piercings at work

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i'm currently in my last semester as a pre-nursing student and i was just wondering-are most of you who are nurses and working in hospitals allowed to wear earring and are there any restrictions as to how many or what type you're allowed to wear?

the reason i ask is because right now i'm in the process of stretching my ear lobes to a larger than normal size (but nothing freakishly large) and now i'm felling kind of apprehensive just because i don't want it to affect my getting a job when i graduate.

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We've always been told to remove earrings b/c they were dangerous (ie a patient could rip our lobe while reaching). IMHO, they are unprofessional. Also, jewelry can harbor bacteria. We were told to remove all jewelry. Wedding bands are allowed but discouraged for patient safety

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

It depends on the facility. All the facilities in my area are pretty strict - no stretched ear lobes, no visible facial piercings, etc.

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Most schools, if they allow you to wear earrings in the clinical setting, will stipulate small studs only, and one per ear. Something the size you are talking about is probably a no-go.

As for what hospitals will allow themselves, it's worth remembering that your appearance is part of your professional "package", not just your resume. Your face and attire speak volumes for you before you ever get the chance to "show what you know", and your clinical instructors and (potentially) later prospective employers will determine how well you fit into that professional mold.

Nursing isn't the place to show how cool you are, I'm afraid.

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Specializes in Hospice, Med/Surg, ICU, ER.

Won't float where I work.

Time to face the fact that nurses are not allowed to display their individuality in such obvious ways. Visible tats and facial piercings are OUT, as would be over-sized earlobe piercings.

Find other avenues to be an individual.

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Nursing isn't the place to show how cool you are, I'm afraid.

yes...because everyone knows that i would permanently modify my body just to show everyone else how cool i am :uhoh3: . and in an attempt to show even more people how cool i am, i would decide to go into nursing.

:nono:

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Specializes in Day Surgery/Infusion/ED.

"Stretching" your earlobes on purpose? If you wait til you're about 80y, gravity will have stretched them free for you.

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Specializes in Day Surgery/Infusion/ED.
yes...because everyone knows that i would permanently modify my body just to show everyone else how cool i am :uhoh3: . and in an attempt to show even more people how cool i am, i would decide to go into nursing.

:nono:

No need to be snarky. You asked for some opinions and you got them from people who are already nurses. Your potential co-workers, if you will. It never fails to amaze me when people ask for opinions, then lash out at those who give an opinion they don't like.

Bizarre piercings/overly stretched earlobes/tats from head to toe...yes, these things could get in the way of your getting a job, even getting into a nursing program.

Wag your finger elsewhere.

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Specializes in OB, NP, Nurse Educator.

Our school allows one pair of small stud earrings - one per ear, no visible piercings, or visible tattoos. The reason is those are the policies at the clinical sites we use.

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We limit piercings, but they are very liberal (1 for eyebrow, 1 for nose, 1 for lip, 1 for tongue, etc). Tattoo's are to be covered though.

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yes...because everyone knows that i would permanently modify my body just to show everyone else how cool i am :uhoh3: . and in an attempt to show even more people how cool i am, i would decide to go into nursing.

:nono:

:kiss Lol... I agree whole heartedly.. Go ahead... stretch your ears. You can still conduct your care professionally and be seen as a professional while having tats, piercings etc. I have both piercings and tats and have learned that the " real world " is way different than nursing school and know also that I am respected as a professional... Nurses express their individuality by their choices of scrubs, clogs, crocs etc.. all the time.. Piercings and tats are just extensions of those expressions. Im not saying to throw it in anybody's face as piercings , earrings and tats can done and or shown tastefully and can be hidden, if you so choose, easily....

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

At our hospital you are allowed to wear 1 set of earrings, no other visible piercings; and not supposed to have any tattooes visible while in uniform. (there's plenty more to the dress code not r/t just dress, but that's what's relevant here). This is all staff, not just nurses.

I can't remember my school's policy but I'm pretty sure it was about the same.

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