Nose piercings in the OR

heartlover · Nov 21, 2012

I have had mine for 3 years and another girl I work with also has one. They are very tiny and we keep them clean. Yes we cover them with our masks. I had mine when I got a new job and it wasn't an issue. But I do not know the actual research on it. It probably has a lot to do with your facility.

Krystle022 · Dec 14, 2012

I would not recommend it. I was recently on the hunt for a new position for some time now and one of the questions was in reference to jewlery and tattoos and that was for all of the surgi-centers I applied to. Luckily for me only my ears are pierced and I never wear earrings at work. Also when it comes down to professionalism facial piercings is not professional no matter where you apply to. Best of luck to you!

TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN · Dec 19, 2012

It depends on who you are referring to when you say "staff". Even though the mask does cover your face while in the actual OR, if you are a circulating nurse you will be meeting the patient in pre-op before the surgery and, depending on the dress code of the facility, nose piercings may not be acceptable. At all the facilities I have worked at, facial piercings were not allowed while on the clock. If you are working as a scrub nurse, or surgical technologist, in the operating room then absolutely in no circumstances can I imagine you would be allowed to have a nose piercing - even under the mask. The theory is that if a piercing or piece of jewelry of any kind drops off of you and into the sterile field then the patient's safety has been compromised. Technically, the personn scrubbed in at the field should not even have earings on although I do see them but they are always tucked underneath the surgical cap so that if they do come off they can't fall into the sterile field.

As an aside, the job market is really tough out there right now. If you are looking to break into the OR I honestly wouldn't do anything that could negatively affect my chances of getting employed in the field I wanted. I'm not judging you personally, but I know there are those that will so you have to decide what you want the most.