VN Additional Policies

Dress Code

Professional image policies are to be enforced while on campus grounds and/or clinical facilities premises, which include the parking lot, shuttle lot and while riding on the Stanbridge Shuttle Service. The student must adhere to the professional image policy guidelines listed below. If the student is off campus and wearing Stanbridge University attire, they should demonstrate awareness that they are a representative of the University and are expected to have professional behavior and demonstrate good judgement. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action for a violation of the code of conduct. In the event of inclement weather, only program administration may approve a temporary modification of the dress code standards listed below.

Dress Code for Theory Classes

• Students must wear Stanbridge uniform polo shirt and khaki dress trousers. No leggings, jeggings, or any tight-fitted items are permitted. Scrubs are for clinical sessions only.
• Clothing must be clean and unwrinkled.
• Undershirts worn underneath the polo top may be short sleeve or long sleeve but must be white if visible and V-neck style. No other undergarments may be visible.
• Stanbridge hoodie is the only outer garment allowed.
• No active wear, athletic clothing, trendy clothing, i.e. holes or tears in pants.
• No caps, hats, beanies or hoods in class.
• Hair accessories must be plain (head bands, scarves).
• Students MUST wear CLEAN, black, grey, or white sneakers.
  • Socks/hosiery of any color may be worn.
• The student ID must be worn at chest level and be conspicuous at all times.
• Tattoos cannot be visible. White, long sleeved shirts or “sleeves” must be worn with polo shirt to cover the tattoos. No facial or tongue jewelry.
• Nails must be trimmed and kept clean at all times. Nail length must be kept at a maximum of 2 mm overhang. Only clear nail polish is acceptable – other colors/designs are not allowed. Artificial nails are not allowed.

Dress Code for Clinicals

• The Student ID must be worn at chest level and be conspicuous at all times.
• Scrubs must bear the Stanbridge University name and logo on the left front chest. Scrubs must be clean and unwrinkled.
• Undershirts worn underneath the scrub uniform top may be short sleeve or long sleeve but must be white if visible and V-neck style. No other undergarments may be visible.
• Plain white hosiery must be worn at all times.
• Shoes must have a rubber/non-conductive, slip-proof sole, must be non-penetrable, completely white, and clean at all times.
• For women: The only visible, pierced jewelry that is acceptable is a small, single, stud earring (may be in ear lobe or tragus). Hoops or dangling earrings are not allowed. Jewelry on the tongue, eyebrows, nose, or lips is not allowed. No gauged ears.  Only a plain wedding band is acceptable. No other visible jewelry is permitted.
• For men: No jewelry except for plain wedding band. No gauged ears. No other visible jewelry is permitted.
• Facial hair must be neatly trimmed to a maximum length of ½ inch (as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control), and not be of a faddish or unusual appearance.
• Tattoos cannot be visible. White, long sleeved shirts or “sleeves” must be worn with polo shirt to cover the tattoos.
• A watch with a sweep second hand is mandatory at all times.
• Hair must be pulled back out of the face and off the neck and Hair color must be of a natural color; faddish or unnatural colors or styles are not permitted.
• Hair accessories must be plain.
• Nails must be trimmed and kept clean at all times. Nail length must be kept at a maximum of 2 mm overhang. Only clear nail polish is acceptable – other colors/designs are not allowed. Artificial nails are not allowed.

Consequences for Violations of the VN Professional Image Policy

If a student is determined to be in violation of any specific item(s) of the dress code, the student will be issued a Notice of Deficiency and sent home for the remainder of the day.  Additionally, the student will acquire an absence for that respective class day.  The student will not have the option to return to class to avoid acquiring an absence.  Please refer to the attendance policy for the remediation of absences.

Student Acknowledgement of Risk

Students are responsible for the following while at clinical facilities:

• Protecting, first and foremost, the health and safety of patients at clinical facilities where they perform their clinical rotations.
• Honoring the preservation of patient privacy by scrupulously observing confidentiality of patient information. Violation of patient confidentiality may lead to dismissal of the student from the program.
• Seeking the guidance of a Stanbridge University clinical instructor when unsure of what to do.
• Arranging for transportation to and from school, clinical facilities, and other designated locations for instruction in the VN program (Note:  Some periods of clinical facility education may not match other clinical schedules for days of the week or hours of clinical education due to facility-driven scheduling).  Students are responsible for arranging their personal schedules to meet prearranged facility schedules.
• Making the didactic and clinical schedule in the VN program the top priority in their personal schedule.
• Abiding by the rules and regulations of the clinical facilities during clinical rotations.

Vocational Nurse students will be required to sign, as a condition of their presence in clinical facilities for clinical education, the following acknowledgement:

I understand that due to my clinical rotations at various clinical facility settings, I will be exposed to potentially infectious materials and diseases.  I agree to follow all clinical facility protocols regarding patient safety, personal safety, and all other protocols I have been taught at school during clinical facility orientations and during my clinical rotations.

I hereby confirm that I will seek the direction of my instructor or a clinical facility nurse should I be unclear as to how to proceed with patient care or any other procedure, protocol, or process at the clinical facility.

I hereby indemnify and hold harmless Stanbridge University, its employees, agents, owners and partnering clinical facilities from any liability pertaining to any infectious disease, illness, or injury I may acquire or get as a result of my participation in my clinical rotations, including any infectious disease, illness, or injury I may acquire as a result of my participation in a potentially dangerous clinical rotation such as at a Mental Health Unit/Ward/Facility.

 Physical Exam

Prior to any activities at clinical facilities, students must undergo a physical examination, PPD skin test (and/or chest X-ray if PPD is positive).  Students are required to complete and provide proof of the aforementioned information within two weeks.  Any absences accrued due to missing health records will be unexcused.  Also, any student who fails to submit the required health records by the due date will receive a notice of deficiency from the nursing administration.  If a student has documentation of previous Hepatitis B vaccination (as proven by titer or documentation of administration of the vaccine series), he/she will not have to undergo a second vaccination.  The MMR, Tdap and Varicella vaccinations are required.

Health Insurance

Students are required to carry health insurance, throughout the duration of their program, at their own cost, and may be asked to provide a copy to program administration or clinical facility.

BLS Certification

Students must be certified in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) from the American Heart Association. Students are responsible for maintaining proof of certification, and its currency, for the entire duration of the program, at their own cost. Students without current certification will be removed from all fieldwork/clinical rotations until certification is renewed. Any absences accrued will have Attendance Policies applied.

Maintaining Requirements for Clinical Education

All students are responsible for maintaining the accuracy of the foregoing student health information.  This includes, but is not limited to, PPD, chest X-ray, (if PPD is positive), Hepatitis B series, physical and the American Heart Association BLS.  It is mandatory for each student to keep these health records current at all times.  No student is allowed to attend clinical with expired health information.  It is the responsibility of the student to bring documentation of new health records prior to their expiration; this includes, but is not limited to, PPD tests and the American Heart Association BLS.  Student Services provides optional health center referrals upon request for any student needing to update their health records.  Students are responsible to pay for any necessary renewals of health records.  Any student with expired health information will not be allowed to attend clinical education without updating the expired information.  Any absences accrued due to expired health records may not have remediation limits waived.  Also, any student who accrues absences due to expired health records will receive a Notice of Deficiency for each absence.