Nursing and body piercings

alk3rainbow · Feb 13, 2004

Yes because it makes some patients uncomfortable, and I'm sure its a lot easier to work with a patient that trusts you rather then one that you make nervous. If you are going to be a professional, dress professionally.

chaosRN, ASN, RN · Feb 13, 2004

Even though I think hospital admin. has a right to prohibit piercings, I hope they dont! I'm an RN with multiple ear piercings, no tongue piercing. I usually wear my hair down & most people don't even notice. I have only had 1 patient say something (they asked if it hurt). I doubt the others have even noticed. I'm good at my job, know what I'm doing, & as far as I know, my patients trust me. The only reason I don't have a tongue ring is that I will talk funny. I want to talk clearly when teaching patients about heart disease. :)

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Feb 13, 2004

They should prohibit them for the safety of the nurse.

Why give the pt. something to grab on and rip off??

(One of our ER nurses had that happen with her eyebrow ring)

Alnamvet · Feb 13, 2004

If the piercings are not obvious, than who cares. Tongue piercings?? Real low rent, and unprofessional. I have asked numerous staff and patients what the purpose is, and the answer is always the same (unfortunately, I cannot repeat the common response). Don't like them... :imbar

chaosRN, ASN, RN · Feb 13, 2004

I don't EVER wear hoop or dangle earrings. I know a few nurses who wear them. They will think again when a confused or mad patient grabs them!! :coollook:

suzy253, RN · Feb 13, 2004

Just post earrings for me--if any at all. Not too keen on the tongue piercings though. I can see that putting a patient off.

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2004

Multiple ear piercings no problem as long as there isnt 50 per ear and they wear small studs that wont be in danger of being pulled or catching on things. Tongues,, nope,, not the place for it, if you need something in your mouth to play with chew gum. Try talking to your patients and doing some teaching instead of chewing gum or needing to play with a tongue ring. Any other piercings on the body should be taken out if in open view, if not in view i could care less.

Sorry, i probly shouldnt be posting tonight, im in a real mood.

Trauma Columnist · Feb 14, 2004

Our hospital dress code says two earring per ear - no other visible piercings, no visible tattoos.

Shotzie · Feb 14, 2004

I think tasteful jewelry is OK. But things like eyebrow piercings, lip, tongue, cheek etc. usually just look trashy.

I used to go to a local restaurant for dinner with friends. But recently, they have hired a couple of piercing freaks. These guys have lip and tongue piercings, earrings that are designed to stretch out the ear and make a big hole so it's this big ol truck-tire looking thing in the ear. It just makes me feel uncomfortable looking at it and trying to understand one of them as they speak around the tongue stud is difficult...from now on, we choose someplace else to eat.

I hate to see nurses presenting themselves so unprofessionally.

RN Rotten Nurse · Feb 14, 2004

If the piercings are not obvious, than who cares. Tongue piercings?? Real low rent, and unprofessional. I have asked numerous staff and patients what the purpose is, and the answer is always the same (unfortunately, I cannot repeat the common response). Don't like them... :imbar

There are many unprofessional, 'low rent' nurses and it has nothing to do with piercings. I personally dont even have pierced ears. I own only one peice of jewelry and that's my wedding ring. I'm stunned that piercings are even an issue. At my hospital, we have a few incompetent nurses, drug users, false documenters, and those that repeatedly call in sick or are late. Not one of them that I know of has a pierced tongue or other unusual body part. What's up with the piercings all of a sudden? Are the RN's that you work with so GRAND that their biggest fault is a piercing?

CCU NRS · Feb 14, 2004

I would like to address this from a somewhat clinical angle if I may. The tongue piercings themselves are not the problem. The thing with a toungue piercing is that it is usually the people that have oral fixations that have them. This oral fixation used to be something somewhat senuous and discreet, sort of like a wink when a person with an oral fixation started using thier tingue a lot during conversation and licking their lips or pointing their tongue to the side and making a provacative type gesture this was very subtle, senous and exciting. Persons with oral fixations with tiongue studs are constantly working them while talking to just about everyone. It is sort of a problem of placement but also the reaosn they were attracted to the tongue ring in the first place was that they like using their tongue for sensations. So once the tongue piercing is in place it very greatly diminishes the provactive nature because everytime you see this person they are working their stud!