3.27: School of Medicine Dress Code Guidelines for the Clinical Setting

Students are expected to dress professionally any time they see patients and should adhere to the dress code described below. Dress code guidelines should be followed at all encounters with patients, standardized or real.

In most cases, attire typically worn to class or lecture may not be appropriate for clinical encounters. Hospital scrubs may not be considered appropriate professional attire for all patient encounters, particularly those in the Practice of Medicine and clinical exam assessment setting.  

  • Always bring your white coat.  Your coat must be clean, pressed, and worn at all times
  • Wear your name tag in an easily viewable location
  • Avoid cologne, perfumes or strong scents
  • Tattoos are recommended to be covered.
  • Jewelry should be minimal.
  • Avoid clothing with rips, tears, or frayed edges.
  • Clothing should allow for an appropriate range of movement.
  • Button-down shirts (with or without ties), professional tops, or blouses should be worn and should avoid low-cut necklines or exposed midriffs.
  • Tank tops, T-shirts, and thin straps on tops are not recommended.
  • Pants, slacks, khakis, skirts, or dresses are appropriate; jeans and shorts should not be worn. Legs should be covered to the knee.
  • Dress shoes with a low or flat heel are recommended; Avoid open-toed shoes, flip-flops, or porous shoes.
 
updated August 2023