I recently graduated with a BSN and it's time for me to start thinking about interviews. I have been applying around and I want to be ready for when I get that first nursing interview.
I have a monroe piercing (a piercing above my lip similar to where Marilynn Monroe had her iconic birthmark for those who do not know.)
I've had this piercing since I was 17 and I am now 22. I still love it and I don't want to take it out and let it close. However, I would remove it for a job interview and for work if I was required to.
My question is do any nurses out there have any advice for concealing a piercing hole? I tried heavy concealer and it doesn't fill it it in. when the jewelry is out the hole is pretty obvious. Should I just leave the hole as is or try hide it? Would the interviewer even care if I had a hole in my face? Personally, I would not care if an employee had a face piercing as long as they followed protocol and removed it for work if necessary, but that's just me.
I have a nose piercing and I found a flat, brownish stud that I wear to work. I bought a ton of them. I found them on eBay. No one has ever asked me about my nose ring in the 15 years that I've been in healthcare. Even when I was in nursing school none of my clinical instructors noticed that it was actually a piercing. People assume it's a freckle.
I wish I'd known about all these options before I had taken out my nose ring. I'm still bitter about that 2 years later! But my hospital had a clearly written policy, so it was what it was. You might find you have to let it close regardless, but I hope you don't. I think those piercings are so pretty.
I wish I'd known about all these options before I had taken out my nose ring. I'm still bitter about that 2 years later! But my hospital had a clearly written policy, so it was what it was. You might find you have to let it close regardless, but I hope you don't. I think those piercings are so pretty.
Aw you really had to let it close? You couldn't just take it out for work? I've had my jewelry out for 12+ hours for school clinical and it never closed but I know nose piercings close up quick. Sorry you had to get rid of yours!
Or you could refrain from leaving comments on threads that are neither helpful or solicited.
My facial piercing has nothing to do with my ability to conduct myself in a professional manner. I am more than willing to take it out temporarily for an interview or a job. I just want some tips on how I can make the hole less noticeable. Thanks.
Newsflash. You will receive unsolicited comments on an open forum. You are beginning to realize that facial piercings and nursing are not a a good combo. Hence your need to "cover up the hole".
You will come across many situations where your piercing is an issue.
Great advice here - I would say either go for something natural, or very small and delicate. I am on an interview committee, and I will tell you if you had the facial piercing but were professional and the best candidate, you'd get the job. :)
If you get a patient who is acutely having psych issues, your piercing will be the first thing they reach for. I love facial piercings and have wanted my nose done forever. However, after getting punched, hit, and bitten by patients who honestly didn't know any better, I view a facial piercing as a target now.
If you get a patient who is acutely having psych issues, your piercing will be the first thing they reach for. I love facial piercings and have wanted my nose done forever. However, after getting punched, hit, and bitten by patients who honestly didn't know any better, I view a facial piercing as a target now.
I totally understand the risk of having one. That's why even if I work for a facility that allows it I still wouldn't wear it. I can just see the ball falling into an open wound during a dressing change or into a patient's open mouth or like you said having someone grab it and rip it out
Newsflash. You will receive unsolicited comments on an open forum. You are beginning to realize that facial piercings and nursing are not a a good combo. Hence your need to "cover up the hole".
You will come across many situations where your piercing is an issue.
That chip on your shoulder is an issue as well.
I would like to think that on a forum of (presumably) mature adults one would refrain from posting on a thread if they have nothing helpful to say. I want to cover up the hole so it isn't a distraction, not because I think it's a problem. I don't plan on wearing my jewelry during an interview or at work.
If I have a "chip on my shoulder" because someone who doesn't even know me feels like they can somehow pass judgement based on what's on my face and how it affects my ability to act in a professional matter, then so be it.
I would like to think that on a forum of (presumably) mature adults one would refrain from posting on a thread if they have nothing helpful to say. I want to cover up the hole so it isn't a distraction, not because I think it's a problem. I don't plan on wearing my jewelry during an interview or at work.
If I have a "chip on my shoulder" because someone who doesn't even know me feels like they can somehow pass judgement based on what's on my face and how it affects my ability to act in a professional matter, then so be it.
Maybe it's because I have the benefit of working on the west coast, where my hospital's policy is pretty lenient (you only have to cover obscene or disturbing tattoos and can't wear gauges), but it seems like people who want to condescend based on your piercing should relax. You sound reasonable and intelligent, and those are more important to being a good nurse than whether you have an extra hole punched in you.
My advice is, whatever you do, if you get the sense that it's affecting your interview then lay it on the table. Ask them if it's a problem, and then ask them "if you were to hire me, how would you like me to conceal it?" If they say take it out and leave it out then you know what the cost of trying to work there is. Plus, you get to show them how you handle uncomfortable situations professionally.
Maybe it's because I have the benefit of working on the west coast, where my hospital's policy is pretty lenient (you only have to cover obscene or disturbing tattoos and can't wear gauges), but it seems like people who want to condescend based on your piercing should relax. You sound reasonable and intelligent, and those are more important to being a good nurse than whether you have an extra hole punched in you.
My advice is, whatever you do, if you get the sense that it's affecting your interview then lay it on the table. Ask them if it's a problem, and then ask them "if you were to hire me, how would you like me to conceal it?" If they say take it out and leave it out then you know what the cost of trying to work there is. Plus, you get to show them how you handle uncomfortable situations professionally.
Thank you for your kind words :)
that's great advice about the interview too. If it came down to it I'd let it close up if my dream facility wanted me to. I love my piercing, but I love nursing more.
I think the freckle stud is an inspired solution for that particular piercing. I've been wanting to get my nose re-done but have to wait until LPN school is done. But now that I know freckle studs exist, that might be a way to keep it when I do a bridge program to RN later.
or like you said having someone grab it and rip it out 
DoeRN
941 Posts
I have a nose piercing and I found a flat, brownish stud that I wear to work. I bought a ton of them. I found them on eBay. No one has ever asked me about my nose ring in the 15 years that I've been in healthcare. Even when I was in nursing school none of my clinical instructors noticed that it was actually a piercing. People assume it's a freckle.