Specializes in midwifery, ophthalmics, general practice.
Originally posted by slyhrtbt
I have my tongue pierced. I normally wear it to work. technichly I'm not supposed to but no one say's anything. I will take it out for clinical though. I know people that had tattoo's that show before getting into nursing. Most of the time they are left alone.
steve- you have your tongue pierced? ugh didnt that hurt??
Our hospital policy says...No visible tattoos..no piercings other than ear..and no more than 2 per ear.....I have 1 tat on my boob..lol..nobody is gonna be seeing that one...others have had tattoos on arms/wrists..and I've seen a few tongue piercings...nobody ever makes a big deal of it....we are just glad to have HELP...I don't care how many tatts/piercings ya have...lol
I have a tattoo on the small of my back, three very private piercing and my tongue pierced. All are easily hidden. When I got those done, I had to think about where I was going in my career, lots of places don't allow that kind of stuff to show, so I wanted to keep my options open. This way I look professional on the outside but I am an undercover freak in disguise. My tongue I have a flesh colored stud to conceal it. But most of the time you can't see it anyway, unless I leave my tongue hanging out or I am trying to eat an ice cream cone. Just easier to keep hidden.
Karen, I think what it is, when I was married I felt like I always had to answer to my husband, and now....I guess I am going thru my second childhood....I just want one, because I can! And don't have to get NOBODY's opinion!!!
I have no VISIBLE tatoos or piercings, but I do have both. It just makes a bad impression to have a nail through your nose or the last supper tatooed on your forearms.(although if I could get away with a tongue ring I would) You could be the greatest nurse in the world, but when you walk into a patients room with a stud in your chin, chances are they won't care how great a nurse you are. Patients don't always tend to remember that we save their lives or aid in their recovery. What they remember is how they are treated and the professionalism of the nurse. Just keeping it real, folks.
Tattoos should remain visible when on duty as a health professional because they do not represent professional presentation to me, but I am NOT opposed to tatoos. I'd probably have one myself if I weren't a big chicken. I heard it hurts really bad to get one (my husband has one on his arm, and I saw what he went through with the healing process and the pain). :)
Tongue rings, nose rings, droopy earrings, ankle bracelets, and lots of finger rings, and long dirty unkempt finger nails (fake or real) while on duty should be banned as they too are TOTALLY unprofessional to see.
I have one tattoo on the inside of my forearm. I was going to get another on the other arm, but decided it would be best to keep them out of site from now on.
I have a piercing...but only visible by my husband if you know what I mean !! LOL
Does anyone have any breast piercings? I'm considering doing mine.
I have 5 tattoos on my arms, and I had them done long before I was a nurse. No-one has ever commented negatively on them in 13 years. I also have my nose pierced but it's a tiny, discreet and tasteful stud and again, no-one has ever commented. I would like to get another tattoo on the inside of my forearm but haven't decided yet. I like to think that my pleasant personality and professional attitude is more likely to make people believe I am good at my job, rather than having tattoos makes me bad at it. If people can't see past that when I am working hard right in front of them then I don't really care about their opinion. I do a good job...that's all that matters.
I work with a nurse who has tatoos on her arms and she wears short sleeve shirts to work. They are not tasteful and they look terrible. (imagine the prisoners that come into the ER and you can tell they were bored one day...) The ink has faded and is mostly blue. She is dating a man named John and her right arm says Lance and the left says Paul. It looks bad. Another nurse I work with has a tatoo that looks like a bracelet, but its very nice. Another rolls the top of her scrubs down and you can see her tatoo on the small of her back every time she bends over.
To me, I don't care how someone expresses themselves: to each his own. I have not heard management complain either, so I guess until a patient or family member says something about it, it will continue.
The one and only comment I have ever heard was once when helping a co-worker an elderly man commented on the jewelry and said, "nurses must make a lot of money, you have a lot of jewlery".......he was total jerk the entire time he was in the unit and made sure we worked hard for our paychecks! I do not wear jewelry except a watch to work, but several co-workers come in looking like they are going out for the evening:
2-3 bracelets on each arm, rings on every finger, 2-3 necklaces. No one in management has commented about this either.
Maybe things have changed enough that the public does not expect to see the traditional nurse in whites anymore.
My tongue I have a flesh colored stud to conceal it. But most of the time you can't see it anyway, unless I leave my tongue hanging out or I am trying to eat an ice cream cone. Just easier to keep hidden.
karenG
1,049 Posts
its either a rebellion thing or its an age thing- I notice we are the same age!!!!!!!! I want a small celtic cat on the small of my back.
Karen