Message of the Week


 

WELCOME TO ALL NEW AND RETURNING STUDENTS!

CONGRATULATIONS:
To Professor and Associate Dean Dr. Mary Jane Smith on publication as Senior Editor of the book Middle Range Theory for Nursing.  This book is one of the first to be published on middle range theory applied to nursing.

To Associate Professor and Associate Dean Dr. Cyndi Persily, who authored a chapter in the middle range theory book.  The chapter is titled “The Theory of Community Empowerment.”

To Sophomore Shelly Pheasant and husband Joe on birth of Ariel Elizabeth on July 21^st.  6 lb 8 oz Ariel arrived on the Pheasant’s second wedding anniversary.

WVU STUDENT ID’S:
New WVU students can have their ID’s made Monday-Friday, 8:30-4:30 pm at the Bennett Tower room G118 or at the Mountainlair ID office.

BASIC PARISH NURSE EDUCATION COURSE OPEN TO JUNIORS:
The 3 hr. elective course Basic Parish Nurse Education, Nsg 371, CRN 85785 on Tuesdays 5:00 to 8:00 pm is open to Junior nursing students.  Contact Dr. Harr 293-1592 if interested.  

BLOOD DRIVE 8/21/03:
Give blood from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm in the John Jones Conference Center on Thursday, Aug. 21.  Blood donations earn community service hours. 

CARRUTH CENTER FOR COUNSELING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES AT HSC:
Carruth Center has opened a satellite office in Room G308.  Licensed psychologists will be available Monday and Wednesday 1:00-5:00 pm and Thursday 8:30-11:30 am.  This confidential service is available on a scheduled appointment basis only.  For appointment or more information call Carruth Center 293-4431.  A  $10.00 copay is required; cash only can be accepted.  There is no charge for service at Carruth Center on main campus. 

NEW POLICY ON PROFESSIONAL APPEARANCE:
The School of Nursing latest policy on professional appearance is below.  It is also contained in the Undergraduate Student Handbook that is available on our web site www.hsc.wvu.edu/son .

ALL STUDENTS UPDATE IMMUNIZATION AND CPR INFORMATION:
All students are reminded to update their immunization and CPR information in Student Services, room 6702.  In order to engage in patient care, this information must be current .

STUDENT PICNIC 8/21/03:
Mark you calendars now for the Student Nurses Association sponsored picnic for all undergrad students—Thursday, August 21, at 4:00 pm at Krepps Park.  Good eats, good fun for all, don’t miss it.

SOPHOMORE INDUCTION 10/10/03:
Save the date of Friday, October 10 at 7:00 pm for the Sophomore Induction ceremony to be held in the Health Sciences Auditorium.  Details later.

DECEMBER GRADUATION CONVOCATION 12/7/03:
A convocation ceremony will be held in the HSC cafeteria for all nursing December grads.  The University graduation ceremony will follow our event.  Details later.

COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES:
Faculty Gail VanVoorhis and students will be doing health screenings in Monongalia County Head Start classes the weeks of September 15^th and 22^nd.  Students will have excellent experience measuring vital signs and doing developmental screening.  Watch for sign up sheets with exact dates and times.  For more information call Ms. VanVoorhis at 293-0298.

SCHOLARSHIPS: 

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES:
For interesting info on nursing opportunities nationwide, go to recruit@outcaltassociates.com  Click on Nationwide Hospital Job Guide Nursing Edition.

Summer paid positions at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, for students who have completed Junior year; see www.mayoclinic.org/summer3-rst and Dr. Gross for more info.

Registered Nurse positions at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, see www.mayoclinic.org and Dr. Gross for more info.

For employment while a student see www.wvu.edu, WVU students, search employment opportunities.  Other sources:  Office of Arts and Entertainment, 293-2776; Dining Services, Linda Wise at 293-2096 X 4; telecounselor, Luana Davis, 293-2124; rec center 293-play; tutoring, 293-6629; techie positions, Mike Cooper, 293-0777.

ALUMNI NEWS:
Congratulations to Ronda Webb (BSN, 2003) and husband Adam on birth of 7 lb. 5.8 oz baby girl on July 17^th .  When we get the newest Webb’s name we’ll send it along. 

SEND US YOUR NEWS:
No news is too big or too small for the weekly message.  Send your news to sgross@wvu.edu

Office of Student Services
School of Nursing
West Virginia University
304-293-1386 or (toll-free) 1-866-988-6877

www.hsc.wvu.edu/son

Policy for Professional Appearance for Nursing Students

Health Sciences students, staff, and practitioners are required to place a high value on personal appearance, including attire.  The reasons are rooted in concerns for infection control, communication, and cultural sensitivity. This document sets forth standards for dress and appearance necessary to meet the service and safety objectives of placing patient welfare first and the educational objectives of preparing the student to assume the role of a professional health care worker.  Patient trust and confidence in the health care provider are essential to successful treatment experiences and outcomes.  The message communicated by the caregiver by his/her dress and appearance plays a fundamental role in establishing this trust and confidence.  Students should consider the cultural sensitivities of their most conservative potential patients and present themselves in a manner that will earn their respect, ensure their trust, and make them feel comfortable.  Recent trends in clothing, body art, and body piercing may not be generally accepted by your patients, and should not be worn by nursing students.  

