Son wants to be a CRNA, but wants his ears guaged

[topher-67]

My son already recently had both ears pierced to our dismay. Now he wants to get small guages put in his ears!

He is currently attending community college and works at Wendy's. He plans on getting into the nursing program in Fall 2010. What will the guages do to his public/professional image??? My wife and I are a bit on the old fashioned side and are trying to talk him out of it, but he is 18. I know people now have tatoos, piercings, etc. But would it hurt him in nursing school and his future as a CRNA in a hospital with those things in his ears?

So we are looking for advice from the professionals; CRNA's, Instructors, Administrators, etc.

Thanks!

[sethmctenn]

Having your ears gauged does not necessarily mean that you'll go to a 0 gauge. Small gauges will naturally shrink pretty quickly and don't look bad without plugs. The big ones do look a little like a cat butt without a plug in the ear. Even if he does decide to gauge them up really big, they can be fixed later. The inside edges are cut and then the ears are sewn back together. Later, a small piercing can be redone in the center.

Where I live, most places would not hire allow large gauge plugs, "unnatural" hair colors, or other looks that push the boundaries.

[MrNurseOR]

How are a person having dread locks and gauged ears different? Both can be viewed by future employers as being inappropriate and unprofessional? Plus dread locks have the stigma of being smelly and dirty.

Sorry, Do not know why this posted twice.

[ktstato]

Gauges can be removed and the holes will close up eventually (if gauged properly and not gauged too outrageously). Have him head over to the school he's applying to and get a copy of their dress codes for clinical situations. I wouldn't worry, small gauges aren't going to effect his grades or clinical performance if he's a good student.

[topher-67]

Thanks to all of you for the great responses! He makes good grades, just like in HS. (A's & B's) We are going to speak to one of the nursing instructors in the next week.

I know boys will be boys and let him figure it out for himself...with a little speech from Mom & Dad just for good measure. :wink2:

[oregonchinamom]

I live in Southern Oregon. Not a chance would someone be hired with large guages (or visible tatoos). As a CRNA your son will already be trying to bang his way into a profession where he is not really wanted by most (not all) of the anesthesiologist he will be working with. Why make it harder on himself?

[Lacie, BSN, RN]

I have ink and I have piercings. Never caused an issue to be honest. I covered them for interviews and used hider plugs also in my nose and lip. I used dermablend for my visible ink and guess what I have been a Director of Nursing and also a hospital supervisor! Also been an RN for almost 30 years. He'll make his own decision down the road and you never know he may very well change his mind of what direction in nursing he wants to go in. Both my sons have them and are very financially successful young men in lieu of thier ink and piercings. The harder time you give him over it the longer he may hold to keeping them. Right now it's his way of maintaining his control of his own body and acceptance. Let him figure it out. You can discuss your disapproval then let it go. Obviously he already knows and isnt budging. I gaurantee you the more you fight him over it the more he will hold onto his decision/opinion!

[Cherybaby]

Wasn't allowed to have any visible body modifications or tattoos while in nursing school. Ear gauges weren't allowed. Eyebrow rings, nose rings, lip rings all had to come out. Visible ink had to be covered with long sleeves or dermablend make up.

Every hospital is going to have their own policies as far as this goes.

Just wanted to interject one thing. I am a surgical nurse, specializing in plastics and reconstructive surgeries. Want to know what surgery we are seeing a lot of nowadays?

People who want their ears fixed after ear gauges. Somehow, swinging, loose and hanging earlobes are not nearly as cute at 30 as they were at 18 once the gauges come out. :)

[anonymurse]

Tell him the truth: all it takes is one disapproving person, ONE, to derail his career path forever.

[anonymurse]

Tell him the truth: all it takes is one disapproving person, ONE, and he may never know who it is, to derail his career path forever.

[Vito Andolini]

I take it a guage is some sort of ear "ornament"/disfigurement.

Maybe you could arrange for him to meet some anesthetists and spend some time talking with them, maybe even spending some time on the job with them.

I wish your son every success. He's got a great plan mapped out, IMO. God bless him and you.

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

When you are going under anesthesia, the last image in your mind should be of confidence.

I can tell you right now. When people see weird things on their anesthesia provider...THEY ARE SCARED TO DEATH.

DON'T DO ANYTHING CRAZY TO YOUR BODY--you will pay for it later.

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

I think it depends on the area of the country you are in and the culture of the hospital. I know a student that graduated a year before me has all kinds of tats and piercings and works in E.R. and no one bats and eye. I am sure other areas are more strict.