound ridiculous but chewing gum is actually not allowed in most hospitals
this is because gum can easily become stuck to a medical equipment or fall out of your mouth
while treating a patient not to mention it's just unprofessional to smack on gum while communicating
with a patient family member or co-worker the next requirement is to wear the right tools in
some cases medical tools become an extended part of your uniform for example respiratory therapists
must wear their stethoscopes at all times in the hospital this is because they need to have quick
and easy access to perform auscultation and listen to their patients lung sounds similarly nurses and
doctors have certain tools that they must wear while on duty such as a watch with a second hand
and a pen light i'll drop links to some of our top recommended tools down below in the description
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and there should be some other helpful videos popping up on your screen right about now that
i think you'll enjoy and just a quick reminder we're not doctors this video is for informational
purposes only thank you so much for watching have a blessed day and as always breathe easy my friend