I like being different.

Nurses Relations

Published

well, it makes me curious. i'm just starting nursing school, and I have a tiny little monroe piercings, its small, and only noticable depending on the color of the ball. I'm only 19, and i've had the piecings since i was 14, its apart of me. i'd understand taking it out for class but what about once i get a job?

and then there is my hair, i'm a natural blond, but i have a very vibrant red underneath the blond, its only noticable when my hair is down and straight, will i have to dye my hair back or not? i'm just not sure, i don't know many nurses who could tell me.

all advice is welcomed :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Piercings and funky hair do not fly in mainstream corporate USA. Sorry, but thats the way of it. I have anticipated this coming clash of cultures. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just curious - what are monroe peircings? Generally, any piercings not on the ears can be distracting. As for hair - again, we are generally a conservative bunch!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Intermediate care.

It won't fly in the world of Nursing. It stinks because nurses should have the right to dress and act the way they want. But it is the way of life....

If my nurse or my fiances nurse, or whatever, had big hole earings like that and vibrant red hair, i would SERIOUSLY question their professional skills. they very well could make a wonderful nurse, i agree. But it is the way of life and the way the world runs. Unfortunate, but true.

If you want a job, i would suggest closing up any odd piercings and dying your hair a normal color. When your not at work, by all means...dress and act how you want.

Sorry to be so blunt, but it is true. Healthcare and nurses tend to be pretty conservative in regards to this topic.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
Just curious - what are monroe peircings? Generally, any piercings not on the ears can be distracting. As for hair - again, we are generally a conservative bunch!

Pic of Monroe:

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=monroe+piercing&hl=en&biw=1935&bih=808&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=7KsaV9xtUMl7WM:&imgrefurl=http://tattoosbaby.tumblr.com/post/628285818/monroe-piercing&docid=htwx3J3LqK-DZM&imgurl=http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l2xh4s0v5V1qbbj98o1_500.gif&w=496&h=430&ei=F4rWTp_hIOTX0QHji737AQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=460&sig=102905000841370589525&page=1&tbnh=139&tbnw=163&start=0&ndsp=40&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0&tx=65&ty=102

I think you can be unique and still be accepted in the nursing community. When I was a new nurse I had an industrial piercing (barbell) and never had any problem with it from employers or patients. I do not dye my hair anything super unusual, but will do super red, which again, haven't had a problem with. I think as long as you can give up some of that stuff for nursing school, you may find a employer to be more lax.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

our hospital's dress code requires that all tattoos be covered, no more than two piercings per ear, no other piercings and that hair be "hair colored." in other words, no hair colors that do not appear in nature.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac/Progressive Care.

From my experience, school was a lot more strict than work is. For clinicals for school, hair had to be a natural hair color, nails couldn't be painted (not even clear!), no visable tattoos, and one one stud earring in the lobe of each ear- not even a tiny cartiledge hole.

But where I work, a lot of staff have visable tattoos (they are covered if the tattoos are offensive in content), and many of the other girls I work with have nose studs. One even has some microdermals at her collarbone that are visable. However, hair is still to be a natural hair color. No crazy pink or purple or green, etc, but a few girls have obviously dyed red hair (the color is that vibrant). One of the nurses who has been on my floor the longest (30+ years) and is a charge and is respected by everyone has a visable tattoo, and no one considers her unprofessional. I think our general policy is to use common sense, and if someone shows up with something that may be problematic, it gets addressed then.

So you could get lucky with where you work :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
If my nurse or my fiances nurse, or whatever, had big hole earings like that and vibrant red hair, i would SERIOUSLY question their professional skills.

Are you SERIOUS?!?! I get it, thats just how the world works and you have to follow the rules....but I guess I just didn't actually believe people think like this!!!!! And at age 23...we tend to be a more accepting generation. ????

Im kind of in shock, I find this thinking ridiculous.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I had one of those piercings during my senior year of nursing school/clinicals. I put a clear plastic stud in during clinicals...didn't make it any less obvious in my opinion, but none of the nurses or instructors said anything. Now I see nurses with nose rings at my hospital.

I think the hair/piercing issue depends on the work culture of where you are. Most workplaces say "no" but the manager may not enforce that policy. At my hospital we are not supposed to wear hoop earrings or dangle-y earrings....but no one enforces that.

If you are so adamant that these things are a part of you, that's OK. You may get passed over for an interview based on hair or piercings, but it probably would not be a workplace culture that you would like anyway.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Quality Control,Long Term Care, Psych, UM, CM.

I actually posted about this awhile back. I have visible tattoos and a nose piercing, never had a problem getting a job. It depends on where you live though. Where I'm at, people really don't care. Back when I worked with patients, I got lots of positive comments on my tattoos.

I would not question a nurse's competence based on his/her tattoos, piercings, or hair color. In fact, the most incompetent nurses I've known were "normal".

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology.

It all has to go for school...that being said, once you graduate it depends on what you want to do and where you want to work. I work in an inner city outpatient dialysis unit. I never put my piercings back in after school and don't dye my hair, but we have employees who have facial piercings and colored hair. I also know of some at the county hosp who have the same. I have a tattooed band on my wrist and no one has said a thing. Now at the hospitals in the suburbs, it may be a different story.

On a more personal note, I had the same feelings as you do about keeping my identity when i was your age. I now know that none of that stuff defines me and that I shouldn't let it define me. I may look "normal" but people know that i am different once they get to know me because of my actions. I wish you the best of luck and remember its not conforming, it's just doing what you gotta do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I actually posted about this awhile back. I have visible tattoos and a nose piercing, never had a problem getting a job. It depends on where you live though. Where I'm at, people really don't care. Back when I worked with patients, I got lots of positive comments on my tattoos.

I would not question a nurse's competence based on his/her tattoos, piercings, or hair color. In fact, the most incompetent nurses I've known were "normal".

You must be in Seattle, San Fran, or lets see.......New Orleans?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment