I'm about to start taking my prereqs for NS, and I was just wondering how tattoos and piercings are dealt with in nursing school and on the job.
I have a small tattoo on the inside of my left wrist, and I have a small nose stud. Both are very tasteful and not at all "in your face". (I also have my ears pierced, just one hole in each lobe.. I figure those are typical enough these days that as long as you're not wearing crazy big hoop earrings or dangly ones, it's fine to wear small ones there). Other than those, really, I'm your everyday typical girl next door.
Now, the tattoo I can see myself covering up with a wide bandaid. (Although I don't want my patients thinking I recently attempted suicide....) The nose piercing though.... It's not the kind of nose piercing that you can just take out yourself. I would have to go and have it professionally removed, and, if I wanted to get it back in, I'd have to go and have it professionally put in. Again. I *really* like my nose piercing, I feel as though it's a part of me, and I don't feel like it's offensive or a health risk. Obviously if my nursing school or job requires me to remove it, I will... I'm not *that* much of a stickler. But still.... =(
Just wondering how jobs, and nursing schools in particular deal with this kind of thing. Any stories? Thanks in advance =)
At my school, we are not allowed any facial peircings at all and all tats must be covered without exception. Earings must be worn as a single set of studs no bigger than 5mm. I have seen students in my clinicals that have to wear extra clothing to cover tats or band-aids.
I'm can't recall the piercing policy at my school, but I'm sure it's much like the policies previously mentioned.
I do recall tattoo policy though, mentioned at orientation. HFCC here in MI now allows visible tattoo's of a tasteful manner (our handbook goes into detail). This was decided after a female nursing student was questioned by the infectious disease dept. at the hospital she was doing clinical at. They were wondering why she had a large bandage on the back of her neck (covered her butterfly tattoo). They felt it gave off the wrong impression.
Here at the hospital where I work, those with tattoo's just wear long sleeve shirts.
I think it's becoming more acceptable to show some ink. :)
They always tend to be more strict about piercings w/ nursing student, but it really depends on the hospital you end up at. I volunteer as a massage therapist at a hospital in CA, and I've seen all kinds of piercings. The most outrageous ones are amongst the admin. staff! But I've definately noticed a few nurses w/ a tasteful nose stud or multiple lobe hoops.
I think it totally depends on your school. I had to take out my tongue ring for school. They were not allowed. We also can only have one earring per ear and have to be studs..no hoops or danglies. About the tattoos, I think they would just ask you to cover it up, even though yours doesn't seem that big of a deal. We have a girl that has a complete sleeve and I think they ask her to wear a long sleeve shirt to cover it up.
I'm about to start taking my prereqs for NS, and I was just wondering how tattoos and piercings are dealt with in nursing school and on the job.
I have a small tattoo on the inside of my left wrist, and I have a small nose stud. Both are very tasteful and not at all "in your face". (I also have my ears pierced, just one hole in each lobe.. I figure those are typical enough these days that as long as you're not wearing crazy big hoop earrings or dangly ones, it's fine to wear small ones there). Other than those, really, I'm your everyday typical girl next door.
Now, the tattoo I can see myself covering up with a wide bandaid. (Although I don't want my patients thinking I recently attempted suicide....) The nose piercing though.... It's not the kind of nose piercing that you can just take out yourself. I would have to go and have it professionally removed, and, if I wanted to get it back in, I'd have to go and have it professionally put in. Again. I *really* like my nose piercing, I feel as though it's a part of me, and I don't feel like it's offensive or a health risk. Obviously if my nursing school or job requires me to remove it, I will... I'm not *that* much of a stickler. But still.... =(
Just wondering how jobs, and nursing schools in particular deal with this kind of thing. Any stories? Thanks in advance =)
Even if your nose ring was allowed, do you really want that agitated patient using it to pull themselves up with? :bluecry1::bluecry1:
I think it's time for business to come into the 21st century. The 20 somethings today often have "non-traditional" piercings. Soon enough, these 20 somethings will be the administrators making policy, and I believe body art, jewlery will change accordingly.
I have my nose pierced, and have for 11 years now - long before it was popular, I like to say I started the trend. I wear either a small gold ball or a small dragonfly (my favorite). I want to get a Marilyn Monroe piercing above my lip, but I'm not sure how that will go over. The reason I want to get it is that our son was an artist. Among wall murals, detailing cars, motorcycles, he even detailed a truck for FDNY after 911 - he also designed tatoos. When he passed away, the family decided to honor Michael, they would get a body alteration of some kind. Most chose his name and his birth date and death date. I chose a Monroe. He had commented that it would look nice on me. I had it done when the rest of the family got their tat's. After it was nearly healed, I needed to take prednisone, and because of that, it got infected, and I developed a cellulitis. had to take the piercing out. Now there is a small scar. We are nearing the anniversary of his death, 2/23 - and I am feeling bad that I haven't honored the family agreement.
My piercings in no way interfere with my job. And, in all the years I've had the nose ring, and for the short time the Monroe, I never had a complaint. I'd like to get the Monroe done once and for all, but the hospital is cracking down on "non traditional" piercings. I think as long as the jewlery is tasteful and a unobtrusive as possible, it shouldn't be an issue. I know this sounds nuts, but it is really tugging at my heart/guilt strings. I NEED to do this to feel a part of him, I can't explain it. He was a wonderfully talented artist, and a handsome young man, he commited suicide at the age of 22. No warnings. How do I let my employer know that while this may seem "silly" to others, it has sentimental meaning to me, and I MUST be allowed to have it done. Any suggestions?
Specializes in Emergency Medicine, Cardiac, Trauma.
At our school and the hospital I work at mind you it is a catholic hospital any tattoo has to be covered. As far as the nose ring. They are not allowed even a tasteful stud. Part of it is that it can be considered offensive part of it is infection control. When you consider it is an additional surface for things like MRSA to get into and not constantly cleaned like your hands are. Plus as previously stated someone could grab hold and possibly rip it out... just things to consider...
Our infection control cultured her own nose stud, it came up clean. She got her nose pierced 2 years ago. I don't believe they are any more "germy" than earrings.
When I went to school we had a young man who had his ear lobe streched (I can't remember what that is called). Anyway, the instructor told him it must come out. When he took it out it was the ugliest thing I had ever seen. It was actually scary looking seeing an earlobe hang like that and flap. Another instructor saw it and insisted he be allowed to keep it in. All I can say is thank God.
At my school, tattoos had to be covered, you had to wear a long sleeve under scrubs or they would give you a neutral color bandage to put over it. the only piercings allowed where the two in your ear and the others had to be either covered or removed.
I attend CCAC in Pittsburgh and they require that all tattoos be covered up and the only jewelry allowed is a pair of stud earrings and a smooth wedding band. Some of my fellow students have eyebrow and tongue rings and they take them out every Saturday for our clinical.
:bluecry1:
C. Thinking
46 Posts
At my school, we are not allowed any facial peircings at all and all tats must be covered without exception. Earings must be worn as a single set of studs no bigger than 5mm. I have seen students in my clinicals that have to wear extra clothing to cover tats or band-aids.