Can nurses have piercings?

[toninz]

I am in my first semester of Nursing - doing the common semester, which I think is like the pre-reqs i hear everyone on here talking about.

My question is, when I start nursing and clinical placements, will i have to remove my piercings?

Particularly, ears, nose, tongue

Thanks

[kcochrane]

In both LPN and RN school we were allowed only one pair of earrings (even men) that were stud type and simple. Sometimes the instructor will overlook the extras...but that really depends on the instructor. My LPN instructor didn't make one of the students take out her tongue ring, but made it know that if the DON for our school showed up, she would make it clear that she told her it was not allowed.

[Chixie]

I remove all my piercings for work. Ive got 3 in each lobe, a helix and a tongue piercing.

Ive got a keeper for my tongue as i only just got it done (it only shows when i yawn)

[bluemushroom]

You'll have to check your school's dress code.

We can wear whatever we want to class, but at clinicals we can only wear one pair of studs in our lobes. I don't have pierced lobes, but I have other piercings. My nose piercing closed after a few hours at the hospital because I had trouble getting the retainer in . I wear retainers in my industrials and tragus piercings, and I keep my septum retainer flipped up. I did get a few strange looks from my instructor, but she never said a word, so I guess retainers are ok.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

One stud in each ear thats it. Nothing else is allowed at our program.

[kcochrane]

i think the sjsu policy is two pairs of ear piercings. i have a feeling cartilage doesn't count as an ear piercing but i am not sure. my cartilage is pierced on one side and other than that earring i don't wear any everyday jewelry. (my ears are pierced but easily irritated; not married)

i understand the professionalism and safety aspects, though it does make me a little sad that little individuality is allowed as a nurse can't win em all

Once you get out of school you shouldn't have an problem showing that individualism. Although I think most facilites do not allow false nails and giant earrings (safety issue). But I've never seen an issue with multi piercings or tattoos. School is just school.

[petunia2016]

I was reading through all the posts, and came across this one. To contradict what other people have said, I have a nose piercing which I have worn to all of my clinicals this semester, and not one person has complained (instructors or hospital employees). I'm not the only one in my class; there are a handful of us with nose piercings. I did, however, remove a lip piercing, not because I was asked to, but because I felt that would draw more negative attention than my nose piercing. I have been to several hospitals in my area that employ nurses with nose piercings. It is becoming more widely accepted. I would check first, though.

[Nepenthe Sea]

This is a little off topic but I just read in the newspaper yesterday that there are nursing schools that will no longer admit students that have tattoos that cannot be covered by scrubs. So, no bandages, long-sleeved shirts, etc. They cited increased chances of infection as one of the reasons! If it was brand-new and not covered up then I might buy that. But it smells like BS to me.

[izzycatswimRN]

My school will let us have two solid posts in the lower ear lobe but no other visible piercings. We can wear one ring per hand (married ladies can wear a band with no protruding stones) and a necklace but that must be in our shirts. I have two helix piercings so i have to take those out. Only one other girl in my clinical group has piercings anywhere besides the lower ear lobe so it would be very noticeable if she and I didn't follow the rules.