Clinical equipment and uniform

Clinical uniform

Uniforms must be purchased prior to undertaking a clinical course. The USQ clinical shirt and optional jacket, and belt bag are available from:

Fastlane Sports Design
610 Ruthven Street
Toowoomba
Phone: +61 7 4632 6264

Remaining items can be purchased from any retail store.

Fraser Coast students will be advised by the Clinical Liaison Officer during Orientation regarding purchase of the uniform.

The following guideline outlines specifically a student’s responsibility for the purchase, wear and upkeep of their clinical uniform. All clinical placement attendance must occur in full and correct uniform.

Correct uniform

All students are required to wear the USQ approved nursing uniform and to project a professional image at all times.
No variation of the uniform policy will be accepted without written permission of the Director/Deputy Director of Clinical Education.
Students with uniform restrictions must a complete a Uniform Exemption Form and submit to the Clinical Placement Team at least three weeks prior to their clinical placement.
Uniform is available from Fastlane Sports Design, Ruthven St. Toowoomba or at Fraser Coast by contacting the Administration staff.
Students must initiate the purchase, fitting and collection of their uniforms through the listed suppliers

You will require

Navy or black duty shoes (fully enclosed shoes are mandatory)
Beige/natural stockings (worn with dress uniform) – no coloured stockings, tights, or socks permitted.
Navy or black socks to be worn with trousers; socks are NOT to be worn with dress uniform.

Current uniform (for continuing students)

USQ Female Nursing Uniform:

USQ Polo Shirt with USQ logo
Navy trousers (no cargo pants or jeans), skirt or culottes with logo
Navy or black duty shoes (fully enclosed shoes are mandatory)
Beige/natural stockings (worn with dress uniform) – no coloured stockings, tights or socks permitted. Navy or black socks are to be worn with trousers only; socks are NOT to be worn with dress uniform.

USQ Male Nursing Uniform:

USQ Polo Shirt with USQ logo
Navy trousers (no cargo pants or jeans), or shorts
Navy or black duty shoes (fully enclosed shoes are mandatory)
Navy or black socks

Uniform Variations:

Students observing cultural and religious practises are permitted to wear the following additional items:

Long-sleeved, black, cotton ‘skivvy’ to wear under uniform. Students will be required to roll the sleeves up when performing clinical procedures and to maintain asepsis in all areas.
Skivvy must be skin tight on the arms when pushed up to the elbows to ensure sleeves do not roll down.
Headwear: Navy or black head covering as necessary. If required a student may wear a dress/trouser combination.

Pregnancy – Uniform Requirements

Request a uniform exemption form from the Clinical Placement Team
Navy collared short-sleeved shirt in place of top
Navy trousers (no cargo pants or jeans)

Dress Code for Clinical Placement Attendance

All uniform and clothing items worn to clinical placements must be

clean, stain free,
crease free and
professionally appropriate for the specific placement.

Students must also maintain a high level of personal hygiene at all times.

Dress Code for Placements Requiring USQ Uniform

Size	In order to prevent embarrassment, the uniform should allow for freedom of movement when undertaking all clinical activities e.g. Stretching, bending and reaching, etc. Tight uniforms are not appropriate and need to altered/replaced to maintain a professional standard of dress code.
Length	Skirt uniform – minimum of knee length.
Hair	To adhere to Infection Control Guidelines hair must be neat at all times and off the collar. Students with long hair must wear it up; long ponytails are not acceptable. Long tendrils need to be secured with pins. Male students clean shaven or well-groomed beards and moustaches.
Nails	To adhere to Infection Control Guidelines fingernails must be short, clean and without nail polish. Students who attend placements with long fingernails and nail polish will be required to cut and clean nails. Acrylic/false nails are NOT permitted due to infection control issues. Students will be required to remove nails.
Jewellery	To adhere to Infection Control Guidelines wedding rings and one pair of plain studs/sleeper earrings are acceptable. NO other jewellery is permitted i.e. Multiple studs, rings etc. Students will be required to remove excess jewellery prior to placement.
ID	USQ Student ID must be displayed at all times.
Equipment	Nurse’s watch with a sweep second hand must be available for recording vital signs. A red, black and green ball-point pen, surgical scissors, stethoscope (available in kits on campus) and a small notepad are essential requirements. A small pocket calculator is advisable. It is suggested that all equipment be labelled clearly with the student’s name.
Other Items	Students are not permitted to wear cardigans, blazers or jackets of any colour when undertaking formal clinical care. Cardigans and vests (navy blue only) may be permissible on duty in some placements with approval of Facilitator/Nurse Unit Manager. Multi-coloured items e.g. T-shirts, singlets, underwear and other apparel that are visible under the uniform are not acceptable. Students are required to wear matching navy blue when in transit to and from placements. These additional items are to be removed once in the patient care area.
Footwear	All students are required to wear correct fully enclosed duty shoes (that meet OH&S requirements) for clinical placement. It is advisable to wear shoes that consist of ‘leather upper’ as a minimum. Reeboks, joggers, sandshoes, sneakers, gym shoes, sandals, slippers, Ugg boots, ballet shoes, etc. are not acceptable.

Dress Code for Placements that Stipulate Not Uniform but Smart Professional Attire

Dress Code	No bare-midriff, tight or revealing clothes. Skirts to be mid-knee length. No T-shirts or jeans. If trousers or slacks are worn, they should be tailored (clothing with frayed areas are not to be worn). No Reeboks, joggers, sandshoes, sneakers, gym shoes etc.
Hair, Nails, Jewellery, ID	These requirements are the same as above. A professional standard of appearance is to be maintained.

Clinical equipment

You will need to purchase a stethoscope with bell and diaphragm. This is available from the Student Guild Shop (R Block Mall, Toowoomba campus), the USQ Bookshop at both Toowoomba and Fraser Coast campuses, or any medical supplier such as Brady Industries, Toowoomba.