Body Piercings & Tattoos

MANDALOU · Sep 25, 2003

I'M A STUDENT NURSE WITH MY TONGUE PIERCED AND SO FAR NO-ONE HAS ASKED ME TO TAKE IT OUT. DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OFFICIAL LINE IS ON IT, I'M JUST HOPING THAT I CAN KEEP IT FOR A BIT LONGER!

Moonshimme19 · Sep 25, 2003

I currently have 15 body piercings....3 facial (off center lip piercings and my nostril), my tongue, both my nipples, and 4 ear piercings in my left ear (anti-tragus, conch, ear lobe, and my tragus) and 5 piercings in my right ear( tragus, ear lobe, conch ,and an industrial, which is two piercings that are connected with one piece of jewerly).

I do plan to remove, some, for nursing school, not all, because some can be easily concealed.

My mom is also a nurse, went with me for all my piercings, except nipples, a two of my ear piercings. I do have one tattoo on my ankle. My job, as a Community Living Instructor with mentally and physically handicapped children, does allow piercings, so I do wear all of mine. The parents that do visit our kids see and know about my modifications, and joke around with me. I do, also work with nurses (home I work with have 24 hour nursing) and they all don't have a problem, but do tell that some will have to go, when nursing school arrives.

kids · Sep 25, 2003

8 tattoos: back, deltoids, thighs, calves...all coverable with scrubs except a small heart on my right hand, their "discrete placement isn't/wasn't intentional, is just where they ended up.

12 piercings: ears (4/5), nose, tongue, nipple.

I have only worked in 1 position (MDS Co-ord) that had a problem with me. My first week on the job they asked me to remove the tongue an nose. I said no (I had all both in at the interview). I worked for them for 2 years.

MarcusKspn · Oct 1, 2003

I had a tounge ring before I went to nursing school. Took it out when we started clinicals. I really wasn't told by anybody that I had to take it out, it was just a personal choise. I'm pretty sloopy in my personal live, but I am very picky about displaying a professional appearance at work. I also have a tattoo on my upper right arm. I got the winged rod with the snakes on my arm to represent my love for nursing, it is placed over an open book to symbolize the hours of learning and knowledge that we have to go through to become nurses.

I'm just very picky about looking profesional when it comes to myself. Never tell anybody else that they don't look profesional. I believe it is up to everybody to decide for themself how they want to present themself and the profession of nursing.

PS: sometimes I even like to wear my white scrubs :eek:

slyhrtbt · Oct 1, 2003

To all the people that said it doesn't look profesional to show a tattoo or piercing. Most of the time these people (administration) that make these rules do not treat us like profesionals anyway.

boopchick · Oct 1, 2003

I have 2 tattoos that are hidden by my scrubs and my tongue is pierced. I've never had any complaints while at work regarding my tongue but I will have to take it out for my school clinicals per the dress policy. I've worked with other nurses who have pierced eyebrows and noses and it's never been an issue.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Oct 1, 2003

Pierced noses, but espcially eyebrows are great things for a combative pt. to get a grip on.

nurseygrrl, LPN · Oct 1, 2003

I have a nose, navel, and ear piercings. I wear a tiny stud in my nose so no one would be able to grab onto it. I have never been one to judge individuals on their looks, so to me it isn't unprofessional. Nurses are human beings with their own taste, so whatever they want to wear, pierce, or tatoo is their own business. As long as they take care of their patients professionally...who cares?

huckfinn · Oct 1, 2003

I guess you need to be concerned about the image you wish to portray to your patients and prospective employers. Check their dress code policy and see if there is anything mentioned about jewelry. My institution allows for one pair of stud type earrings only. No other body piercing may show. Males may noy wear earrings at all. That has not stopped men from wearing them as we have a very liberal boss. I myself used to wear a wide gold ring. She never said a thing to me about it. I decided to wear it no longer when I moved into a leadership position.

Of course the boss could apply the dress code as she wished in cases where somebody goes overboard and wears overtly conspicuous jewelry. I don't believe the public sector can do anything about body art as long as it is not offensive or perverse. The military and government systems are another story.

Just my opinion....You are in a service related industry and must scrutinize your appearence through the eyes of a discriminating customer and remember, "The customer is always right."

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Oct 1, 2003

Originally posted by huckfinn
Just my opinion....You are in a service related industry and must scrutinize your appearence through the eyes of a discriminating customer

I agree.

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Oct 1, 2003

no tatoo's. only ears pierced with one hole in each lobe. Have nothing against tats or multi pierced individuals. Do think some line in professional appearance needs to be drawn. Just old fashioned I guess.

crystalrose · Oct 1, 2003

I have my eyebrow,nose and tongue pierced and I wear them about one a week so they don't heal over and no one ever says anything. I also have 4 tatoo's but they are all usually hidden.