Tattoos, Piercings & Professionalism

[lilew]

I just read an article on yahoo (I know, credible, right?) that talks about at Indiana University, nurses are now allowed to show off tattoos, piercings and wear "unnatural" hair coloring.

Tattoos and piercings allowed for Indiana University nurses

I, for one, am excited to see this. I realize that I am only a nursing student PROSPECT at this time. (application just closed on Friday) but when I looked over the handbook, the question of "when does my hair color dictate my ability to help save a life?" And "when has a piercing (aside from the bull ring, which can be pulled and I can understand being a huge safety issue) stopped me from doing my job?" have come to mind.

These are questions that I have asked my current employer over and over (I work in law enforcement currently) but wanted to know what it is actually like in the nursing workplace. I know we turn away otherwise competent employee prospects for this very reason.

Nursing school, I will have no choice but to hide these things. Wear a wig even if I want to color my hair. But what about once you get into the real world? Is it common practice to still have to hide these things? To turn away otherwise competent employees for the sake of not liking the "way they look?"

I'm just curious. Not complaining. I've been having to "conform" for awhile now, just wanted to see what it's like in the real world of nursing.

[Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN]

I think it depends mainly on the culture of the unit -- hospitals will have their own dress codes for staff, but some places will enforce them more strongly than others. I've worked in three places now, in all of which I had coworkers who had multiple earrings, sleeve tattoos, etc. These were all in urban areas, though, which I've found are generally more tolerant of "other"ness. Personally, I care far more about the people wearing the ornate engagement rings, bracelets, watches, and so on -- culturally more accepted, but an infection control nightmare.

[verene, MSN]

It think it really depends on where you work. I work in a mental health setting in an urban environment. Co-workers have tattoos, piercings, and unnatural hair colors and it isn't an issue for my employer, provided: piercings worn at work can't be easily grabbed or pulled, tattoos can't be profane or offensive, and hair - even if bright pink -must still be neatly tied back and not a safety or infection risk.

[Flatline, BSN, RN]

As someone who has tattoos, piercings such as snake eyes, large gauges, lip piercing, bullring etc I can tell you from personal experience that in nursing school you will likely be subjected to a strict dress code, either by the school or your clinical sites. I tell prospective nursing students to let their personal identities go for the time being, you are learning to become a nurse and should focus on adopting that culture instead of maintaining your own, it is easier, not required but easier.

As far as the workplace it entirely depends, as was posted before. Your ability to actually function on the job has very little to do with the dress code, it is more of a professionalism thing and what the hospital or facility wants to communicate. Having extremes of anything will be career limiting but not career ending. Be prepared to work with a ton of geriatrics for several years, even if it is just in school clinicals. The endless questions can drive you insane.

[Sour Lemon]

I've only worked in three hospitals ...two downtown in large cities and one suburban. All three had conservative dress codes, but minor missteps were usually tolerated if the employee was well-liked. So they might have gotten away with hair a little bit redder than natural, but not pink ...or a small, visible tattoo on their wrist, but not a sleeve.

[Tenebrae, BSN, RN]

I work in elder care.

I have about nine piercings in each ear, plus a nose piercing and never had an issue. My patients and colleagues judge me based on the type of nurse that I am, not how many holes I have in my body

As a student though you end up usually being put under a very close scrutiny as far as dress codes go

Theres no way in hell I would have gotten away with this number of piercings when I was a student

[nursephillyphil, BSN, RN]

as everyone else said, it varies per place, policy , enforcement, culture etc. I go to music festivals and have worn the sweaters (nothing explicit on them, just the name of the festival and maybe a list of the performers) and have had no problems in my E.R., however when i did audits on the floors only one manager gave me a hard time, so i removed it as requested. Otherwise we have some nurses and doctors with sleeves and have had no problems either.