Disturb you to see a tongue pierced?

[mario_ragucci]

Do you think it's okay to wear a tongue-ring to work as a nurse, or other direct patient services aspect?

[Chad_KY_SRNA]

I really think they are cute, one of my friends at work has his pierced and has switched to plastic balls after he did some major damage to his teeth. You just can't teach some people...... oh well, God gives us obstacles, I am sure our own ignorance is one of them. I am such a big chicken over pain that I will never have anything pierced or tattooed. I don't drink so I can't get drunk and blame it on the booze, besides who knows what all an intoxicated person would have done to their body, I shudder to think. However I do know a nurse that got drunk in nursing school and is now the proud owner of a tattoo of "Garfield in a leather jacket smoking a doobie" on her backside.

[healer_energy]

I think it is OK as long as I, or the patient, can't see it. I liked the "huge barbell" comment above! As I told my daughter... "You risk me vomitting all over you. So no, not as long as you live in my house". I think non visible body adornments make no difference. So what about tatoos, peculiar hair colors [like mine which is sort of pink] ? What really irritates me is the dressing up that goes on at Halloween. How can a person suffering pain or other discomfort contemplate a giggling witch? We are asking our patients to meet our needs for compliments when this happens.

[bth44]

Do you think it's okay to wear a tongue-ring to work as a nurse, or other direct patient services aspect?

Uggghhh. Because of the "oral pleasure" theory behind it, whenever I see someone with a tongue piercing, I just automatically assume they're a slut. I know it's awful, but I can't help it! But nine times out of ten, in my town, they really ARE skanks.

Eyebrow piercings look retarded, too.

[DredQueen]

Most of the time you can't see someones tongue pierced unless they're a big mouth (and I mean that literally). I don't open my mouth really wide when i talk or laugh, most people didn't even know I had my tongue pierced unless I was playing with it. You can also buy those clear barbells that are even harder to see. It also depends on where the hole is on your tongue. Some people's are closer to the front, some are closer to the back. It's pretty much virtually undetectable unless someone JUST got it pierced and they talk really silly. I've had my tongue pierced twice in two diff spots, the only piercing i currently have is my nose ring, and I would not wear that as a CNA or a future nurse......U never know with some patients man...

[Chad_KY_SRNA]

Well, Believe it or not, I am going tommorow to get my tongue pierced. Little old stick in the mud me. Me and several of my friends and coworkers got together and had a few too many(Shame on me:nono:) and I got brave, I told Sam, one of the other CNA's that I would pierce anything that he would pierce. Little did I know that he had secretly always wanted to turn himself into a pin cushion! He wants to pierce his tongue, both nipples, and his belly button. The belly button is too girly and I like to eat and talk so the tongue scares me. The same group is going with me tommorow, my best friend in the world is going to be there holding my hand, he has his done and swears I am stressing over nothing. We'll see. I would rather be pierced than tattooed, piercings can come off without being burned away. My friend Jeannie, an RN, asked me if I would respect a nurse with a tongue ring? I swear I don't know. I guess I would.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

The more i assist in dental restorations at work on adults, and see how many people damage their teeth with tongue piercing, the dumber i think it is. You only get one set of teeth as an adult, why ruin it.

[Chad_KY_SRNA]

Well my friends, rockets scientists they are not may I remind you all, say that if you wear the acryllic balls instead of the metal balls, after appropriate healing time that it won't hurt your teeth as bad. I know exactly what you mean about the tongue piercing destroying your teeth however, I have a friend that just turned 25 that has a partial plate necessary in part because of his tongue piercing.

[SouthernLPN2RN, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

I have one and wear a clear, acrylic retainer in it. I have only had one person notice and that was when I had an actual barbell in.

[hipab4hands]

I think it's unprofessional looking, but it isn't forbidden in my hospital.

I'm with you.

There's no problem with expressing your wild side, if you want to. I just think it should be done on your own time, not at work.

[DorkyStudentNurse]

I just joined this site and I'm very glad this topic exists because I'm sort of in a dilemma here!

I have had my tongue pierced for over three years now. As dumb as it sounds, I've gotten quite attached to it. I have no lisp or speech impediment as some people think you get upon piercing your tongue (everyone I've encountered has only lisped for the period of time that the tongue is swollen after the initial piercing). I never play with it, and most people don't know I have it. I've just begun nursing school and in our handbook, it states that tongue piercings are not permitted during clinicals. However, I know many nurses in my area who work in hospital settings and do have tongue piercings. Why are the rules on piercings different for clinicals than for actually being a nurse in a hospital? I'd really rather not take mine out, but I would definitely wear a clear retainer in the workplace. Do you think this would be a problem if I just wore a retainer to clinicals? I'll take it out if it's absolutely necessary (haha, I value my education and career far more than my tongue piercing!) but I don't see how it would be a problem. Hmm.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

My school had a rule against them, so does the facility i work at.

(Thank God.)

[Chad_KY_SRNA]

Well Friends and Neighbors, I have a tongue piercing. It hurts a lot! It actually feels a lot better now, the first few days were rough but I am a big boy and will be fine.