Do’s and Don'ts

Do:

1.	Be there.
2.	Taке care of your patients. You are the doctor.
3.	Take the initiative in caring for your patients. This means assuming a forward and pro-active stance in greeting them on rounds, analyzing their problems, and providing for their needs.
4.	Be a member of the team. This means working cooperatively with others, and also consuming your fair share of the educational resources.
5.	Use your patient's clinical issues as a stimulus for investigation.
6.	Think for yourself. Many a diagnosis has been made by an inquisitive and conscientious student.
7.	Maintain professional standards of behavior at all times. This includes appropriate modes of speech, dress, and demeanor.
8.	Maintain patient confidentiality and privacy. No patient information should be discussed in public places. The temptation to tell your friends that you arc taking care of a celebrity, or that she has gallstones, must be resisted.
9.	Seek appropriate supervision for decisions and actions.
10.	Be sure that all of your notes and orders are countersigned by your supervising physician.
11.	Learn.

Don't:

1.	Don't fad to show up
2.	Don't abandon clinical care to go to the library. It is important to read in the clerkship, but the primary activity should be based on patient care.
3.	Don't hold back. If you wait at the back of the group during rounds, the intern or resident will take the initiative and take care of the patient.
4.	Don't wait for others to make the clinical decisions. If you simply behave as the executor of someone else's plan, you won't learn much and you certainly won't retain what you have learned.
5.	Don't write an order, or do anything to a patient, unless you are absolutely certain that it is right.
6.	Don't log-on to the computer using someone else's code.
7.	Don't copy and paste progress notes. This process is very susceptible to error.
8.	Students should not administer intravenous or other parenteral medications.

MUSC Medical Center Administrative Policy Manual Policy A-4
PERSONAL APPEARANCE AND DRESS CODE

Purpose: To provide guidelines to insure a consistent and standardized image for all Medical Center employees. Our appearance communicates how we feel about the work we do and our organization. Professional appearance shall project competency, inspire confidence, and communicate respect to patient? and their families as well as colleagues. Policy & Procedure
1.	Name Badges: Must be worn with the name and photo clearly visible as close to eye level as possible. Name tags identifying the staff member, credentials and title may be worn in addition to the official MUSC badge.
2.	Hair: Hair, beards, and mustaches shall be clean and neatly kept. Direct patient care employees may wear hair at shoulder length; long hair, including loose multiple braids, should be styled off the shoulders, pulled back and secured. Extreme hair colors, hairstyles, and hair ornaments should not be worn in a professional health care setting.
3.	Cosmetics: Cosmetics should be used in moderation.
4.	Perfume/Fragrances: Perfumes, colognes or heavy fragrances should not be worn, as many patients and staff members are offended, become nauseated or experience respiratory distress when exposed to chemical scents or odors.
5.	Jewelry: Jewelry should be conservative in style and kept to a minimum to prevent loss or injury to self or patients. Visible pierced body jewelry is limited to two small pairs of earrings in earlobes. Dangling earrings and bracelets/bangles should not be worn by direct patient care employees. Wrist watches may be worn. Rings and bracelets are limited to a total of three each. A single short necklace may be worn and should not interfere with patient care activities. Jewelry is to be removed if it is excessive and/or interferes with safe delivery of patient care.
6.	Fingernails: Fingernails must be clean, short, and neatly trimmed. Clear or light colored nail polish is acceptable. Extreme nail polish colors should not be worn in a professional health care setting. Decorative finger nails should not be worn in patient care settings. Artificial fingernails, tips, wraps or fillers may not be worn by direct patient care employees.
7.	Undergarments: Appropriate undergarments must be worn under uniforms and must not be distinguishable through attire.
8.	Outer garments: Direct patient care employees will wear scrubs or uniforms agreed upon for each work area; including unit approved shirts and sweatshirts with unit specific lettering or logo. The scrubs or uniforms will be neat, wrinkle-free and clean. Non-direct patient care employees will wear professional business attire which is clean, neat and conservative.

The following will be considered unprofessional, inappropriate attire for Medical Center based activities:
•	T-shirts except "MUSC" or unit approved
•	Isolation gowns or patient gowns
•	Recreational attire including: exercise/jogging shorts or sports outfits
•	Mini skirts, sun dresses, halter tops, tank tops
•	Blue denim jeans and pants made of spandex or lycra material
•	Party clothes such as glitter, sequins, or other evening attire
•	"Revealing" clothes such as low-cut, sheer, see-through, or tight/form fitting attire Leather clothing
•	Dark glasses (except for documented medical reason) 
•	Head wear including hats, sweatbands, and bandannas 
•	Surgical scrubs (teal blue color) worn by non-OR staff

9.	Hosiery: Hosiery is encouraged. Socks may be worn with slacks.
10.	Footwear/Shoes: Shoes worn by direct patient care employees must be clean, well kept (with laces tied) and should have an enclosed toe. White leather, athletic style shoes, nursing shoes, or unit approved rubber clogs may be worn by those providing patient care.
11.	Lab Coats: A clean, neatly pressed, white lab coat will be worn when individuals not in uniform are involved with direct patient care.
12.	If for religious, medical, or cultural reasons, there is a need to deviate from this policy, the employee must:
13.	Make a request in writing;
14.	Be willing to provide required documentation;
15.	Have written approval from his or her manager.

16.	Employees who are found in violation will be disciplined in accordance with the Human Resources Management Disciplinary Action Policy (refer to Human Resources Management Policy Manual).
17.	Employees in departments with a specific uniform policy should adhere to the department policy, i.e., Environmental Services, Dietary, Registration.
18.	Job applicant finalists should be advised of the Personal Appearance and Dress Code Policy.

Note: This policy is not a contract of employment and should not be relied upon as such. This policy may be changed at any time by the MUSC Medical Center.

Physicianship Evaluation Form

To foster students’ professional growth and encourage high standards of professional behavior amongst the students, the College of Medicine course directors and faculty have adopted a feedback system to inform a student when his or her behavior has been unprofessional. The Physicianship Evaluation Form is intended to provide students and course directors/faculty a formal opportunity to discuss perceived transgressions of professional behavior on the part of the student. The form is not intended to be punitive, but rather to encourage self-assessment and improvement where needed to ensure positive professional growth. A copy of the form is provided on the next page.