Nursing and body piercings

nmb · Feb 18, 2004

Reading the responses on this posting, I'm reminded of why I like living in San Francisco. People are more focused on the work that we do, rather than our appearances. Everyone that I work with maintains a clean professional image. Some of us decorate ourselves in different ways, but what does that really mean when we are helping our patients get better?? There are bigger fish to fry in this world! We can look different from one another and still contribute to the well being of others. Because that is what our job is really about, isn't it??

nursenina · Feb 18, 2004

Do you believe hospital administration has the right to prohibit wearing tongue piercings or multiple ear piercings while on duty?

I think that multiple ear piercings and eyebrow and tongue piercings lool terrible in the work place. I think that patients need to feel safe and that they can trust the nurse. To me these piercings are trashy and make one look unprofessional. How in the heck are nurses ever going to get respect if we keep dressing like slops. Check out how most doctors dress....they usually look professional. Lets get a clue folks that appearance and how one presents themselves in a reflection.

CCU NRS · Feb 18, 2004

Reading the responses on this posting, I'm reminded of why I like living in San Francisco. People are more focused on the work that we do, rather than our appearances. Everyone that I work with maintains a clean professional image. Some of us decorate ourselves in different ways, but what does that really mean when we are helping our patients get better?? There are bigger fish to fry in this world! We can look different from one another and still contribute to the well being of others. Because that is what our job is really about, isn't it??

I agree I understand that some people feel piercings and tats are an expression of freedom, Like I said before if your facility has policies follow them if you want to work somewhere else go, I reall cant believe there are still people coming out and usinig a word like trashy, if you don't like then you don't doo it if others like it then they will do it, Live and let Live!!!

I really can't even believe I am wasting my time here it is sort like watching a car wreck except it is interactive.

iliel · Feb 18, 2004

I really can't even believe I am wasting my time here it is sort like watching a car wreck except it is interactive.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:these interactive accidents tend to be alittle slower and a whole more messy!

LPN_mn · Feb 19, 2004

I have to say that I really don't understand what the big deal is. I have a tattoo of a butterfly on my shoulder, 2 piercings in my ears, a belly button piercing and nipple rings. No one sees my piercings unless I show them. I believe that most people who have piercings do keep them covered. I do agree that facial piercings should be covered when in the work place. I work with several people who have tongue piercings and it is not that noticable. People who have piercings and tattoo are not trashy people. My husband and I enjoy my piercings and that is all that matters. People get piercings and tattoos for different reasons and no one should be judged on the fact that they have piercings. I believe this post has gotten completely out of hand.

Sadie04 · Feb 19, 2004

I believe this post has gotten completely out of hand.

I second that. Let's put this one to bed!

mfdteacher, BSN · Feb 19, 2004

Tatoos, piercings, what is the deal with all this self mutilation? Some one said it's their way of expressing themself. I wonder how many of those expressing themselves would choose this way to do it if it wasn't the latest fad or craze. Get real, it looks lousy and it takes a real big intellect to find self mutilation something to aspire to. We claim to be professionals and we fight for it constantly, but then we come to work with chunks of metal haning out everywhere and wearing t-shirts and clogs...real professional appearance! I would be satisfied with neat and clean and no t shirts. But I realize that doing your own thing is more important than the profession as a whole.

mayumi · Feb 19, 2004

:mad:1st, i'm not a facial nor tongue piercing fan, then a nurse??? will have facial and tongue piercing? i don't know, but it for me, we nurses promotes cleanliness. nurses symbolizes clean stuff. for me, it's improper for a nurse to have facial or tongue piercing. nurses w/ multiple piercings is like a cloth w/ multiple holes and spots on it.

Do you believe hospital administration has the right to prohibit wearing tongue piercings or multiple ear piercings while on duty?

Andie · Feb 19, 2004

"Tatoos, piercings, what is the deal with all this self mutilation? Some one said it's their way of expressing themself. I wonder how many of those expressing themselves would choose this way to do it if it wasn't the latest fad or craze. Get real, it looks lousy and it takes a real big intellect to find self mutilation something to aspire to..............."

