New NCK Nurses and Midwives Uniform Guidelines

New NCK Nurses and Midwives Uniform Guidelines. The Nursing Council of Kenya has announced a new set of uniform guidelines and a general dress code for members. This is to promote professionalism and work ethics among the staff.

General Guidelines for NCK Uniform

1. Uniforms shall be clean, well pressed, not torn, and unstained.
2. Nurses and midwives shall wear name tags. The name tag shall bear the nurse/midwife’s name, designation and any other details as per the institution’s policy.
3. Uniforms shall be worn in appropriate places to include clinical setup and/or during official functions.
4. Health facilities shall provide changing rooms for the nurses and midwives.
5. Nurses and Midwives uniforms shall be ‘bare below the elbows’ when undertaking any clinical-based activities. Therefore, long sleeves must have the ability to be pushed securely above the elbow so as not to interfere with effective hand hygiene practices.
6. This guideline shall consider religious and cultural beliefs and practices.
7. Body piercings shall be limited to the ears.
8. Body accessories shall be kept to a maximum of not more than five.
9. Tattoos and body drawings are not allowed but if any, shall not be visible.
10. Shades of make-up shall be complementary to the skin tone.
11. Body fragrances and perfumes may be worn mildly so as not to trigger discomfort to others.
12. Nurses and Midwives shall wear scrubs in the theatre only as PPEs.

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Uniforms for Nursing and Midwifery Managers and Educators

Uniform for Female Nursing and Midwifery Managers and Educators Tops/Blouses or Blazers shall:

1. Be Grey (Pantone code 444)
2. Be long enough to cover the entire hip.
3. Be well-fitting.
4. Do not expose the body’s torso and breasts.
5. Have sleeves of appropriate length so as not to expose the axilla and not too long to increase the risk of infection.

Skirts: (option 1)

• Shall be Grey (Pantone code 444) in colour.
•  Shall be straight and its length shall be at least 1 inch below the knee cap.
• Shall not expose the body’s torso.
• If it has a slit, it should be overlapping and not more than 5 inches in length.

Skirts: (option 2)

• Shall be navy blue (Pantone code xxxx) in colour.
• Shall be straight and its length shall be at least 1 inch below the knee cap.
• Shall not expose the body’s torso.
• If it has a slit, it should be overladding and not more than s inches in length.

Trousers shall

• Be navy blue (Pantone code xxx) in colour.
• Be well-fitting and not tight.
• Do not expose the body’s torso.
• Be of full length covering the ankle.

Dresses

• Shall be white at the top and navy blue from the waist downwards with navy blue binders in the arms and the collar.
• Shall be straight and the length shall be at least 1 inch below the knee cap.
• Shall not expose the body’s torso or breasts.
• Shall have three pockets.
• If it has a slit, it should be overlapping and not more than 5 inches in length.

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Uniforms for Male clinical Nurses/Midwife Shirts shall:

• Be white.
• Be well-fitting and not tight/baggy.
• Do not expose the body’s torso and chest.
• Have sleeves of appropriate length so as not to expose the axilla and not too long to increase the risk of infection.

Trousers shall:

• Be navy blue in colour.
• Be well-fitting and not tight/baggy.
• Do not expose the body’s torso.
• Be of full length covering the ankle.

Neck Tie /Bow Tie shall

• Navy blue.
• Worn in such a way that its tip just touches the belt.

NB: Lab coats are only PPEs and should be worn above the prescribed uniform.

Sweaters and footwear for all Nurses and Midwives in Clinical Settings

Sweaters/Jackets shall:

• 1. Be navy blue.
• 2. Have sleeves of appropriate length, not too long to increase the risk of infection.

Pull-neck/Thermovest

• Shall be white or navy blue.
• Shall have sleeves of appropriate length, not too long to increase the risk of infection.
• Shall be worn inside the uniform.

Foot Wear

• Shoes shall be black or brown leather in colour, low-heeled (not more than 2 inches) and closed.
• The shoes shall be slip-resistant, well maintained and non-noisy.
• Socks worn shall be of a dark shade single-colour.
• Stockings worn shall be of black or brown.

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Hair, Nails and Hand Jewelry for all Nurses and Midwives in Clinical Settings

Hair – Female Nurse/Midwife Nurses and midwives shall ensure that:

• The hair is off the shoulder and the face.
• If the hair is long, it is tied in a bun such that its length is not below the shoulder level.
• The hair is clean and well-maintained.
• Should be black, blonde or brown.
• Hair accessories are kept to a maximum of two (2) and are off the shoulder.
• Headscarves or veils worn for religious reasons shall: –
  1. Be navy blue or white.
  2. Do not interfere with work practices.
  3. Be clean and not stained.
  4. Ensure the garment is neatly tied back. Male Nurses/Midwife
  5. 1. Hair should be short, neatly trimmed and well-maintained. 2. Facial hair such as beards, and moustaches shall be neatly trimmed, short, well maintained and of natural colour

Male Nurses/Midwife

• Hair should be short, neatly trimmed and well-maintained.
• Facial hair such as beards, and moustaches shall be neatly trimmed, short, well maintained and of natural colour.

Finger Nails

Nurses and midwives shall ensure that:

• Fingernails shall be kept short (not extending beyond the fingertip) and clean.
• Artificial nails and related nail enhancements shall not be worn.
• Nail polish if worn, shall be well maintained not impaired.

Jewellery

Nurses and Midwives shall:

• Do not wear wrist jewellery in clinical healthcare settings.
• Limit hand jewelry to one plain flat band/rings e.g. wedding rings and it should be moved about on the finger when hand hygiene is performed to ensure thorough cleaning of the skin.
• Remove jewellery when working in high-risk settings, such as operating theatres or in other situations where it presents a potential risk to other patients/staff.
• Ensure that all jewellery worn is modest, not daggling and shall not interfere with procedures.

Trousers shall:

• 1. Be Grey.
• 2. Be well-fitting but not tight.
• 3. Not expose the body’s torso.
• 4. Be full length covering the ankle.

Dresses:

• Shall be Grey (Pantone code 444)
• Shall be straight and the length shall be at least 1 inch below the knee cap.
• Shall not expose the body’s torso or breasts.
• If it has a slit, it should be overlapping and not more than 5 inches in length.

Uniform for Male Nursing and Midwifery Managers and Educators Shirts shall:

1. Be white.
2. Be well-fitting and not tight/baggy.
3. Do not expose the body’s torso and chest.
4. Have sleeves of appropriate length, that is, not to expose the axilla and not too long to increase the risk of infection.

Trousers shall:

• 1. Be Grey (Pantone code 444) in colour
• 2. Be well-fitting and not tight/baggy.
• 3. Not expose the body’s torso.
• 4. Be full length covering the ankle.

Blazers shall:

1. 1. Be Grey (Pantone code 444) in color.
2. 2. Be well-fitting.
3. 3. Have sleeves of appropriate length, not too long to increase the risk of infection.

Bow Tie / TIE:

1. 1. Shall be maroon in colour.
2. 2. The necktie should be worn in such a way that its tip just touches the belt.

Belt:

• The belt should match the shoe colour.

 Uniforms for clinical Nurses and Midwives

A. Uniform for Female clinical Nurse/Midwife Tops/Blouses shall: –

• 1. Be white with navy blue binders (Pantone code xxxx) in the arms, the collar and the pockets.
• 2. Have three pockets.
• 3. Be long enough to cover the entire hip.
• 4. Be well fitting
• 5. Not expose the body’s torso and breasts.
• 6. Have sleeves of appropriate length so as not to expose the axilla and not too long to increase the risk of infection.