Professional Demeanor and Student Dress Code

While you are on clinical rotation, patients and other health professionals will judge your professionalism by your grooming and dress, your communication style, your conflict resolution skills, and your work ethic (showing up on time prepared and ready to work).  The community of physician assistants and physician assistant employers in the state of North Carolina is relatively small.  Impressions that you make on clinical rotations may influence future employment opportunities and professional licensure.  All students should strive to project a positive image of the PA profession, DPAS and Elon University.

Appropriate dress for clinical rotation:

• Students are required to wear a university identification badge (student’s Elon Phoenix ID card) while attending clinicals, which visibly displays name and photo, clearly identifying each student as an Elon University student. Students are required to wear these badges at all times when in patient care areas and must identify themselves as PA students to patients and health care practitioners. Some clinical sites also may require institutional identification badges to be worn during a rotation.
• All clothing must be clean and appropriate to a professional working environment. Students should wear business casual attire. Any amendments to the dress code should be based on advisement of the preceptor or site, and where appropriate (e.g., an operating room requires specific clothing).
• Short white lab coats are to be worn over clothing unless otherwise directed by preceptors or in settings such as an operating room.
• Blue jeans, shorts, t-shirts, sandals, athletic sneakers, and other casual dress are not appropriate in the clinical setting unless allowed by the facility (typically only in the ED and OR).
• Failure to adhere to the dress code standards may be considered a violation of Standards for Professional Conduct and students may be subject to disciplinary hearings or dismissal for repeated infractions.