Concern about tattoos and piercings

[thegoodjuju]

Do you think that a SPT would have any problems surrounding their tattoos and piercings? I'm currently a massage therapist considering going back to school for physical therapy (I posted about it in the pre-PT sub-forum), and I have about 10 facial piercings and some ear piercings and gauges, and my hands and arms are inked up. In my opinion, body art does not make one unprofessional; the only thing that is unprofessional is judging someone's skills and abilities based on their appearance. My heart is gladdened that society is becoming more open to body art - I am seeing it become more and more acceptable in the workplace. My boss welcomes diversity, and for that I am thankful. I love when new clients sometimes look at me with judgment or apprehension and then seeing the change in the way they look at me after their session! 🙂

But my specific question here is whether or not body art will have any negative effects for a student of physical therapy. For example, when it's time for clinicals... I'm not entirely concerned about it post-grad, since I definitely don't want to work in a hospital or in a SNF. I'm just curious if it could pose any problems during the actual program. Thanks!

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[jesspt]

Do you think that a SPT would have any problems surrounding their tattoos and piercings? I'm currently a massage therapist considering going back to school for physical therapy (I posted about it in the pre-PT sub-forum), and I have about 10 facial piercings and some ear piercings and gauges, and my hands and arms are inked up. In my opinion, body art does not make one unprofessional; the only thing that is unprofessional is judging someone's skills and abilities based on their appearance. My heart is gladdened that society is becoming more open to body art - I am seeing it become more and more acceptable in the workplace. My boss welcomes diversity, and for that I am thankful. I love when new clients sometimes look at me with judgment or apprehension and then seeing the change in the way they look at me after their session! 🙂

But my specific question here is whether or not body art will have any negative effects for a student of physical therapy. For example, when it's time for clinicals... I'm not entirely concerned about it post-grad, since I definitely don't want to work in a hospital or in a SNF. I'm just curious if it could pose any problems during the actual program. Thanks!

A former employer of mine had a policy that tattoos needed to be covered during working hours.

 

[scrawnyguy]

Unfortunately tattoo policies vary by employer. I worked at a very well regarded rehab hospital and they didn't care about tattoos as long as they weren't deemed offensive, although I don't remember seeing another employee besides myself with ink.

 

[redrose424]

Do you think that a SPT would have any problems surrounding their tattoos and piercings? I'm currently a massage therapist considering going back to school for physical therapy (I posted about it in the pre-PT sub-forum), and I have about 10 facial piercings and some ear piercings and gauges, and my hands and arms are inked up. In my opinion, body art does not make one unprofessional; the only thing that is unprofessional is judging someone's skills and abilities based on their appearance. My heart is gladdened that society is becoming more open to body art - I am seeing it become more and more acceptable in the workplace. My boss welcomes diversity, and for that I am thankful. I love when new clients sometimes look at me with judgment or apprehension and then seeing the change in the way they look at me after their session! 🙂

But my specific question here is whether or not body art will have any negative effects for a student of physical therapy. For example, when it's time for clinicals... I'm not entirely concerned about it post-grad, since I definitely don't want to work in a hospital or in a SNF. I'm just curious if it could pose any problems during the actual program. Thanks!

A lot of programs require clinicals in one of those settings. I'd say the facial piercings and gauges, more so than the tattoos, could cause problems both before acceptance to a program, while in the program, and after graduation.

 

[somo47]

As a current student, our clinicals require all tattoos to be covered. I believe that facial piercings must be removed as well.

For private PT clinics I think it varies greatly as to whether or not they allow their employees to have tattoos/piercings. From what I have seen, hospitals or really any inpatient setting are more strict in their employee policies.

 

[redrose424]

As a current student, our clinicals require all tattoos to be covered. I believe that facial piercings must be removed as well.

For private PT clinics I think it varies greatly as to whether or not they allow their employees to have tattoos/piercings. From what I have seen, hospitals or really any inpatient setting are more strict in their employee policies.

My school also has that policy.

 

[callmecrazy]

As previous posters said, some programs will have stricter policies, so you'll want to inquire about that up front. I've seen both extremes from my own employers. I was in an OP clinic that only allowed earrings and erequired tattoos be covered even for aquatic therapy sessions. My current employer doesn't even mention tattoos or piercings in our manual, and I think the only banned items in our dress code are flip-flops, strapless tops, and offensive images/words.

 

[truthseeker]

As a current student, our clinicals require all tattoos to be covered. I believe that facial piercings must be removed as well.

