NCE’s 2023-2024 fiscal year, illustrating how the College is following through with our commitment to the betterment of education on both a local and national level.
Purpose:
To provide the National Louis University (NLU) Physician Assistant (PA)
Students with the Dress Code and Identification Policy.
Website:
www.nlupaprogram.com
Effective Date:
11/1/2026
Last Reviewed:
11/1/2026
Policy Statement:
Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Program
Student Dress, Professional Appearance, and Identification Policy
Student Professional Conduct and Expectations
Policy Statement
The National Louis University (NLU) Physician Assistant (PA) Program promotes the highest standards of professionalism, ethical conduct, integrity, accountability, respect, and patient- centered care. Consistent with the National Louis University Student Guidebook, Student Code of Conduct, and the Program's Technical Standards and Professional Competencies, students are expected to demonstrate professional behavior and appearance throughout all phases of the curriculum.
Professional appearance contributes to:
Patient confidence
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Professional identity formation
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Safe clinical practice Infection prevention
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• Respect for patients, peers, faculty, staff, and healthcare professionals • Representation of National Louis University and the physician assistant profession
This policy applies to all enrolled students participating in:
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Didactic coursework Laboratory instruction Clinical skills laboratories
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Simulation activities
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• Interprofessional education experiences • Service-learning activities • Community outreach • Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (SCPEs) • Program-sponsored events
Professional appearance is evaluated as a component of professionalism throughout the curriculum.
Student Responsibilities and Accountability
Students are responsible for maintaining professional attire and appearance appropriate to the educational environment and healthcare setting.
Professional expectations include:
• Maintaining appropriate personal hygiene. • Wearing clean, neat, and professional clothing. • Wearing attire that supports patient dignity and confidence. • Maintaining grooming practices consistent with infection prevention and occupational safety standards. • Following all Program, University, and clinical affiliate requirements regarding dress and appearance.
Clothing or accessories that interfere with patient care, laboratory safety, infection prevention, or professional interactions are prohibited.
Examples include, but are not limited to:
• Clothing containing offensive or discriminatory language or graphics • Excessively revealing attire • Clothing that creates safety hazards • Open footwear where prohibited • Accessories that interfere with patient care
Faculty may establish additional dress expectations for simulation laboratories, anatomy laboratories, standardized patient encounters, and other educational activities.
Failure to comply may result in:
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• Removal from the educational activity • Documentation of a professionalism concern • Professionalism remediation • Referral to the Student Evaluation and Progress Committee • Progressive disciplinary action in accordance with University policy
Student Identification
The Program requires students to clearly identify themselves as Physician Assistant Students during all educational and clinical activities.
Students shall wear either:
• National Louis University identification badge, or • Clinical affiliate-issued identification badge
Identification shall remain visible during patient care activities and include:
Student photograph
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Student name
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Institution identification Program designation
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PA-S (Physician Assistant Student)
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Students shall verbally introduce themselves as Physician Assistant Students during every patient encounter.
Students may not remove or obscure identification while participating in clinical education unless specifically directed by the affiliated institution for safety or security reasons.
Professional Representation
Students shall accurately represent their educational status at all times.
Students are prohibited from:
• Representing themselves as licensed physician assistants • Representing themselves as physicians • Representing themselves as independent healthcare providers
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While functioning in the role of an NLU Physician Assistant Student, students shall not use previously earned professional credentials (e.g., RN, EMT, RT, PT, PharmD, DDS, PhD, etc.) in patient care, educational activities, correspondence, or documentation associated with the PA Program unless specifically required by the affiliated institution for employment purposes unrelated to PA student activities.
Professional introductions shall follow the format:
First Name Last Name, PA-S
This policy protects patients from confusion regarding clinical provider/student status and supports compliance with ethical and legal standards governing healthcare education.
Clinical Education Professional Appearance
Professional appearance during SCPEs supports patient safety, infection prevention, and professional identity.
Unless otherwise specified by the Clinical Director, Clinical Coordinator, supervising preceptor, or affiliated institution, students shall wear:
Business professional attire Approved clinical attire
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• Program-approved scrubs when appropriate • Closed-toe professional footwear • White consultation coat when required
When worn, the consultation coat shall display:
• National Louis University PA Program identification • Student first and last name • PA-S designation
Clinical affiliate requirements supersede Program dress expectations whenever more restrictive standards apply.
Students are expected to review dress requirements with the preceptor before the first clinical day.
Failure to comply with affiliate policies may result in removal from the clinical experience until deficiencies have been corrected.
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Patient Safety and Clinical Site Compliance
Students shall comply with all federal, state, institutional, and affiliate policies governing patient safety and infection prevention.
Students shall follow current guidance established by:
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) • Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) • Clinical affiliate infection prevention policies • Clinical affiliate occupational health requirements
Students are responsible for appropriate use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) based upon:
Clinical activity Patient condition
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Standard Universal Precautions Transmission-Based Precautions
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Institutional protocols
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Professional appearance shall never compromise:
Patient safety Student safety
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Infection prevention Clinical workflow
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Confidentiality Quality of care
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The Program requires students to comply with all clinical affiliate policies regarding uniforms, identification, PPE, grooming, and workplace safety.
Affiliate requirements shall take precedence whenever they exceed Program requirements.
Clinical Orientation Checklist Clinical Affiliation Agreements
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Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)
The Dress, Professional Appearance, and Identification Policy is reviewed annually as part of the Program's Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) process.
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The following data sources are used to evaluate policy effectiveness:
Data Source Frequency Professionalism Evaluations Student Evaluation and Progress Committee Each Academic Term SCPE Student Evaluations Clinical Education Committee Each Rotation Preceptor Evaluations Clinical Education Committee Each Rotation Student Incident Reports Student Evaluation and Progress Committee As Needed Clinical Affiliate Feedback Clinical Education Committee Annually Student Handbook Review Faculty Organization Annually Responsible Committee
Recommendations for policy revisions are reviewed by the Faculty Organization and approved through the Program governance process before publication in the Student Handbook.
Crosswalk to ARC-PA Standards
Policy Component
ARC-PA Standard
Professional Conduct
A3.14
Student Responsibilities
A3.15
Student Identification B2.13 Prevention of Misrepresentation B2.14 SCPE Dress Expectations B2.15 Clinical Site Safety & PPE B2.16 Clinical Affiliate Compliance B2.15, B2.16 Professionalism Evaluation A3.14, A3.15 Annual Policy Review (CQI) C1.01, C1.02
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