Question About Stretched Ears

Nursing Students General Students

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Hey everyone,

I'm currently a senior in high school and I will be in the nursing program this Fall 2012 for my freshmen year. I plan to get my Master's in Nurse Practitioning and I either want to work in pediatrics or labor. One problem I have is that my ears are stretched to one inch. I live in Indiana and stretched ears are actually really common here. My friend's sister is a Phycatrist and her ears are 1 1/2 or close to 2 inches. I just wanted to get some input on some nurses that work at hospitals and was wondering what the requirements were and or if their hospital didn't like ear stretching.

Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.

Personally, I think you are fooling yourself by saying that stretched ears are "common" where you live. I'm guessing that I could go to many high schools throughout the country and find a number of people with stretched ears--certainly a higher percentage of people than I would find in that community outside of the high school population.

I don't know much about the procedure for stretching one's ears and I really don't know if it reversible in any way....but if it is, I would work on "unstretching" them soon. I don't have a problem with the look, but their are many school and hospital administrators that do. You will be taking care of many people from many backgrounds. Some will be out and out offended by the look...I'm not defending these people's views, but they do exist. As such some hospitals will find a reason not to hire you based on the look you are presenting.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.
Also I would have no problem sizing down from an inch but I was just wondering how other hospitals felt about it. I plan to go to local hospitals and ask them questions about ear stretching, it would just be nice if I could keep them the way they are because I really like my ears being stretched. Thank you so much for your input.

Just bear in mind that what you like when you are 18 will likely be very different from what you will like when you are 28. Think carefully about the decisions you make now... unless one of the things you anticipate liking in 15 - 20 years is corrective surgery on your lobes. And trust me when i tell you i speak from experience on this matter.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

I have 1'' gauges and no on where i work cares (LTC) I even wear those silicone flesh tunnels. But thats my situation, you better believe that in nursing school I wore those flesh colored plugs, in class and clinical.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Med/Surge, Oncology.

I spoke with a Paramedic who was my instructor for PALS. He was the coolest and friendliest teacher I knew; he had full sleeves on both arms and he had gauges that were more than 2 in. on both lobes. He was very intelligent and knew a lot which was even more impressive. We got talking and I told him I liked his ink and gauges and asked if he wore the gauges anymore. He replied, "No, I outgrew them and it's easier to not have them."

I then asked him if other people looked at you different for having ink and gauges as a medical professional, and he said, "Yes, and I had to work extra hard and watch myself carefully so no one will doubt that I was competent at what I did; because of the variety of cultures in the US, having ink and gauges is usually not a good thing in the medical field. Also, I didn't want to scare the kids, parents, or the elderly so I have to make sure my skills stand out -continually- or risk being looked down upon or have someone question my professionalism and my abilities to treat people."

I think you should do your best to be aware of your appearance and use flesh colored gauges to hide them. Hospitals want employees who are able to represent them to the public. If you're an independent practitioner/doctor, then the situation changes because your patients will know you better as you build a long-term relationship with them, lets say, if you are their primary MD.

Again, judge well for yourself on what you want to do with the gauges, but just realize the job market is hard right now and you want to get as many positive references as possible.

PS: My favourite band is Wolves At the Gate. lol who says that nurses can't like country (rascal flatts) and post-harcore? haha

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Specializes in LTC, wound care.

Several years prior to going to nursing school, I had to have several surgeries. When I was wheeled into the floor where I was staying I saw a couple of younger guys with tats up the neck. I don't recall if they were doing the ear stretching thing. I was under a great deal of pain and stress, and when I got to my room, I told the person wheeling me there, that I absolutely did not want those guys taking care of me. I wanted ordinary people taking care of me. I don't know why, I just didn't need the extra stress of worrying about who the heck these guys were, if they were good people, etc. when I was so sick.

I'm sorry if you don't like it, or if you think I am bigoted, I am just a pragmatist. Stuff like that is scary to a large part of the population. They will think you are a freak.

Oh, and you might want to learn to spell if you want to be taken seriously as well. It's Psychiatrist.

Jane

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As someone who has a) been through childbirth and b) now has children, I would very strongly recommend giving up your stretched lobes. I can hardly wear earrings without my kids grabbing at them, and my OB actually had an earring ripped out (just a regular hoop earring) by someone who was quite, um, grabby during labor.

Professional appearance aside, I think it's a very impractical choice for the fields you're interested in.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Not to mention, stretched earlobes look absolutely hideous IMHO. :no: Then again, I am old, and set in my ways.....I'd rather see someone covered in tattoos than ears that look like the handle on a coffee cup!

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Not to mention, stretched earlobes look absolutely hideous IMHO. :no: Then again, I am old, and set in my ways.....I'd rather see someone covered in tattoos than ears that look like the handle on a coffee cup!

The OP does not deserve body snarking.

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

What's more important to you? Getting to keep your gauges or getting a job as an RN? While you might love your stretched lobes, it gives a lot of people the "squicks" and makes them feel uncomfortable. In a professional setting, it's going to hinder your ability to get hired at many places. Is it right or fair? Well, if you were a hiring manager and had to chose between 2 equally capable candidates but one had a more professional appearance than the other, you can bet your 1" stretches lobes that manager is going to hire the person with the more professional appearance. You're setting yourself up for a long hill to climb if you insist on keeping them. Is a fad worth it?

Perception is a HUGE part of working with the public. You want to set yourself up for success, not have to battle just to get a job. I agree with a few of the posters who said to work on getting rid of the stretched lobes.

The school I'm attending does not allow gauged ears at all. Only one piercing per ear, no visible tatoos, etc. This is in line with the dress code at the hospital where clinicals are held. You have to adhere to dress code, even in the lab at school.

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Specializes in ER.
Not to mention, stretched earlobes look absolutely hideous IMHO. :no: Then again, I am old, and set in my ways.....I'd rather see someone covered in tattoos than ears that look like the handle on a coffee cup!

I have to say I agree with you, Viva! The OP asked our opinion and we are expressing ours. It doesn't mean I won't like that person as a human being, it doesn't mean I think they are not worthy to be a nurse, it just means I don't care for the look. If I was a nurse manager and I had to choose between two equally qualified candidates, and one looked professional and neat, and the other had ear gauges, facial piercings and neck tattoos, I would choose the one who looked more professional.

Just my opinion, your mileage may vary :thankya:

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

You will find it is not considered a professional look. Whatever the hospitals say, nursing schools themselves will probably never let you show up for clinicals with stretched ears.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
I have to say I agree with you, Viva! The OP asked our opinion and we are expressing ours. It doesn't mean I won't like that person as a human being, it doesn't mean I think they are not worthy to be a nurse, it just means I don't care for the look. If I was a nurse manager and I had to choose between two equally qualified candidates, and one looked professional and neat, and the other had ear gauges, facial piercings and neck tattoos, I would choose the one who looked more professional.

Just my opinion, your mileage may vary :thankya:

Thank you.

Expressing an opinion doesn't equal "body snarking". It's just an opinion, and like some other body parts, everyone's got one. :D

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