For private PT clinics I think it varies greatly as to whether or not they allow their employees to have tattoos/piercings. From what I have seen, hospitals or really any inpatient setting are more strict in their employee policies.

probably if the piercings aren't removed before work, the demented little old angry patient will remove them for you.

 

[DesertPT]

I have about 10 facial piercings and some ear piercings and gauges, and my hands and arms are inked up

This is unlikely to fly in most physical therapy setting without making some modifications. A single facial piercing maybe. But I can't imagine any employer, even in an outpatient clinic, being cool with 10 facial piercings in addition to gauges, etc. Some places will make you cover tattoos, some won't. It's not just about the employer either, it's also about the patients. There are a lot of patients that won't respect a therapist as much if they have 10 pieces of jewelry in their face. You are free to have whatever beliefs and opinions about how society should view body art you want, but so are your patients, and it's important to understand and respect that as a therapist. As a PT you are professionally expected to be able to treat the grumpy 90 y.o. ultra-conservative who happily makes whatever nasty comments about your tattoos and piercings that come into their head with the same standard of care that you could provide to any other patient.

From a pragmatic standpoint, as far as getting accepted to school is concerned, it's pretty much black and white in that you either abide by the school's dress code or you don't. If you call any admissions office they should be more than happy to advise you on this and any other questions.

As a current student, our clinicals require all tattoos to be covered. I believe that facial piercings must be removed as well.

Similar policy for my program (though it can vary a bit depending on the rules of your specific afill)

 

[thegoodjuju]

So basically, it depends. I am concerned that some of y'all said that the school itself has a policy about tattoos/piercings and not just the clinical parts of the program where you're in a work environment. So before I even think about going back to undergrad so I can hopefully be accepted into a DPT program, I should probably check to see what schools allow body art even within the classroom?

This is unlikely to fly in most physical therapy setting without making some modifications. A single facial piercing maybe. But I can't imagine any employer, even in an outpatient clinic, being cool with 10 facial piercings in addition to gauges, etc. Some places will make you cover tattoos, some won't. It's not just about the employer either, it's also about the patients. There are a lot of patients that won't respect a therapist as much if they have 10 pieces of jewelry in their face. You are free to have whatever beliefs and opinions about how society should view body art you want, but so are your patients, and it's important to understand and respect that as a therapist. As a PT you are professionally expected to be able to treat the grumpy 90 y.o. ultra-conservative who happily makes whatever nasty comments about your tattoos and piercings that come into their head with the same standard of care that you could provide to any other patient.

In regards to this specifically, I appreciate the viewpoint from the side of the patient. Thanks! 🙂 However, I feel like a patient's judgment of me is their problem. I've experience the judgmental side from my clients as a massage therapist, and I love the feeling I get when I am done with them and their opinion of me is different. It's important to me break down certain ridiculous stereotypes. I can be professional, knowledgeable, and skilled and still have body modifications. My tongue is also split, but that one's much harder to notice. I feel confident I would be able to tolerate grumpy ultra-conservative comments... my family is much like that! 😛

 

[redrose424]

So basically, it depends. I am concerned that some of y'all said that the school itself has a policy about tattoos/piercings and not just the clinical parts of the program where you're in a work environment. So before I even think about going back to undergrad so I can hopefully be accepted into a DPT program, I should probably check to see what schools allow body art even within the classroom?



In regards to this specifically, I appreciate the viewpoint from the side of the patient. Thanks! 🙂 However, I feel like a patient's judgment of me is their problem. I've experience the judgmental side from my clients as a massage therapist, and I love the feeling I get when I am done with them and their opinion of me is different. It's important to me break down certain ridiculous stereotypes. I can be professional, knowledgeable, and skilled and still have body modifications. My tongue is also split, but that one's much harder to notice. I feel confident I would be able to tolerate grumpy ultra-conservative comments... my family is much like that! 😛

This is a nice rainbows and sunshine post, but you're failing to realize a lot of people will not want to work with you at all as a patient. Sure, it's their problem but it will also become yours. And PT isn't something where your patient doesn't respect/trust you until you're finished with them and it's okay. Your patient needs to trust and respect you after your FIRST meeting, otherwise, why would they trust you not to hurt them and follow your HEP? And yes, many programs have rules within the classroom as well, mine does.

