Disturb you to see a tongue pierced?

Nurses General Nursing

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  1. Is it okay to wear a tongue-ring at work?

    • 252
      No, under no circumstance at work
    • 49
      Yes, but only if you have no direct patient contact
    • 187
      Yes, it's okay

488 members have participated

Do you think it's okay to wear a tongue-ring to work as a nurse, or other direct patient services aspect?

Originally posted by jnette

uhhhh.. I think you meant Gwenith? ;)

Whoooops, yes I did mean Gwenith, sorry. And Altomga, I think

it's gross on anyone, not just nurses. :)

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I don't think it is gross, but like someone else posted, I keep focusing on the mouth when I see it in. I also think it becomes habit for a lot of people to play with it, which is distracting.

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I envy the folks who can do that, and still can't imagine what piercing a tongue would require. Do you have to stick your tongue out all the way over a board, or is an instrament inserted into your mouth? Do you have to get sediated, or lidocained, before this proceedure? I respect peoples thoughts and expressions, lol. Seeeesh! I would be flinching like a big dog if my skin got tatted or pierced, for Mario is still a baby :-(

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I feel it would be unprofessional for nurses to wear tongue piercings to the work place. Neither is it a personal desire of mine to have one in any situation. I do know a girl in my town that has gotten a tongue piercing--created a very noticeable speech impediment. I can get tongue tied all on my own without the help of a piercing...LOL> But to each his own.

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Originally posted by altomga

tattoo's and piercings are a form of self expression (yes I have tattoo's..4 to be exact:)

Why should nurses be discrimanated against b/c they are A NURSE?

I don't disagree though that offensive, racial, or vulgar tattoo's and/or piercings should not show at work.....

That is being disrespectful to the patient....

We go into this business knowing that we will be treating all types of people and must respect the differences..be in color, race, or creed!

I whole-heartedly agree. I don't have any tattoos or 'extra' piercings, but who am I to dictate what others do with their bodies? We live in a diverse world, and there are people from all walks of life in this country. Nurses shouldn't be discouraged from expressing themselves just because they're taking care of people.

As far as the risks, that's their choice and as long as they're making an informed decision, I think it's okay.

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Specializes in critical care, med/surg.
Originally posted by mario_ragucci

I envy the folks who can do that, and still can't imagine what piercing a tongue would require. Do you have to stick your tongue out all the way over a board, or is an instrament inserted into your mouth? Do you have to get sediated, or lidocained, before this proceedure? I respect peoples thoughts and expressions, lol. Seeeesh! I would be flinching like a big dog if my skin got tatted or pierced, for Mario is still a baby :-(

I USED to have mine pierced. The procedure involves no numbing of the tounge. The tounge is clamped with a hemostat type device that has an open triangle at the end. You rinse with listerine, and then they clamp and stick the 14 gauge needle through, and follow through with the barbell. It's pretty painful. I would still have mine, but had to take out due to dental reasons.

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Thank you telemetry nurse. When you say you have to have it taken out, does that mean you always had it in? How long can you wear the ring? Can you eat food with it in? I never got a chance to see one up close, but I believe they can be either horizontal or vertical. Doesn't it bleed when you even get your ear pierced? I obviously don't know much about it because I can't do it. I am tryiong to find historical data as well. the first time I saw a tongue pierced was in Pulp Fiction in the early nineties (1990's)

I am humble to anyone and all deserve respect. I don't see the difference between piercing and me having to drag a razor close over my face day after day to look neat. I'd rather look like an ape! :-) (kidding) (smiling)(I'm sorry)

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I agree with "too each his own",,,,, but I also feel there is time and place,,, for display,,,,,,

I have tatoos,,,, 3,,,, piercings,,,,, (not my tongue,) navel,,,, and several in my ears,,,,

I choose places on my body,,, I would be comfortable with the tatoos,,,, what I wanted drawn,,,,

But,,, they are all where I can show them if I want to,,,, or have them covered by my choice of clothing,,,, when I dont' think it is appropriate,,,,,,

Sad to say,,,, people judge you by your appearance,,,,, not your performance,,,,,,

I have no problems,,, with anyone having a tongue piercing,,, some I haven't known were peirced for months,,,,, Personally,,, for many reasons,,,, I would not do it,,,,

I think it takes a very attractive woman,,, to pull of a nose ring,,,, and I have yet to see someone with a ring in thier eyebrow that looked good,,,,, my first thought,,, is "what is that growth?"

Everyone should have the right to express thier "wild side",,,, but I feel,,,, not at work,,,, you need to project an aura of professionalizm,,,, trust,,,,, etc,,,, I don't want to be wondering about your tongue,,,, if you are trying to talk to me about my tx,,,, IMHO,,,,, take care xoxo Nik~

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I dont mean to offend anyone, but here goes... I worked with a nurse aid who had a tongue peircing, It was a bright green round thing, and all I could think of was " My gosh, its a booger" She was always playing with it and it jsut annoyed me, and , well, it looked like a big round booger!!!!

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Specializes in ICU.
Originally posted by itsme

I dont mean to offend anyone, but here goes... I worked with a nurse aid who had a tongue peircing, It was a bright green round thing, and all I could think of was " My gosh, its a booger" She was always playing with it and it jsut annoyed me, and , well, it looked like a big round booger!!!!

Imagine if it had been a nose ring!!!:eek:

:roll

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Nursing is a profession; therefore, I believe that I need to dress/look professional at work. I don't believe that facial or tongue piercings portray a professional image and, therefore, aren't appropriate on-the-job. I feel the same about clothes, and hair. Take off the extra earrings, no hot pink/blue spiked/streaked hair, if hair is long PLEASE tie it back/up, etc., groomed nails -- polish is fine -- but no long false nails with stickers, etc., no heavy perfumes, etc.

Clearly, nursing is not "one size fits all" -- it's great to have diversity and individuality. However, I do believe that we need to portray professionalism -- through our appearance, actions, and nursing skills. I'm not advocating for nursing caps/all whites -- I'm just thinking that on-the-job that "less is better."

Sue:cool:

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Specializes in critical care, med/surg.

Back to the original topic, no, it didn't bleed when I got it done. Yes you leave it in all of the time, even while eating. Spaghetti O's are dangerous, they can get caught around it. It heals fast when taken care of properly. I had to take mine out because my oral surgeon couldn't remove my wisdom teeth with it in. By the time I got done getting my teeth removed, the hole was closed, and never got it redone.

I can understand how some people think that its unprofessional. But, I had mine for 2 years, and no one in my family ever noticed it.

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