Can you have piercings in the nursing program?

[choomtop]

I have a nasal septum piercing (pic) and I do not enjoy taking it out.

However, I have absolutely no problem flipping it up into my nostrils (which essentially hides it from view).

Would it be alright if I went to lectures and clinicals with it flipped up?

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

Going with the "ask your program" generic response.

I'd also like to add that if you can't see it when it's flipped up, then that's about the same thing as covering tattoos with sleeves. You could definitely get away with it flipped up in my program. No one was looking up our noses.

[TheNGTKingRN]

Yes piercings are A-OK 👌

Smh.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

Can you have the piercing? Sure. But can you wear the jewelry in the piercing? Maybe not. You'll need to check with your program to see if it will be allowed. Don't be surprised if the answer is no, especially in the clinical settings.

[MeiLana]

Something to consider -- many hospitals will not allow visible piercings (or tattoos) like that. My hospital's dress code policy goes so far as to discuss not only piercings/tattoos, but what colors of hair are allowable. I acknowledge I'm in a slightly more conservative area, but we are very near a thriving metro...and very near hospitals which are sometimes staffed by men/women with pink/purple hair and full visible arm sleeves that are not required to alter or cover.

Consider where you're going to be working in the future. Just some advice.

[NYTramaRN, RN]

Protip: Get a septum retainer. They are small and look like the shape of a long staple. That way you can keep it open and still have it flipped up without so much jewelry in your nose.

This!

[SN2014]

I'd take it out completely while at class & clinicals.. Most hospitals have strict policies regarding piercings.. and it's not worth the risk. If someone notices - you get marked "unprofessional" It does suck yes.. I have my nose, snakebites, and tongue pierced. I gave up trying to keep the tongue piercing concealed/hidden.. the others I took out w/ anything school/hospital related... even thought it's "just lecture" you still want to keep a professional appearance.. at all times.. even to your teachers.. they're the ones that will be asked their opinion whenever it comes time to get a job.

[klone, MSN, RN]

As long is it's not visible or apparent that you have in it, you should be fine. I wouldn't even ask, I would just keep it inside and they won't know.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

Something to consider is that the places where clinicals happen might have standards that are higher for students than for their own employees. I've taught clinicals for ages, and have had unit managers insist that students be sent home if they didn't meet those standards, even if employees didn't meet them. In my mind, I've called them the "piercing" and "tattoo police". There are also "hair pulled-back police" and "fingernail police" in facilities. Since students are guests in facilities, we have to abide by what they tell us.

In the 3 schools I've taught, there have always been rules about piercings. The only visible piercings allowed while at clinicals or in the labs were one stud per earlobe.

Speaking of hair colors, my schools required that hair color be humanly possible.

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

My daughter is in volleyball and no piercings are allowed. I had just taken her for cartilage piercing and they made her remove them. She had a hard time getting them back in so I looked online and found they have a lot of clear ones that are pretty good. I wonder if that might be an option for you? I have a coworker with the same and they haven't said anything to her yet. I work in a federal facility so maybe there is hope after nursing school.

[diabetesmelissatus]

though this was written long ago, i wanted to weigh in. i finished my bsn program last may and never hid my septum piercing, tattoos, or green hair and had no issues excelling or being respected. before that, i was a teacher for a decade and wore my septum ring every day. i did live in a rather progressive city, though. i'm in grad school for nurse-midwifery now and there are two other students who also have septum piercings. and i just got my first nursing job on the adolescent unit of a behavioral health hospital. the policy there is that any facial piercings (besides tongue, which are not allowed and eyebrow, which are allowed) must be studs. i was actually surprised that it's so lenient. i'll probably just wear a retainer or take the piercing out the days i'm working.

[Piplup]

It depends. My school is religious based so its very strick we can't even wear flipflops.