Compliance and Practicum Requirements

As a School of Nursing and Health Sciences student at the University of Minnesota, you are required complete all the necessary compliance requirements. There are a variety of items that students must keep up to date throughout their enrollment in the School of Nursing.

Documentation of the following items must be submitted prior to their expiration date to remain compliant:

• CPR Certification

• Vaccines

• Background Study

• HIPAA Online Training

• Blood Borne Pathogen Online Training

• Physical Exam and Technical Standards

For more information, refer to the Compliance Requirements website and the policy document below.

Immunization Requirements

The University of Minnesota requires all enrolled students to meet vaccination requirements, which now includes the COVID-19 vaccine. Complete COVID-19 vaccination information is available here. Additional vaccinations are also required, and those additional vaccination requirements for students in the health sciences are described here.

School of Nursing students who are required to complete clinical practicums as part of their degree requirements must also be compliant with the immunization requirements of our practicum sites. As of February 1, 2022, our practicum sites require COVID-19 vaccination and the other vaccines required by the University of Minnesota for students enrolled in health science programs. We do not anticipate changes to the current immunization requirements for the upcoming academic year. Most practicum sites are not granting exemptions to their immunization requirements even in cases where the University has granted an exemption. Degree completion may not be possible for students without all of the required vaccinations.

Please note, this is the statement that you will see in course syllabi beginning fall 2022: The School of Nursing follows the University’s guidance for COVID-19, face covering requirements, exposures, and symptoms. The health systems where students do practicum experiences require that all students have received a COVID-19 vaccine and exemptions are not allowed. Consequently, all health science students (this includes School of Nursing students) must be fully vaccinated. This requirement supersedes the University’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement.

The School of Nursing supports individuality and self-expression. However, you enter practicum sites as guests of that organization and are viewed as representative of the University of Minnesota. Therefore, you are asked to abide by the rules governing professional dress and appearance as explained at each practicum site. Instructors will review dress code and body adornment policies during the orientation to each practicum setting. Students who do not abide by the dress code may be asked to leave the practicum site.

The official school uniform for hospital experiences is maroon scrubs with the official University of Minnesota School of Nursing emblem embroidered on the left in gold stitching. Scrubs must be ordered through the University of Minnesota Bookstore. In addition, you have the option of wearing a matching maroon scrub jacket (without logo) with the maroon scrubs.

For outpatient clinical experiences, you may wear business casual dress (khaki pants or slacks, no jeans, no shorts, no cropped pants; professionally appropriate shirts/tops, no t-shirts, no cropped shirts, no low cut tops; no flip/flops—many institutions prohibit open-toe shoes). In some settings the lab coat may be required. A lab coat can be ordered through the University of Minnesota Bookstore.

You should always consider the client/patient perception of your physical presentation with respect to the individual client’s social, cultural and economic situation. When assessing standards for a site, it may be helpful to pay attention to the dress and behavior of professional staff on the unit or agency and always use common sense. Remember that when acting outside the University classroom, you will be seen as a guest, an ambassador and a professional-in-training.

Photo identification tags identifying you as a University of Minnesota School of Nursing student must be worn during all practicum coursework in a way that clearly identifies you as a student. The School of Nursing official scrubs and ID badges may not be worn in any setting unless you are there for official School of Nursing activities.

Appearance and Dress: Specific Guidelines

• Shoes: For safety purposes, shoes should not be sandals or have open toes or heels. It is good practice to wear shoes in the inpatient clinical areas exclusively in the clinical agency/hospital, due to the potential exchange of bacteria/viruses between environments. Shoes worn with scrubs should be primarily white shoes with no advertisement (inconspicuous logos are acceptable, such as the Nike swoosh), with white socks. Clogs, sandals, crocs with holes, open-toed or open-heeled shoes or canvas tennis shoes are not appropriate.
• In hospital or community settings: Low necklines, sleeveless shirts, shorts or short skirts, low rise pants, exposure of the abdomen, too tight or too loose fit, worn and dirty shoes or wearing hats or caps must be avoided, as they may be interpreted by patients as unprofessional and inappropriate. Please discuss with your course faculty.
• Jewelry and Body Adornment: Only small post earrings are allowed in practicum areas. Dangling or hoop earrings and bracelets are prohibited, as they may pose a safety issue. Either a watch with a second hand or a digital watch that can track seconds is required. Some clinical agencies require that body adornment (e.g., tattoos) be covered.
• Fragrances: You should not wear perfume or aftershave and should avoid tobacco smoke or pet hair. Patients frequently experience nausea or sensitivity to smell and have allergies related to these things. Do not neglect your own self-care, paying attention to areas such as adequate sleep and good personal hygiene.
• Hair and nails: The appropriateness of unnatural hair colors, body jewelry, or visible tattoos can vary widely with your practicum setting and patient population. You should choose the most professional option and respect the policies of the practicum site, being you are a representative of the University of Minnesota School of Nursing.
  • • Suggestions include: wear hair above the collar or tied back securely with a clip or band, avoid large hair bows/scarves, and make sure to trim beards and mustaches. See Adaptations of the Uniform below.
    • Fingernails should be clean and trimmed to moderate length with no polish. Acrylic nails and other enhancements are prohibited because of documented outbreaks of infection due to gram negative bacteria associated with artificial nails and nail polish.

Improper dress: Faculty members will tell an improperly dressed student to leave the clinical setting and return in proper uniform. Attention to personal hygiene and grooming is expected.

Adaptations of the Uniform

• You may wear a white cotton t-shirt or turtle neck under the maroon scrub top. A maroon scrub jacket that matches the official uniform may be worn during practicum in addition to or instead of a white shirt.
• During pregnancy, the course faculty should be consulted regarding acceptable dress.
• Students may need to adapt the uniform for cultural and/or religious reasons; please contact the University of Minnesota Bookstore for information.

Courses you will take as a nursing student have an online component or other requirements that necessitate the use of a computer. A high-speed internet connection is essential. Students in the School of Nursing are required to have a computer, printer, and certain minimum computer competencies. Minimum competency is defined as basic familiarity with computers (e.g. keyboarding, mouse use, file/data transfer), use of the Internet, email, word processing, media players, spreadsheet and presentation software, and Internet navigation, including the use of various web browsers (e.g., Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, Chrome, etc.). Note that some web sites or programs require specific web browsers. Course assignments may require uploading and downloading files and the use of spreadsheet, data management, or presentation software.

All students are required to have regular email and Internet access for communication and coursework. Many nursing courses are web-based or web-enhanced. Please consult with IT@UMN if you have questions about recommendations on computer purchases.