Im sorry you feel that way. I am a 32 year old woman with several tattoos and have had them long before any so called "fad". They remain covered at work; but when Im out of work I show them to whomever I choose. It makes me no less professional and caring then a nurse/worker that does not have tattoos. I resent the remark in regards to intellect. You are making a very critical, overly generalized remark about men and women you know nothing about. And about a lifestyle that many people choose. What you call "self mutiliation" I call beauty. It is my choice and it how I choose to express myself. Everyone is entitled to their opinion; I wont ever argue that. But when someone is quick to equate tattooing with a lack of intellect that shows more about the person saying the remark then it does the person with the body art. Is even being slightly non-judgemental so much to ask??

Jrnalist2RNinOR · Feb 19, 2004

Tatoos, piercings, what is the deal with all this self mutilation? Some one said it's their way of expressing themself. I wonder how many of those expressing themselves would choose this way to do it if it wasn't the latest fad or craze. Get real, it looks lousy and it takes a real big intellect to find self mutilation something to aspire to. We claim to be professionals and we fight for it constantly, but then we come to work with chunks of metal haning out everywhere and wearing t-shirts and clogs...real professional appearance! I would be satisfied with neat and clean and no t shirts. But I realize that doing your own thing is more important than the profession as a whole.

First off - tattoos and piercings are not body mutiliation it is body modification. Just as some people feel that they want to circumcise their baby boys - either for religious purposes or cleanliness - or whatever - tattoos and piercings are just another modification to the body.

It is not a mutiliation. For many people tattoos are spiritual and represent something important in their lives - the loss of a loved one or they get them to remember an important or marked event. That certainly doesnt qualify as mutilation. If anything it is truly symbolic of something meaningful that has happened in their lifetime.

People that get tattoos and piercings, from my experience, generally do not do so on a whim but rather really think these things through - after all it is a hole in their body or a permanent marking.

Piercing and tattooing is not just a fad or fashion statement - for some - it may be - perhaps young teenagers that feel that they need to get that bellybutton ring to fit in with the rest of their friends.

I think aspiring to tattooing and piercing for a teenager is a lot safer than aspiring to do drugs, have sex and smoke...

ascnbe, ADN, RN · Feb 19, 2004

This is my first day visiting this site. I got into this thread by chance. I have to admit I found it very funny. Particulary comments about how appearance determines your performance, or your professionalism.

No one questions whether MD's are professionals. I know a superb neurosurgeon that looks like his mom dresses him in his big brother's hand-me-downs. If you saw him on his way in to work you would laugh. He is not an exception to the rule.

It seems everyone has forgotten the grade school teaching "don't judge a book by it's cover."

You want to be considered professionals? Let's join together as a nation of nurses. Let's support each other in our individualism as people, and our mutual bond as nurses. That's why we are struggling to get the professional recognition and remuneration we deserve. There is too much trivial bickering among nurses. Some of the most intelligent, dedicated nurses I have worked with looked like goobers. I learned from them because I saw what they had to offer to me as a fellow nurse and to their patients. What a terrible loss it would be to close myself off to that knowledge based on my opinion of their fashion sense, or the direction they chose for body adornment.

CCU NRS · Feb 19, 2004

When you were young and your heart was an open book

You use to say Live and Let Live

You know you did you know you did you know you did

But in this ever changing world in which we live in

makes you give it a try

dadadum dadadum

Live and Let DIE boom live and let die boom

dadadump dadadump dada dadadump dadadump da da

I went and found the lyrics

"Live & Let Die"

When you were young

and your heart was an open book

You used to say live and let live

you know you did

But in this ever changin world

in which we live in

Makes you give it a try

Say live and let die

Live and let die

What does it matter to ya

When ya got a job to do

Ya got to do it well

You got to give the other fella hell