Lobe Piercings

[Sarah96]

Many have discussed this topic, but I want to know, more specifically, about the number of lobe piercings allowed at your school or workplace. I am aware that I will most likely need to remove my upper cartilage piercing as well as my rook one.. But I do have three sets of lobe piercings which I would like to keep, if possible. How many are allowed at your school or workplace? It would also be great if you could share the area/state of which you work in. Thanks in advance! :)

[GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN]

unquestionably,at the facility where i work they only allow 2 ear piercing one on each ear, which the entire medical staff adheres strictly.

[KJoRN81, RN]

pretty much what everyone else said! at the hospital where i work, however, once you have a job, there aren't many rules. no fake nails, no chipped nail polish...but as for tattoos/piercings, i've seen lots....on all kinds of people. so i guess it depends on the facility. i know at my interview (non-patient care), i wore no jewelry, but once i started & noticed what people had going on, i put my nose stud back in & my ear piercings.

[Sarah96]

nik415... Ouch.. I'd always wondered why nail polish was such an issue. You bring up a good point with paint chipping into wounds. Thank you for raising that concern!

[Sarah96]

Thank you everyone for your input! What I'm getting is that the nursing school's are more of an issue about jewelry than hospitals themselves, so hopefully once I'm actually working I can put my second and third sets of lobe studs back in. :) Thank you!

[WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN]

Thank you everyone for your input! What I'm getting is that the nursing school's are more of an issue about jewelry than hospitals themselves, so hopefully once I'm actually working I can put my second and third sets of lobe studs back in. :) Thank you!

Until you start working, there are clear studs that make it look like you're not wearing earrings. Maybe you'd be allowed to wear those so your second and third sets don't close up. This was the first link I found when looking them up.

[Sarah96]

Yes! I have worn clear earrings in my rook before! Thank you for the link, I will look into buying some. :) They are very helpful.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I have three lobe piercings in each ear as well as my cartilidge on the left pierced and it has never been an issue at school or at any of my jobs. I have never not worn all my earrings and I do not only wear studs. I work with people who have visible tattoos (some people with multiple) and with nose studs and, again, I've never heard anyone say anything about it.

[Sarah96]

Woooo! Then hopefully I'll get lucky and be able to keep all of mine in all the time. :) I've always wanted to get my nose pierced, but I've avoided it not knowing if it would be accepted in nursing or not. Again, it will all probably depend on the school and facility, so I'll have to wait awhile longer. :) Thank you!

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

the thing with nail polish -- and acrylics-- is that they have been shown to harbor pathogens even after handwashing, and they do so more than natural nails. (eeww, do you eat with those hands?) most hospitals have infection control policies in place which specifically forbid any nail polish or any acrylic nails in patient care staff as an infection-control issue.

and the one time you wear non-studs and you bend over to help lift a patient and he yanks your hoop right outta your ear lobe, you'll finally understand why it's not too professional to wear hoops.

[WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN]

the thing with nail polish -- and acrylics-- is that they have been shown to harbor pathogens even after handwashing, and they do so more than natural nails. (eeww, do you eat with those hands?) most hospitals have infection control policies in place which specifically forbid any nail polish or any acrylic nails in patient care staff as an infection-control issue.

and the one time you wear non-studs and you bend over to help lift a patient and he yanks your hoop right outta your ear lobe, you'll finally understand why it's not too professional to wear hoops.

i understand why people in the healthcare field can't wear fake nails, but they're so pretty! i wish there was a way to make your nails pretty without harming the patients.