Small nose piercings at work?

Nurses General Nursing

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I am currently in college to become a nurse and also thinking about getting my nose pierced. Nothing huge, just a little stud or gemstone. I am worried that when I do have to attend clinicals or get a job at a hospital the dress code will require me to take my nose piercing out. I am interested in hearing about your experiences with this! Thank you! :)

I had a nose piercing once upon a time. The nursing home where I worked wouldn't allow it.

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER.

My hospital doesn't allow them,.and all tatoos must be covered.

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What does your nursing student handbook say? In mine there is a strict jewelry policy: 1 pair of studs and one plain ring with no stones.

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Specializes in Vascular Access Nurse.
we just received memo regarding tatoos and piercings--piercings only in ears and tatoos covered while at work--but the memo also states that we have to wear undergarments!

i think the "undergarment" problem-lack of or visible through white scrubs- is the reason our hospital switched rn uniforms to maroon colored scrub pants!

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I would wait until you finish nursing school and get a job before you pierce your nose so you don't have to go through something like that only to turn around and have to constantly cover it or remove it.

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In California I have seen many nurses with nose rings and one time when my daughter was in the ER, a nurse had multiple piercings on her ear in addition to a nose ring.

I've had a gynecologist with a nose ring as well as a rad-tech.

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I have one. My employer was ok with it as long as it was the flat stud and anything that could be grabbed onto by a patient. I did have to take it out for school though. Which, as I've had it for several years now, I'm perfectly able to take it out and leave it out for several hours without worrying about it closing back up. If a new employer requires me to take it out for work, I'll do so and put it back in when I'm not working. I like my nose stud, but it doesn't matter that much to me.

If you're looking at getting one, however, I would advise waiting until after nursing school, as it seems to be the consensus that most school want it taken out and with a new piercing, you won't be able to do so without it healing up.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

You can wear retainers in HEALED piercings which is what I did for nursing school and my instructors were none the wiser. But this was a piercing of my inner ear cartilage (daith piercing) and was not very noticeable with a retainer in it. Retainers are "the little clear" things a previous poster was speaking of. They also come in flesh colors. The best website to answer all piercing-related questions and I am a member there is www.tribalectic.com

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that would be cool to wear...you can pass it off for a mole or wart hehe

I really don't see what the problem is when wearing one. I've seen a good number of nurses or people in the medical field who wore them..and they weren't for cultural reasons. The nurse in the ER had a hoop nose ring.

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Specializes in neurotrauma ICU.

some places will allow you to keep it in if you cover it with a bandaid. or, more to the point... a little tiny piece of a bandaid!

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Specializes in PACU, OR.
While a little stud can often look cute, most establishments are going to say it's a no-go. There are other things to think about too...some elderly pts or their family may not respect you as much, no matter your skills. (I'm not saying that SHOULD BE, but sometimes it is that way). Regardless, you want their trust. Also, you may increase your chances of developing a nasty skin infection if you were unfortunate enough to be splashed in the face by bodily fluids...and it happens!!

Apart from that, a nasty cold will make you cringe, never mind anyone else! :lol2:

Definitely not allowed where I work, also no visible tattoos. Small ear studs and plain silver or gold neck chains only.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
While a little stud can often look cute, most establishments are going to say it's a no-go. There are other things to think about too...some elderly pts or their family may not respect you as much, no matter your skills. (I'm not saying that SHOULD BE, but sometimes it is that way). Regardless, you want their trust. Also, you may increase your chances of developing a nasty skin infection if you were unfortunate enough to be splashed in the face by bodily fluids...and it happens!!

How did we go to talking about nose piercings to lack of respect?!? While I don't have a nose ring, I do have an industrial in my one ear (see pic for those not familiar. http://http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OL2Ptf0ANLA/S8bDu4VUo-I/AAAAAAAAABk/FuHzPRKe4oo/s1600/bar_piercing.jpg&imgrefurl=http://industrial-piercing.blogspot.com/2010/04/what-is-industrial-bar-piercing.html&usg=__wwq7M3xOQrvBU77o08GbFhpXp00=&h=478&w=449&sz=15&hl=en&start=0&tbnid=il8DG4CpYXNpnM:&tbnh=119&tbnw=118&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dindustrial%2Bbar%2Bpiercing%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D565%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=118&vpy=89&dur=4944&hovh=232&hovw=218&tx=100&ty=122&ei=JLpnTJSVE4aglAf6nJWfBQ&oei=JLpnTJSVE4aglAf6nJWfBQ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=26&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0

I did not have the piercing in nursing school as I was well aware I would have to take it out everyday for clinical. As soon as I graduated, I got my piercing and I've had no issues. Sure, pt's and families notice it sometimes, but I hope they are judging me on my pt care and my character and not on one piercing I have. If anything, 90% of people ask me "did that hurt?" I feel that majority of of people have no issues with it. I do try not to draw attention to it at work, but when I have my hair up, it tends to be visible more.

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