Appearance is a critical part of the professional role. Generally, the more conservative a person’s appearance on the job, the better.Working on the job as a medical assistant is not the time to express individuality in a flamboyant or radical manner.
Daily Hygiene
Daily hygiene for the medical assistant should include a shower, use of a deodorant, and good oral hygiene. She should pay special attention to her hands, because keeping her skin clean and intact will protect the medical assistant and her patients from microorganisms. She should avoid fragrances, because not everyone appreciates them. More importantly, many patients and even other health care workers suffer from allergies and respiratory disorders, and some fragrances could exacerbate their symptoms.
Makeup
The medical assistant should be conservative with the application of makeup, keeping it to a minimum. She must keep her fingernails clean, smooth, and no longer than the tip of her finger. She should avoid long nails and artificial nails, because they tend to harbor microorganisms which can then be passed from person to person.
Jewelry
Jewelry should be conservative and minimal. Acceptable jewelry might include an engagement ring and/or wedding band, a wristwatch, and a single pair of small earrings. Jewelry related to body piercing is not appropriate in the health care setting.
Tattoos
A medical assistant should think carefully before making the decision to get a tattoo, because tattoos are deemed unprofessional by many people. Any tattoos the medical assistant already has should be covered if possible.
Hair
Men and women alike should keep their hair clean, neatly styled, out of the face, and pulled back when assisting with sterile procedures so that the sterile field and patient are not compromised. While many people enjoy expressing themselves through their hairstyles, medical assistants should resist the urge to wear wild hairstyles to work. A conservative appearance is always perceived as more
professional.
professional.
Attire
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| Professional attire for a medical assistant. |
Clothing should be clean and wrinkle-free and conform to the standards designated by the employer. In most cases, a medical assistant wears a uniform, good-quality scrubs, or professional-looking clothes, such as slacks and a shirt or a dress with a white laboratory coat and a name badge. The medical assistant must be sure to button a laboratory coat when performing invasive procedures, such
as injections and drawing blood. Because a medical assistant is exposed to ill patients continually, daily laundering of professional clothing is a must. She must wear undergarments, which should be flesh- or neutral-colored and free of designs or lettering so that they do not show through the uniform.
as injections and drawing blood. Because a medical assistant is exposed to ill patients continually, daily laundering of professional clothing is a must. She must wear undergarments, which should be flesh- or neutral-colored and free of designs or lettering so that they do not show through the uniform.
A medical assistant commonly spends a great deal of time on her feet. Therefore, comfortable, good-fitting shoes are of utmost importance. Shoes should conform to the dress code of the facility, and the medical assistant must keep them clean and in good repair. Many health care providers (male and female) who spend long hours on their feet make it a habit to wear support hose, which are available in knee-high length in a variety of colors. They come in various compression strengths and help reduce leg fatigue and aching and minimize the development of varicose veins.