The following guidelines help prepare the student to establish a successful caregiver-patient relationship.  These guidelines address classroom, clinical experiences and what is prohibited for both.  Please note that if the dress code for a particular agency differs from that of the SON, agency guidelines take precedence.

I.                     Classroom Requirements:

The following guidelines apply for all School of Nursing classes (including pre-planning) and School of Nursing sponsored activities such as awards ceremonies, Community Health Fairs etc:

1.       Good personal hygiene is to be maintained at all times. This includes regular bathing, use of deodorants/antiperspirants,
            and regular dental hygiene.
2.       Hair should be neat, clean, and of a natural human color.
3.       Clothing should be clean, professionally styled and in good repair.
4.       Women:   skirts of knee length or slacks.
5.       Men: slacks and shirt.

 II.             Clinical Regulations:

When patient contact is part of the educational experience, students are expected to dress professionally (refer to guidelines below).  This includes instances of actual patient encounters in the hospital and other clinical sites. This includes preplanning activities at clinical sites where professional dress is required.  This means that if a student is going to preplan from class, they must be professionally dressed, i.e., no jeans.  Neat, clean and professional attire and a name tag are minimal requirements.  Avoid dress or attire that could be potentially offensive to the public, your peers, patients and faculty.

A.      General Standards
    1.       Health Sciences Center name tags or badges are worn at all times.
    2.       Avoid distracting perfumes or colognes (may precipitate allergies or sensitivities).

B.      Hair maintenance 
    1.       Hair should restrained off the face and out of the eyes to avoid possible wound contamination.
    2.       Shoulder length hair must be secured to avoid interference with patients and work.
    3.       Avoid scarves or ribbons (unless culturally appropriate).
    4.       Beards/mustaches must be neatly trimmed.

      C.      Jewelry 
                1.       Keep jewelry at a minimum (represents potential for cross-infection).
                2.       The following are permitted: a watch, an engagement and/or wedding ring, one pair of small earrings (large
                           earrings are distracting and may be pulled through the ear), academic pins, other pins, badges, or insignias
                           which represent an award, modest bracelets and necklace chains. Appropriate holiday pin during the holiday is
                            suitable.

 D.      Dress, Shoes, and Hand Care
                1.       All students should wear a clean, blue lab coat over their clothing with the SON patch on the shoulder for
                            preplanning.
                2.       Shoes must be comfortable, clean and in good repair.  Sandals or open toed shoes, high-heeled or canvas
                          shoes are prohibited in clinical areas (blood or needles may penetrate the fabric).  Shoes should be worn with
                          socks or hose.
                3.       Fingernails should be clean and of short to medium length.  No nail polish is to be worn. (JCAHO regulations). 
                          Artificial nails are prohibited (source of cross-infection).

E.    Clinical Dress
                1.       A white dress or pant suit uniform that is clean, neat, without stains or wrinkles, and smoke free is required for all
                           clinical nursing experiences. 
                2.       A WVU SON patch must be displayed on the top left sleeve.
                3.       Skirt length must touch the knee and the fit must be modest and allow for comfortable ease of movement. 
                4.       Appropriate white undergarments are required and must be undetectable through the uniform.
                5.       White or skin tone hosiery should be worn when in uniform.  No footies or colored socks are permitted with pant
                          suits. 

 F.    Scrub Suits
            1.       These are to be worn in specific patient care areas only (e.g., OR, PAR, BMTU, MICC).
            2.       They are the property of the hospital and are not to be defaced, altered or removed from the hospital.
            3.       If a scrub suit must be worn outside these areas (e.g., to the cafeteria), it must be clean and then covered with a
                      clean lab coat.  Shoe covers, masks, and hair covers must be removed before leaving the clinical area.

            4.       Stained or soiled scrub suits must be changed as soon as possible (source of contamination).

 III.                  Prohibitions for Classes and Clinical Experiences:
            1.       Shorts.
            2.       Midriff tops, tee shirts, halters, translucent or transparent tops, shirts or tops with plunging necklines, tank tops or
                       sweatshirts.
            3.       Buttons or large pins (could interfere with function, transmit disease or be grabbed by the patient).
            4.       Visible body tattoos or visible body piercing (including tongue rings).

 Failure to adhere to these policies will result in dismissal from class or clinical by the instructor.

There may be specific clinical settings where alterations of this policy may be changed at the approval of the faculty.

3/12/03