Shocked by facial piercings at work

Nurses Professionalism

Published

So occassionally I'll see a nurse or doc with a nose ring, or tongue ring. If it is not for cultural purposes, I personally find that it truly takes away from the professional look we are supposed to have while at work.

I'm a fan of nose rings, I think they are cute and I thought about getting one however I thought it wouldn't be a good look for work. I also would not was to bother taking it in and out.

Anyway, during my share time at a hospital yesterday I was shocked to see that a nurse midwife was allowed to wear a facial piercing at work. She had a piercing above her upper lip.

Is this becoming more common in your work places? How do you all feel about facial piercings in the health care setting?

I have no tattoos or piercings (besides my ears, and I still don't wear earrings). With that said... why would I care if someone else has them? If management has a rule against it, fine... let them worry about it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would not hire someone with a tattoo or a facial piercing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm not judging people with tattoos and facial piercings, but when I was in nursing school (05-07 so not that long ago) they drilled it into our heads that piercings and visible tattoos weren't allowed and looked unprofessional. One guy who applied for the program even had his hair dyed back to a more natural color from his two-tone jet-black with highlighter-yellow stripe down the middle. I know everyone has their own thing, but I agree that it looks unprofessional. I wouldn't refuse somebody treating me because of it, it's just not something I would do myself.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't even know where to start with this. I am shocked by how judgemental some people are. I have a half sleeve and no I didn't get it to be different and express my individuality. I got it because I wanted to and loved it. I can't say that it is a passing fad because I know people that have had them for 20+ years now so I guess that fad is going strong. 99% of my patients love my tattoo, especially the elderly ladies. My biggest regret to having it is now I have to hear every patient's story behind their tattoo.

I have a close working relationship with management and our doctor's and all have them have nothing but nice things to say about my tattoo. I work hard and take care of my patients, so my tattoo has nothing to do with that. Maybe some of you should go ask the people who have been so grateful for my care or credit me for helping to save their life how much my tattoo bothered them or interfered with my work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Here's the thing- facial piercings, tattoos, unusual hair cuts and colors....those are ALL cultural. Wearing light, conservative makeup is cultural. If the Indian woman's gold stud nose piercing is ok, why not the American woman's Marilyn Monroe lip piercing?

​Deleted

Up Vote Up Vote ×
The asymmetrical upper lip piercing is referred to as a Monroe due to the beauty mark appearance.

Here you go.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

I am waiting to get my nose re-pierced until I see the policy where I have an offer (I'm about to be a new grad). I had it pierced years ago, but the job I accepted after did not allow piercings, and my sensitive skin soon became infected from the in-and-out of having to remove the piercing for work every day, so I stopped putting it in. I've missed it since, and that was almost 10 years ago. Something I've wanted for 10 years isn't faddish, IMO, and it's certainly easy enough to "go back on" it should I decide I no longer want it. It's not about "displaying to the world how individual I am." I like how I look with one. Period.

Same goes for my tats. Only one is partially visible in my scrubs, but I have received SO many compliments on it from patients and nurses. It's tasteful and non-offensive. If I had a huge pot leaf on my cheek, I can see why someone might be offended by that. But a flower on the back of my neck with 26.2 for my first marathon after losing over 100 lbs? Yeah, I'm pretty darn proud of that, and seriously doubt I'll regret it. I don't regret the other two tats that I've had for 15+ years, and they have a lot of meaning to me. I have more planned, only one of which may be visible in scrubs, depending on how big I decide to make it.

I don't feel in the least that my facial piercing (or tats) will impact my care or make me less clean. I certainly don't get my nose in my care very often (if I do, that's a problem!). I wear clean scrubs, shower daily, wear only my wedding ring, and keep my nails short, clean and unpolished. I feel that I provide exceptional care, and feedback from instructors, patients, and RNs (and the NM who saw my performance- and tattoo- and offered me a job) would share the same sentiment. I hope that as I enter practice, a patient wouldn't judge me solely on such a trivial factor.

I am saddened to see so much judgment from a few nurses here. With how many poor life choices our patients make, I can only imagine how you must feel caring for some of these patients, and it would be hard to hide that much disdain. If you feel this way about something as simple as a small facial piercing, I can only imagine how you feel about a heroin addict or obese patient or someone with hep C.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
So occassionally I'll see a nurse or doc with a nose ring, or tongue ring. If it is not for cultural purposes, I personally find that it truly takes away from the professional look we are supposed to have while at work.

I'm a fan of nose rings, I think they are cute and I thought about getting one however I thought it wouldn't be a good look for work. I also would not was to bother taking it in and out.

Anyway, during my share time at a hospital yesterday I was shocked to see that a nurse midwife was allowed to wear a facial piercing at work. She had a piercing above her upper lip.

Is this becoming more common in your work places? How do you all feel about facial piercings in the health care setting?

In what other ways do you inject your personal opinion and bias into your work?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't see what all the upset about facial piercings is about. If someone I worked with had one, it wouldn't change whether or not I viewed them as professional. Professionalism in my opinion is much more about attitude and actions than hair color, dress, etc.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice, ONC, Tele, Med Surg, Endo/Output.
since some posters have alluded to the "elderly" being offended by a nose ring or tattoo... i have had many ederly pts with highly "offensive" tattoos ! and some pts who one would "least expect " have had all kinds of piercings.

Totally creepy when you see an elderly, bony dying patient with a penile implant or breast implant and the family says "oh yeah, they got that in the '80s".

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Yes, fairly common where I work.

Yes, it is common where I work as well. Our medical director has a nose piercing, and we have several nurses with lip and eyebrow piercings. I've never heard any negative comments from patients. And this is in a Midwestern state NOT known for being progressive :D .

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wouldn't go to the point of "shocked " by facial piercings. They are becoming more acceptable by facilities , but far from mainstream.

I personally don't care for tattoos or piercings. Sometimes find myself thinking "why'd ya do that to yourself"...but to each their own.

As for me, make mine a "clip" on ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment