What are people's opinions on hair colour, body mods and tattoos in nursing
I had always assumed the reason I had been told not to wear my piercings in placement/ work was due to infection control and risk of them falling out.
Although have recently been informed contrary to this that it is due to it looking 'unprofessional' and nothing to do with infection control. Personally I don't know who gets to decide what looks unprofessional and find it a bit behind the times and totally disagree, although I am also a fan of bright hair with piercings and tats myself so maybe that clouds it!
Really interested to hear others opinions 🙂
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Although have recently been informed contrary to this that it is due to it looking 'unprofessional' and nothing to do with infection control. Personally I don't know who gets to decide what looks unprofessional and find it a bit behind the times and totally disagree, although I am also a fan of bright hair with piercings and tats myself so maybe that clouds it!
Really interested to hear others opinions 🙂
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Original post by Swagio
I had always assumed the reason I had been told not to wear my piercings in placement/ work was due to infection control and risk of them falling out.
Although have recently been informed contrary to this that it is due to it looking 'unprofessional' and nothing to do with infection control. Personally I don't know who gets to decide what looks unprofessional and find it a bit behind the times and totally disagree, although I am also a fan of bright hair with piercings and tats myself so maybe that clouds it!
Really interested to hear others opinions 🙂
Posted from TSR Mobile
Although have recently been informed contrary to this that it is due to it looking 'unprofessional' and nothing to do with infection control. Personally I don't know who gets to decide what looks unprofessional and find it a bit behind the times and totally disagree, although I am also a fan of bright hair with piercings and tats myself so maybe that clouds it!
Really interested to hear others opinions 🙂
Posted from TSR Mobile
On a personal basis, I'm not over keen on lots of tattoos and piercings and would never get either myself.
On a professional level, if push comes to shove, they probably look more unprofessional than professional. Can't comment on the infection control thing because I'm not aware of the evidence base.
All that said... Heck, if they're a good nurse, are always compassionate, approachable, hard working and supportive of others I couldn't give a monkeys what they look like!
Original post by PaediatricStN
On a personal basis, I'm not over keen on lots of tattoos and piercings and would never get either myself.
On a professional level, if push comes to shove, they probably look more unprofessional than professional. Can't comment on the infection control thing because I'm not aware of the evidence base.
All that said... Heck, if they're a good nurse, are always compassionate, approachable, hard working and supportive of others I couldn't give a monkeys what they look like!
On a professional level, if push comes to shove, they probably look more unprofessional than professional. Can't comment on the infection control thing because I'm not aware of the evidence base.
All that said... Heck, if they're a good nurse, are always compassionate, approachable, hard working and supportive of others I couldn't give a monkeys what they look like!
I totally agree if someone is a great nurse it doesn't really matter what they look like!
Personally I wouldn't wear lots of facial piercings at work but for instance would prefer to keep my small lip stud in.
I just find it interesting that they tell us shouldn't have them just based on appearances (although in mh at least I've noticed some wards don't seem to particularly care and know mhn with pink hair!).
Our class often discuss how there's such an emphasis on patients being who they are and its importance but we're often made to feel like we must look a certain way and removes part of who we are.
I always find it such an interesting topic to debate.
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Within learning disabilities it's very hard to have such a style. A lot of our patients would be very impressionable and want to copy styles etc which can lead to many a difficulty.
And if you work in a forensic or challenging behaviour unit then any piercings etc you may risk getting pulled out during a moment of crisis.
Often, it isn't so much about looking professional but also protecting yourself and the patients.
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And if you work in a forensic or challenging behaviour unit then any piercings etc you may risk getting pulled out during a moment of crisis.
Often, it isn't so much about looking professional but also protecting yourself and the patients.
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I am not overly bothered about lots of tattoos as long as they aren't offensive, inappropriate or on the face. Piercings don't bother me either as long as it's not OTT. For most facial piercings like eyebrows and lips you can get clear balls and some septum piercings you can turn upwards into the nostrils so it's not noticeable. Some cultures and religion require you to have nose piercings (I think) and as long as they are plain then I don't see a problem. A few of my colleagues have tongue piercings and that have never had any problems with them either.
But I think hair is a different story although it pains me to say it because I love bright hair. My hair is quite red but it's not too OTT. I do think that some hair colours do look unprofessional. If I was interviewing someone then personally it doesn't bother or offend me but vulnerable patients don't always react well to it and can scare them. My hair is quite noticeably red but I wouldn't say it was too bright and no word of a lie a couple of the female patients who had dementia hated it and it set them off. They thought I was evil and the devil and they literally would not let me near them and it was because of the hair. The male patients love it however. I am forever being chatted up by the old men haha!
But I think hair is a different story although it pains me to say it because I love bright hair. My hair is quite red but it's not too OTT. I do think that some hair colours do look unprofessional. If I was interviewing someone then personally it doesn't bother or offend me but vulnerable patients don't always react well to it and can scare them. My hair is quite noticeably red but I wouldn't say it was too bright and no word of a lie a couple of the female patients who had dementia hated it and it set them off. They thought I was evil and the devil and they literally would not let me near them and it was because of the hair. The male patients love it however. I am forever being chatted up by the old men haha!
the obvious reason patients don't want their nurses and other medical specialists to have body mods is because they have certain iamges of the archetypical nurse/doctor in their head, and if they don't conform to that archetype, then they might think that they're a bad doctor/nurse, because they aren't *appearing* to be *like* a doctor/nurse. so I can understand why people might be disappointed by a nurse or doctor with body mods, but that's not to say that I think that this should be the case - tattoos and piercings also, however, happen to suggest youthfulness, as you tend to only see younger people with tattoos/piercings. therefore, that youthfulness might appear in their minds as a lack of knowledge and expertise. but, again, I don't think people should be so quick to judge like that.
Any sort of body piercings, tattoos and non-natural hair dye is absolutely degenerate.
Original post by Swagio
I had always assumed the reason I had been told not to wear my piercings in placement/ work was due to infection control and risk of them falling out.
Although have recently been informed contrary to this that it is due to it looking 'unprofessional' and nothing to do with infection control. Personally, I don't know who gets to decide what looks unprofessional and find it a bit behind the times and totally disagree, although I am also a fan of bright hair with piercings and tats myself so maybe that clouds it!
Really interested to hear others opinions 🙂
Posted from TSR Mobile
Although have recently been informed contrary to this that it is due to it looking 'unprofessional' and nothing to do with infection control. Personally, I don't know who gets to decide what looks unprofessional and find it a bit behind the times and totally disagree, although I am also a fan of bright hair with piercings and tats myself so maybe that clouds it!
Really interested to hear others opinions 🙂
Posted from TSR Mobile
Hmm, from what I've heard, it generally is due to infection control, in the same way, you can't wear bracelets or watches on the wards because you can't guarantee they're sanitised enough. I personally have no problem with someone who wants to get tattoos (perhaps not face tattoos) or dye their hair wild colours, I would perhaps draw the line at piercings for the previously mentioned reasons. I think it all boils down, unfortunately, to the patient's preferences, not the employee's.
A brief example, when my mum came to England to train as a nurse, many older folks did not want her to help them because she was Irish, and the IRA were prevalent at that time. The ward staff didn't side with her however, they just told her to attend to someone else, and posted someone who wasn't Irish on the patient instead. Obviously one cannot choose their race unlike body modifications, however, I think the point stands that ward staff won't pick a fight. And if a person, covered head to toe in tattoos offends one of the patients, the staff will side with the patient, not the employee. It isn't right and it isn't really fair, unfortunately, it's the system we have though, and patient preference comes before an employee's creative freedoms.
I'm not a fan of bright hair for any job. I'm not really sure what the statement people with bright hair and excessive facial piercings are trying to make. It doesn't look good in my honest opinion, it looks tacky. It's not smart.
However, I wouldn't judge somebodies ability to do their job based on bright hair and piercings. I'd have no problems being treated by a nurse/doctor with bright orange hair and a dench septum piercing, I just wouldn't admire their self- presentation.
However, I wouldn't judge somebodies ability to do their job based on bright hair and piercings. I'd have no problems being treated by a nurse/doctor with bright orange hair and a dench septum piercing, I just wouldn't admire their self- presentation.
Original post by MPH125
Hmm, from what I've heard, it generally is due to infection control, in the same way, you can't wear bracelets or watches on the wards because you can't guarantee they're sanitised enough. I personally have no problem with someone who wants to get tattoos (perhaps not face tattoos) or dye their hair wild colours, I would perhaps draw the line at piercings for the previously mentioned reasons. I think it all boils down, unfortunately, to the patient's preferences, not the employee's.
A brief example, when my mum came to England to train as a nurse, many older folks did not want her to help them because she was Irish, and the IRA were prevalent at that time. The ward staff didn't side with her however, they just told her to attend to someone else, and posted someone who wasn't Irish on the patient instead. Obviously one cannot choose their race unlike body modifications, however, I think the point stands that ward staff won't pick a fight. And if a person, covered head to toe in tattoos offends one of the patients, the staff will side with the patient, not the employee. It isn't right and it isn't really fair, unfortunately, it's the system we have though, and patient preference comes before an employee's creative freedoms.
A brief example, when my mum came to England to train as a nurse, many older folks did not want her to help them because she was Irish, and the IRA were prevalent at that time. The ward staff didn't side with her however, they just told her to attend to someone else, and posted someone who wasn't Irish on the patient instead. Obviously one cannot choose their race unlike body modifications, however, I think the point stands that ward staff won't pick a fight. And if a person, covered head to toe in tattoos offends one of the patients, the staff will side with the patient, not the employee. It isn't right and it isn't really fair, unfortunately, it's the system we have though, and patient preference comes before an employee's creative freedoms.
I have to disagree with you I'm afraid. I think maybe your mum was unfortunate and worked with a bad bunch of people but my experience is different. I work in elderly care and many of them do hold quite racist and offensive views because times were different when they grew up and if you throw dementia and confusion into the equation then you end up patients who have no filter over what comes out of their mouths. Many of my colleagues who are Indian, Pakistani, Filipino and black do not get overly offended by remarks made by patients with dementia but some elderly folk are very cantankerous and stubborn and can be very offensive. I will tell them that it's not acceptable to talk to people in that way and that we won't attend to them until they have altered their behaviour because we don't get paid enough to take abuse. More often than not they will stop it and apologise but some will carry on so I will tell my colleague to stop attending to that patient, not because I side with them but because I don't want my colleague to be subjected to abuse that is uncalled for which may make them feel upset.
In relation to the above...
I think there is a very fine line.
Yes you have to tell patients that you're not there to tolerate abuse and name calling etc.
However, you also have to respect their human rights and freedoms in that they can have a say in who provides their care. Especially intimate care.
As a lay member of the public if I go to my gp, I can request a male or a female.
Thus, patients/clients/ etc do have a right to request (to a certain extent) if they want someone that is white or someone who is female etc.
It's about also respecting the times they were brought up in and that they hold different views.
We respect those with different religious views etc so why not the elderly / infirm/ mental health / learning disability patients?
I think there is a very fine line.
Yes you have to tell patients that you're not there to tolerate abuse and name calling etc.
However, you also have to respect their human rights and freedoms in that they can have a say in who provides their care. Especially intimate care.
As a lay member of the public if I go to my gp, I can request a male or a female.
Thus, patients/clients/ etc do have a right to request (to a certain extent) if they want someone that is white or someone who is female etc.
It's about also respecting the times they were brought up in and that they hold different views.
We respect those with different religious views etc so why not the elderly / infirm/ mental health / learning disability patients?
Original post by deviant182
In relation to the above...
I think there is a very fine line.
Yes you have to tell patients that you're not there to tolerate abuse and name calling etc.
However, you also have to respect their human rights and freedoms in that they can have a say in who provides their care. Especially intimate care.
As a lay member of the public if I go to my gp, I can request a male or a female.
Thus, patients/clients/ etc do have a right to request (to a certain extent) if they want someone that is white or someone who is female etc.
It's about also respecting the times they were brought up in and that they hold different views.
We respect those with different religious views etc so why not the elderly / infirm/ mental health / learning disability patients?
I think there is a very fine line.
Yes you have to tell patients that you're not there to tolerate abuse and name calling etc.
However, you also have to respect their human rights and freedoms in that they can have a say in who provides their care. Especially intimate care.
As a lay member of the public if I go to my gp, I can request a male or a female.
Thus, patients/clients/ etc do have a right to request (to a certain extent) if they want someone that is white or someone who is female etc.
It's about also respecting the times they were brought up in and that they hold different views.
We respect those with different religious views etc so why not the elderly / infirm/ mental health / learning disability patients?
