yodakelly

I PM'd you w/ info Wuiteroz. I totally agree w/ your beliefs ShandyLynnRN. Sometimes I feel like I should just wear my nosering and provide the same care I always do and perhaps break a stereotype or two. Unfortunately, I think I'd be up against so many obstacles that it just wouldn't be worth it.

No problem. I can let you know where to get some good retainer stuff online if you don't know anywhere already.

Wuiteroz, Wow, i don't know where to start, but i'll try. #1: piercings nor tottoos in any way indicate a person's 1)education 2)intelligence 3)ability 4)profession. I know people on an intimiate level that are holding "important" and "respectable" positions in their lives that have either piercings or tattoos (or both). I personally have no grudge against this, but rather, would probably off-hand consider a person w/ piercings/ tattoos to be more open minded (positive quality) than the average schmuck. #2: THE BIG ONE: our patients make judgements based on what they see. alot of people will make judgements about you and your ability/ intelligence/ skills based on visible piercings/ tattoos. Do i think this in any way is fair or accurate? NO! but they will do it. That being said, I have a nose ring and I was just voted as the "excellence in practice" nurse by my peers. My patients as a general rule trust and respect me. The catch: I wear a "retainer" nose ring to work every day, flesh colored and barely visible. This is not my preferential nose ring; I like the ring or a stud much better, but i am aware of the steroetype i am up against and feel that I do not have enought time with a patient or family to prove their initial "first impression" based on my stupid little nose ring wrong. Oh, and most places have policies against visible piercings. After initially getting my nose (painfully) pierced, I was told by my old unit director that my very small jeweled nose ring was not allowed. Nevermind you the guy that had just been hired with a huge lepoard tattoo climbing down his arm. Whatever the inconsistency, I changed to the less visible retainer and haven't had a problem since.