Daith piercing with stethoscope?

shenanigans_RN · Nov 28, 2015

I had both my tragus and my daith pierced. Originally I had a ring in my tragus and it did interfere with my stethoscope, but it was fine with a flat-backed stud. I never had any issues with the curved barbell in my daith. I took my tragus piercing out for an interview and never put it back in. I left my daith in for a (different) interview, years later, and the manager who was interviewing me was not a fan. I took it out before my first day. I've seen other nurses when them since, and I miss them, but oh well.

RNSMC2592 · Nov 28, 2015

shenanigans_RN- Thank you for some actual input on using a stethoscope with a daith piercing! I wasn't sure if the bottom of the piercing would rub up against the ear piece and be uncomfortable. For now, my clinical instructors are fine with it and the hospital I work for is also fine with it :) I'm sorry you didn't have such luck! Maybe someday (if there isn't too much scar tissue) you can re-pierce them :cat:

Princess Bubblegum · Nov 28, 2015

I work at a hospital with pretty lax policies regarding piercings--mainly, don't become an infection control issue, and don't get any patient complaints. I'd be more concerned with your piercing getting infected/irritated/dislodged with repeatedly using your stethoscope, that could be excruciating.

Nature_walker, ASN, BSN, RN · Nov 28, 2015

I have both my daith and tragus pierced on both my ears and several other ear piercings as well. I do find that it is hard to use my stethoscope for practice, but my school has a one stud in frist holes only rule, so I take out all 15 of my earrings every clinical and then have no problems. For practice with a new piercing, it will aggravate the new piercing. I would recommend checking with your school to make sure you can have it in while at clinicals. Taking it out before healing wouldn't be the best thing for your ear. I would love to get a new piercing, but since I have to take them all out each week it is not worth it right now for me. Maybe once I graduate in May.... :up:

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Nov 28, 2015

Seems like it would be painful to constantly jiggle a new piercing with a stethoscope.

russianbear · Nov 28, 2015

I know at my hospital you cannot work with anything more than two studs in your ear and only the lobe. Patients like a professional looking nurse.

ambr46 · Nov 28, 2015

This post gave me shivers. Truly, you do not mean the "inner ear." Please research inner/middle/outer ear locations and revise your thinking in terms of your desire to pierce your inner ear.

I must be getting old because I have never heard of this daith piercing. Googled it and all that came up were many gruesome pictures of infected ears...shiver me timbers!

DowntheRiver · Nov 28, 2015

I have mine done on my right ear. It has done nothing for my migraines but I did not get it for migraines, I got it to be a rebellious 20 year old with super conservative parrents. Stethoscope usage depends on where you get it - mine is pretty close to my tragus. Sometimes it does get caught on my stethoscope. If you remove it too quickly, it can definitely cause you to yelp once in awhile. Be prepared for other nurses and older people to judge you for having it. I only have my ear lobes double pierced and don't have a bunch of "crazy" piercings but people usually find a way to comment on it.

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Nov 29, 2015

Seems like it would be painful to constantly jiggle a new piercing with a stethoscope.

My Tragus piercings can handle being roughly handled! Thank goodness!!

PS regarding the professionalism, I have super tiny studs! When I interview, I'll probably remove them until I learn the culture of the unit. [emoji3]

la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN · Nov 29, 2015

I know it's not literally the inner ear, I figured that'd be obvious. No need to research. Sorry, the inner piece of cartilage. Better?

Well, in the context of wanting to do something for a migraine, that seemed pretty way out there but, like, maybe it's a thing. I googled it pronto because inner ear!?!?! But then I saw it was that and meh. So, the proper anatomical description would be helpful. Even just leaving it as simply an ear piercing would suffice.

WoosahRN, MSN, RN · Nov 30, 2015

I have multiple ear piercings including a daith, anti-tragus, bilateral tragus, and a few others I can't remember the names of (upper cartilage). I have had no issues with anything interfering with stethoscopes. I did, however, make the mistake of initially piercing both tragi (?) at the same time. Bad plan. Couldn't use a stethoscope. Had to take them out. Then did them one at a time so I could still use a stethoscope on the other side. Gave each one a long time to heal (good year between them, cartilage takes a long time to heal). I also wear earplugs to sleep and inner ear headphones from time to time. I keep my hands off of them. As long as you clean them regularly (soap in the shower, salt spray afterwards) you should be ok but each person is different. Weirdly enough I have more issues when I sleep on my side.

My workplace is strict on dress code and tattoos and piercings yet ear piercings have always been ok (it's really the facial ones that they don't allow).

I have small hoops or short curved bars. I still look professional.

WoosahRN, MSN, RN · Nov 30, 2015

One note, if it's for school I wouldn't bother. I think there is a one earlobe small post rule. I ended up taking out several piercings and getting them redone after I graduated.