It's a bit difficult overnight when 90% of the regular night staff are foreign so more often than not there is no "white" option. And yes, if I need to see a doctor about womanly problems then I would prefer to see a female doctor just like many males would prefer to see a male doctor for manly problems. But in my opinion, if you are of sound mind there is absolutely no reason to use racist language towards anybody, let alone nursing staff. If a troublesome alcoholic turns up in A&E on a Friday night and starts hurling racist slurs to foreign staff they will more often than not have security called or will be removed from the department under the "no abuse" policy. I don't see why it is any different for any other patient in the hospital who are of sound mind hurling abuse at staff. Just because it was okay to hold those views when they were younger doesn't mean that it's okay now. We live in different times now. It is a criminal offence to hurl racist abuse at people and it is also racial discrimination and your employer has a duty to ensure that no members of staff are made to feel discriminated against. We are nurses, so it is not in our nature to go all gung ho in our approaches, especially towards elderly patients. None of us are going to have them arrested for using such language and we will not call security. Instead we utilise our fabulous communication skills to calm the situation down, so if a polite telling off is what the patient needs to de-escalate the situation then how is that wrong?
When the patient is clearly mentally unwell, whether that's because they have a learning disability, mental illness or dementia of course we are going to take what they say on the chin because we know they are ill and can't help what they say. Although I still don't think we are out of order to tell them "no, that's not acceptable" just so they stop it at that time.
Original post by ButterflyRN
I am not overly bothered about lots of tattoos as long as they aren't offensive, inappropriate or on the face. Piercings don't bother me either as long as it's not OTT. For most facial piercings like eyebrows and lips you can get clear balls and some septum piercings you can turn upwards into the nostrils so it's not noticeable. Some cultures and religion require you to have nose piercings (I think) and as long as they are plain then I don't see a problem. A few of my colleagues have tongue piercings and that have never had any problems with them either.
But I think hair is a different story although it pains me to say it because I love bright hair. My hair is quite red but it's not too OTT. I do think that some hair colours do look unprofessional. If I was interviewing someone then personally it doesn't bother or offend me but vulnerable patients don't always react well to it and can scare them. My hair is quite noticeably red but I wouldn't say it was too bright and no word of a lie a couple of the female patients who had dementia hated it and it set them off. They thought I was evil and the devil and they literally would not let me near them and it was because of the hair. The male patients love it however. I am forever being chatted up by the old men haha!
But I think hair is a different story although it pains me to say it because I love bright hair. My hair is quite red but it's not too OTT. I do think that some hair colours do look unprofessional. If I was interviewing someone then personally it doesn't bother or offend me but vulnerable patients don't always react well to it and can scare them. My hair is quite noticeably red but I wouldn't say it was too bright and no word of a lie a couple of the female patients who had dementia hated it and it set them off. They thought I was evil and the devil and they literally would not let me near them and it was because of the hair. The male patients love it however. I am forever being chatted up by the old men haha!
Yes I have relatively bright red hair too (thought this was the most acceptable bright colour!) although it's a tad darker red now.
I spent some time in old age care with pink hair as I was asked to work without planning to go back and didn't have time to dye it and was surprised to get a positive reaction! People really seemed to like it and often started talking to me over it, although also have experienced of the same problem with red hair!
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Original post by MPH125
Hmm, from what I've heard, it generally is due to infection control, in the same way, you can't wear bracelets or watches on the wards because you can't guarantee they're sanitised enough. I personally have no problem with someone who wants to get tattoos (perhaps not face tattoos) or dye their hair wild colours, I would perhaps draw the line at piercings for the previously mentioned reasons. I think it all boils down, unfortunately, to the patient's preferences, not the employee's.
I always thought this but have been informed by the uni it isn't due to infection control at all, just appearance. Although I have had my lip caught before and definitely think rings are a no!
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Original post by hezzlington
I'm not a fan of bright hair for any job. I'm not really sure what the statement people with bright hair and excessive facial piercings are trying to make. It doesn't look good in my honest opinion, it looks tacky. It's not smart.
However, I wouldn't judge somebodies ability to do their job based on bright hair and piercings. I'd have no problems being treated by a nurse/doctor with bright orange hair and a dench septum piercing, I just wouldn't admire their self- presentation.
However, I wouldn't judge somebodies ability to do their job based on bright hair and piercings. I'd have no problems being treated by a nurse/doctor with bright orange hair and a dench septum piercing, I just wouldn't admire their self- presentation.
I dunno about a statement but I know personally I like blue hair as I feel very much myself and comfortable and confident and also suits me surprisingly!
Although I do think that it can look a tad tacky if not done right or patchy and has a level of upkeep some people just can't be bothered for.
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