 

[jesspt]

So basically, it depends. I am concerned that some of y'all said that the school itself has a policy about tattoos/piercings and not just the clinical parts of the program where you're in a work environment. So before I even think about going back to undergrad so I can hopefully be accepted into a DPT program, I should probably check to see what schools allow body art even within the classroom?



In regards to this specifically, I appreciate the viewpoint from the side of the patient. Thanks! 🙂 However, I feel like a patient's judgment of me is their problem. I've experience the judgmental side from my clients as a massage therapist, and I love the feeling I get when I am done with them and their opinion of me is different. It's important to me break down certain ridiculous stereotypes. I can be professional, knowledgeable, and skilled and still have body modifications. My tongue is also split, but that one's much harder to notice. I feel confident I would be able to tolerate grumpy ultra-conservative comments... my family is much like that! 😛

I'm not sure you're hearing the message. It sounds as though your current look might be considered extreme by many. I think that your ability to be hired is going to be severely compromised by this.

 

[jblil]

"severely compromised"? More like, completely annihilated.

 

[DesertPT]

I feel like a patient's judgment of me is their problem

I agree with the last couple of posts above - it's not just their problem, it is your problem too. Physical therapists aren't simply laborers providing a service, they are professional members of the healthcare team that are responsible for rehabilitating sick and injured people, some of whom have experienced devastating change in their life as a result. As such, it most definitely matters what they think of you.

You also have to realize that unless you run a predominately direct-access, cash-pay clinic or similar, it's not like massage therapy - patients will often not be choosing you specifically as their therapist. Plenty of people seen in outpatient therapy just go wherever their physician recommends and take whatever therapist they end up on the schedule of. Inpatients just get whatever therapist picks up their case and shows up in their room. Whether or not you can form a good therapeutic relationship with each patient is a complicated question, but just brushing off the patient's beliefs and values as "their problem" isn't how it works - they are very, very much your problem.

We aren't attacking you or your opinions personally here either. We are just giving you the reality, even if seems harsh.

 

[DesertPT]

I'm not sure you're hearing the message. It sounds as though your current look might be considered extreme by many. I think that your ability to be hired is going to be severely compromised by this.

+1. The bottom line is that most schools and essentially all clinical sites are going to require you to remove most of your piercings. Many will probably require you to cover tattoos as well. Should have just said it frankly like that from the beginning.

Can you think of a time you have seen any healthcare professional in a clinical setting with a double-digit number of facial/ear piercings and lots of visible tattoos? I sure can't.

 

[thegoodjuju]

I agree with the last couple of posts above - it's not just their problem, it is your problem too. Physical therapists aren't simply laborers providing a service, they are professional members of the healthcare team that are responsible for rehabilitating sick and injured people, some of whom have experienced devastating change in their life as a result. As such, it most definitely matters what they think of you.

You also have to realize that unless you run a predominately direct-access, cash-pay clinic or similar, it's not like massage therapy - patients will often not be choosing you specifically as their therapist. Plenty of people seen in outpatient therapy just go wherever their physician recommends and take whatever therapist they end up on the schedule of. Inpatients just get whatever therapist picks up their case and shows up in their room. Whether or not you can form a good therapeutic relationship with each patient is a complicated question, but just brushing off the patient's beliefs and values as "their problem" isn't how it works - they are very, very much your problem.

We aren't attacking you or your opinions personally here either. We are just giving you the reality, even if seems harsh.

This made it click and makes a lot of sense to me now. Thank you.

Can you think of a time you have seen any healthcare professional in a clinical setting with a double-digit number of facial/ear piercings and lots of visible tattoos? I sure can't.

I have seen nurses with forearm tattoos. And I've occasionally seen a woman with a small nose stud. But that's about it.

Thanks to everyone in general who has replied for giving me a feel of what to expect and be prepared for. 🙂

 

[DesertPT]

This made it click and makes a lot of sense to me now. Thank you.

...

I have seen nurses with forearm tattoos. And I've occasionally seen a woman with a small nose stud. But that's about it.

Thanks to everyone in general who has replied for giving me a feel of what to expect and be prepared for. 🙂

👍 👍 👍

 

[starrsgirl]

We have quite a few tattoos in my class and a few people with facial piercings. Seems like you are getting the gist but wanted to confirm that my school also requires that all tattoos be covered and facial piercings removed aside from single ear studs when at clinicals. They also require a certain dress code (i.e. no yoga pants). So, yes, you will have to be OK with wearing the "uniform" while in school and then determining what's allowed after school when you are hired.