Lobe Piercings

churchsgirl · Mar 20, 2012

I went to school in Texas and it was very strict as far as piercings went. You could have one and that one had to be a post. We could not wear any other sort of jewerly. You could not wear your wedding ring...it had to be a band. With that said, those rules did not seem to apply to the nurses at the facilities where I did clinicals. In the ER a nurse was wearing braclets...tons of braclets! I now work and live in Colorado as an RN, and it seems that this facility is very "lax" as well. Nurses are wearing nail polish as well as fake nails. As for myself, I still follow my school's strict rules. I do not wear any jewlery, polish, or even my wedding ring.

Sarah96 · Mar 20, 2012

Thank you for your input! I agree with you on the fake nail thing.. I know that they can carry tons of bacteria and can be dangerous around patients. The bracelet thing seems kind of strange. I would think they would get in the way! Why do you choose not to wear things like nail polish or your wedding ring? They don't seem like they would be a problem or affect your work? Just curious. :)

churchsgirl · Mar 21, 2012

I guess with the nail polish it is purely habit. As for the wedding ring, I have a high set bigger solitare and I am terrified of tearing the resident's skin I didn't solder my wedding ring and band thinking I would just wear my band; however, it is on the thin side and I am worried that it will come off with a glove before I realize that it is gone.

Sarah96 · Mar 21, 2012

Glad to see that patient safety is in mind. :) And of course you wouldn't want to lose your ring! That would be awful.

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2012

My school allowed one pair of stud earrings (one per ear). No other facial or visible jewelry was allowed. A wedding ring (including engagement ring) was acceptable. No necklaces (which I wouldn't wear anyway. Too much risk of it being grabbed by a patient.)

This was all per the nursing handbook at my school. It's very strict and designed that way so that all students appear as professional as possible. The school sets the rules for their students, not the hospital. (With some exceptions for speciality units, such as NICU where no jewelry at all is allowed.)

However, you might find that this is not truly enforced by the school. Our handbook also required that the hairbands used for pony tails match our school colors. Trust me, no one was checking out hairbands before clinicals. As long as we were prepared and looked professional it wasn't an issue. So my suggestion would be to read your school handbook and follow the rules for the first couple of clinicals. But observe the other students and ask older students whom you notice have similar piercings. If it seems acceptable to wear more jewelry, put in very small stud earrings. If no one says anything, you're good to go.

For comparison purposes, my hospital doesn't have any specific restrictions and jewelry and piercings, just that all employees must maintain "professional appearance" at all times.

As far as safety, some things you definitely want to avoid are: dangling earrings, wide hoops, and necklaces that could be grabbed or get caught. Bracelets that might interfere with things that you're handling. Also be careful with rings. Anything on your hands can harbor infection. Also, rings with jewels can cut through gloves or scratch patients. My engagement ring scratched quite a few people when I was working as a CNA.

nik415 · Mar 21, 2012

At my school we're supposed to only wear one pair of post back earrings - no cartilage piercings. No nail polish or fake nails. No visible tattoos, but I know married students can wear their rings (not sure about engagement rings). However, in my clinical group 2 people have visible tattoos, another wears large hoop plus 3 more studs in her lobes, another as cartilage, one girl continues to wear nail polish as does our clinical instructor.

I don't wear earrings anymore because I have a nickle allergy, and even though I love doing my nails I don't because all I can think about is it chipping off into someone's wound or something like that. The uniform is strict because we are representing our school, but our professor has said in the real world many people have tattoos and piercings and gauges and all the other kind of stuff.

SunshineDaisy, ASN, RN · Mar 21, 2012

Same as most, one set of earrings, and they have to be studs. No visible tattoos or other piercings as well. Hair has to be off the shoulders when in uniform. They never mentioned jewelry, but most only wear a band, if anything. I also wear my necklace, it never comes off unless absolutely necessary. Also, no fake nails, light colored nail polish and natural makeup, and no wild hair colors.

Alikatz · Mar 21, 2012

At our school it's similar. Only one set of earrings (stud), no cartilage, or any other visible facial piercings. Tattoos cannot be visible either, however I know a few students who have visible tattoos (nothing huge or anything) and no one has said anything to them in the 2 years we've all been together. One girl in our class does have a nose piercing, but she covers it with a tiny piece of tape during clinicals. No other jewelry, except for a wedding ring I believe. Nail polish is ok if it's a very light color (no neons or anything else that is bright, etc) and it MUST have NO chips in it. No fake nails allowed. I don't wear any nail polish to clinicals.

Mama_Cashew, ASN, RN · Mar 21, 2012

At my school, one set of earrings (stud only), no other visible piercings allowed. Any time you are in your scrubs your tattoos must be covered. When we are on our OB/Peds rotation, we can't have any earrings on. No necklaces, and the only ring you can wear is a plain wedding band.

WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN · Mar 21, 2012

Just found my dress code. Tattoos must be covered, only one set of lobe piercings, earings must be studs. Nursing wristwatch with a second hand is required, wedding rings are allowed but no other rings are to be worn, males must wear T-shirts beneath their scrubs. Students are permitted to wear long sleeve shirt under their scrubs to cover up tattoos.

ssaarraahh · Mar 21, 2012

At the school I went to, I don't think they had any policies on how many you could have. I have 5 piercing in each ear and I never had anyone tell me to take them out. They had to be studs though. As for face piercing, only a small clear nose piercing was allowed (no hoop). Tattoos had to be covered up. And for rings, I don't remember reading anything about rings but I remember a professor saying it has to be small (so you would not hurt a patient).