After careful consideration I've decided to reply to the OP. I can careless what anyone else think of MY OPINIONS.
I work at a very large Magnet/teaching Hospital. Upon my hiring over 4 years ago and in orientation I read the personal appearance/professional policies. I've followed those policies for years and management seemed more focused on infection rates, patient satisfaction scores and staffing. Ya know, things that affect how much money we bring in.
I followed the rules consistently. No acrylic, no chipped nail polish, long hair pulled back, No visible tattoos & piercings, white shoes, clean white uniform that I ironed before wear daily. I took it upon myself to be conservative. Light make up, black/white solid undies. Etc.
At work I've seen, unnatural hair colors, tattoos everywhere except the face, long acrylic nails, chipped polish, stained uniforms, ear bars, eyebrows loops, facial microdermal piercing (stud removed), microdermal piercing on the forearms, wrinkled uniforms, colored shoes (supposed to wear white per policy) and hair unrestrained and falling all over patients they bend over.
I thought so much for policy. Now I see that they are hiring people with the tattoos and piercings. I'm sure people hide these things during the interviews but they continue to work.
I don't know what corner of the closet some of you live in but patients of ALL AGES have tattoos and body piercings some offensive. Women come in with nail polish (pulse ox?), wigs (can't remove pre/intra/post op.) Physicians have tribal or other arm/neck tattoos. I've never seen a patient turn away not one tech, RT, RN, MD because of a damn tattoo.
We have patients from as far as the middle East at our hospital. People from all across the US.
I used to think certain things are unprofessional but since the hospital doesn't care to enforce their policies. Oh well...
