tattoos/piercings

[Swellz]

Tattoos and piercings. I'm curious how they are handled in other facilities.

My nursing school had very specific uniform requirements. You could wear earrings, but only in the first hole and only posts, and no visible tattoos. It wasn't necessarily enforced by every instructor, but that was the policy. I was told it was the policy of the hospital as well, but if it is, it doesn't seem to be enforced universally. When I worked there, I didn't actually read the guidelines (which I should have), but I was told during my interview that noserings weren't allowed. I never did take it out.

Does your facility have a strict no piercing no visible tattoo policy? If so, is it enforced?

Just curious.

[JDZ344]

One pair of stud earrings only (all other visible piercings must be removed). This is to prevent injury, no other reason. People who don't work in patient care can have other visible piercings or non-stud earrings.

Tattoos, no rule. Not sure what they could do if you were already hired and you got yourself one or they didn't notice it when you interviewed because of longer sleeves? Lots of people have visible tattoos nowadays.

[amoLucia]

But where would we keep our pens, hemostats, alcohol swabs, and all the other stuff we load down our pockets with?

You do have a point there!

NUDGE NUDGE NUDGE

[amoLucia]

And as long as we're talking about nudist nurses, we had to have a policy made at one facility that stated underclothes were mandatory when the hospital started getting complaints about one of our male nurses going commando in white scrubs!

No discrimination there!

[lovingtheunloved, ASN, RN]

My old job strictly forbade any visible tattoos or piercings. At my current job, technically we're not allowed to have any visible tattoos of piercings, but when I saw a coworker rocking her nose ring, I totally put mine back in. Nobody's ever given me any trouble about it, and most of my elderly patients think it's cute. "You have a diamond in your nose!"

[aTOMicTom]

But where would we keep our pens, hemostats, alcohol swabs, and all the other stuff we load down our pockets with?

Hook 'em in the piercing holes. Should be obvious.

[wyogypsy, RN]

One of the facilities that I worked at had a male CNA apply. Some of the people there had concerns re: his multiple tattoos and piercings. The administrator asked some of us what we thought. The clinicals for his CNA class were at our facility so I had gotten a chance to know him. He interacted exceedingly well with our nursing home residents, and was very kind to them. I wasn't sure how they would take to his appearance so I sat back and watched. Some just stared at him, others would ask questions, but there were no negative comments. Our administration hired him because he had been such an excellent student in the CNA class, and was an exceptional employee. It would have been sad for our residents to have missed out on such good care because someone didn't like his appearance.

[AllyssaMarie]

I am currently an LPN and will be finishing up my RN this december. I am only 22. I have a few tattoos but they are not visable unless I have shorts on. So I have never had that problem YET. I am planning on getting a wrist tattoo soon though. I have seen many nurses in my place of work along with in my clinicals that have tattoos showing. We actually have a girl here that has a full sleeve. Never have I seen it bother a pt ot other staff. Most ppl ask about it and enjoy hearing about it. As far as piercings, I have 3 in my left ear and 2 in my right along with my tounge pierced. Although my policy at school says I can only have 1 in each ear and no tounge ring. I have never followed it. Most people do not notice my tounge and it is likely to close if i take it out for to long. I have never had an instuctor or co-worker tell me I should take anything out. It is 2013. Majority of people now days have visable tattoos and/or piercings. It more of a "way of life" now. As a pt I dont have any problem with people having tattoos or piercings. I do, however, agree with the fact that people shouldnt have vulgar tattoos and or piercings showing at work. There is a difference between having your ears pierced 3-4 times in each each with studs and having a 2 inch gauge. :)

Just my opinion :)

[Bruce_Wayne, ASN, RN]

My facility used to have a strict tattoo and piercing policy but no rules about what color scrubs to wear. Now we have strict rules about what color scrubs to wear but no rules against tattoos or piercings. With that said I've never seen anybody above the role of a charge nurse with visible tattoos or non-ear piercings. As I want to somebody be a charge nurse and beyond, all my body modifications are easily covered by short sleeve scrubs.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Our policy varies by department, both in strictness and in enforcement. Tattoos are supposed to be covered, but many are not, and no one gets in trouble for it- and in the OR, long sleeves are forbidden. My OR only permits a single pair of stud earrings that must be covered by the hat- no necklaces or dangly earrings. No earring restrictions on other floors except NICU, but most nurses don't wear long dangly jewelry at all. Hospital policy allows a nose ring up to 1/8" in diameter.

[Bruce_Wayne, ASN, RN]

About the OR thing, I had a patient not long ago who had to take course of antibiotics because somebody's earring fell into the sterile field during the operation (not into the patient though). This increased the cost and time of her stay, so I can see why the OR would forbid extra earrings and non-studs.

[monkeybug]

About the OR thing, I had a patient not long ago who had to take course of antibiotics because somebody's earring fell into the sterile field during the operation (not into the patient though). This increased the cost and time of her stay, so I can see why the OR would forbid extra earrings and non-studs.

That was always one of my fears. If I had to scrub in on a C-section, I would take my earrings out. I could literally picture what it would be like to realize I'd lost one after a case.

[Swellz]

Interviewed and got the job today! The nosering is a officially a no-no though. Oh well. Can't really complain when someone gives you a job, now can you :)