piercings at work

anne74 · Jan 22, 2007

I work in Colorado where wardrobes are a little more liberal. Many nurses have nose rings, tattoos - but they're usually tasteful - nothing that would freak out pts. I don't have any unusual body decorations, but I think it's cool that my hospital is more open to differences in appearance. Much less "Big Brother-ish".

I worked at a hospital in Indiana that was super strict with the dress code, yet many of the employees exhibited less than professional behavior - like smoking constantly, then entering a pts room smelling like an ashtray - getting in fights with other employees in front of pts - talking about how their "man is cheatin' on them" with pts.

I would also wait until you know where you want to work. And, consider what type of image you want to portray to others. You may be smart and the best nurse out there, but you can lose credibility by how you look. It's a shame, but it's reality. Really think through what you're signing up for.

And, maybe lean toward something that can be easily reversed or changed. Your taste will change several times throughout your life. How many times have you looked at old pictures of yourself and thought, "Why did I think that looked good?"

jennyfyre · Jan 22, 2007

My facility is fairly liberal about piercings and tats.. a co-worker has a small diamond nose stud that is barely visible, but takes out her lip and eyebrow jewerly while at work. I have 3 earrings in one ear and 4 in the other and wear very small rings in them. I work at the front desk as a unit coordinator and have recieved many compliments on them. I do have a funny story though... I also work as a lane server in a bowling alley and have a navel piercing. Last Christmas a dear customer gave me a jingle bell belly ring as a gift... and I forgot to take it out one day at the hospital!! No one there knows I have the belly piercing (got it when my oldest daughter turned 16.. we went together). I was walking down the hallway pretty fast looking for a nurse when one of the "old school" MDs started following me. After I found the nurse, he asked me... "Um... why are you jingling? I don't see any bells" I just about cracked up... I hadn't been aware I was wearing it! I smiled slightly and lifted my scrubs just a bit... and he burst out laughing! He thought it was the craziest thing. He said he thought he was hearing things and never imagined that it was a belly ring! Now he sings jingle bells when he comes to the floor instead of griping at people!

Cattitude · Jan 22, 2007

but it's just the age difference... i guess

ok, i gotta say something :rotfl: whew...

a few people on here mention age as if only the younger generation has tats and piercings??? nope.

i know i'm not old but i'm not young either. i have 3 tats (2 on ankles and 1 on calf) and my belly pierced.

i'm thinking about getting something else done too... i've only had one pt. make a very rude comment to me. she was mad at me for something , it was summer and i was wearing a skirt. she said "in my country, only street people have those things you have on your body. no man would have a woman like that" ha ha nice, huh?later i made sure and told my fiancee that he better leave me since i was deemed to be "no good and filthy". :lol2:

most of my other pt's seem to like them and even compliment on how pretty they are.

Lacie, BSN, RN · Jan 22, 2007

ok, i gotta say something :rotfl: whew...
a few people on here mention age as if only the younger generation has tats and piercings??? nope.
i know i'm not old but i'm not young either. i have 3 tats (2 on ankles and 1 on calf) and my belly pierced.
i'm thinking about getting something else done too... i've only had one pt. make a very rude comment to me. she was mad at me for something , it was summer and i was wearing a skirt. she said "in my country, only street people have those things you have on your body. no man would have a woman like that" ha ha nice, huh?later i made sure and told my fiancee that he better leave me since i was deemed to be "no good and filthy".
most of my other pt's seem to like them and even compliment on how pretty they are.

lol, you tell 'em! i'm 50 with numerous piercings and tats. have a navel ring and others i wont mention. currently working on an full back cover also. i started getting piercings when i was in my 20's and tats in my 30's. it's not an age thing at all. come to the daytona area (biker heaven) and you'll see men and women in thier 70's with numerous tats/piercings during bikeweek. fortunately i havent had the weight gain or loss to distort any of my tats and they look just as good as the day i got them over the years.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Jan 22, 2007

Our policy prohibits more than two earrings (male and female). No other body piercing should be visible, per policy. BTW, what you consider "not freaky" will be real freaky to someone else. I advise you to be ultraconservative in your appearance until you land a job and get to know the culture. Some things are just better done on your own time. Also, you will be working in a sick place - lots of germs.