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Looking to see what the consensus might be around nose piercings for students on rotation...
Do I have to remove my (tiny) nose piercing for rotations?
- Thread starter Mosquitossuck
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No.
I have my nose pierce (I'm a resident now), but didn't have any problems with it during rotations during med school.
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Just ask your preceptors. As long as it isn't a huge thing and it blends in well you will most likely be fine but ask.
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~JustMillennialThings~
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They have managed to be ubiquitous enough that you can get away with it.
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Rule of thumb: If you're not sure if it's unprofessional, it is.
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I wouldn't touch it. Most people won't even notice unless its a big hoop or something.
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I'll go against the grain here and say yes. It may be a small thing, but there's a chance it will negatively affect the way attendings and patients look at you.
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Depends. The strictest hospitals I'm rotating with do not allow ANY jewelry whatsoever (not even wedding rings!), and all tattoos must be covered up (unless you're in the OR and the cover-up poses an infection risk). Many also have hair rules (e.g., my bearded male classmates had to shave except for one who got a religious exemption, some want women to wear their hair up, some want women to wear their hair down, etc.). The least strict hospitals allow for some jewelry (wedding rings and one set of earrings).
However, some individual practices within these hospital systems have allowed me to wear 'contraband' like my wedding ring and watch. Our school usually sends us a preceptor-specific information sheet about dress code in advance (e.g., no ties for psych rotations), which is usually pretty helpful.
If there's any doubt, assume that it's banned until you have reason to believe otherwise. On day 1, you'll get a pretty good idea as to what is/is not acceptable. If it's not, then you can always put the nose ring back in outside of the hospital/clinic. I hate not wearing my wedding ring, but I'm not going to rock the boat... After all, I am a lowly third year.
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No, I am not in the military.
In grad school (and now med school) I rotated in New England > the Midwest > NYC > Cali. Ironically, the stereotypically "jock" practices (e.g., ortho, neurosurg, etc.) are the ones that have allowed me to wear the engagement/wedding rings thus far. Go figure.
Yea... The wedding ring rule really burns my biscuit. I understand not wearing it in surgery, but I don't see why I can't wear it in clinic. They're not flashy by any means. On the plus side, I get fewer of the 'your husband works full-time and you're both in your 30s... You're not going to have kids anytime soon, are you?' type questions when I don't wear my rings... Kinda nice not having to navigate that minefield.
I'm glad you're in more relaxed environments. I've heard that a few of my upcoming midwest rotations will be super laid-back with the dress codes, so I'm cautiously optimistic. Bc of these experiences though, I now go into shadowing/rotations dressing professional as possible with a wedding ring, and then wait to have them tell me to take it off.
P.S. I hate the Blackhawks. 😉
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Honestly, I've rotated through 5-6 different systems in NY, PA, CA, and the midwest, including big university sites, and I have never heard of such strict policies.
Shaving your beard? Maybe having to wear a hood or something in the OR, but no one has ever required shaving. As for wedding ring, again, outside of the OR, I've never heard of people requiring it to be taken off. Other than obvious stuff (e.g. "its better not to wear it because it might tear gloves" or don't wear a tie or even stethoscope around your neck in psych) I have never encountered what you described.
I've heard of covering tattoos, hair color limits, and removing large piercings, but mandating clean shaven faces and the removal of wedding rings just in the hospital, never.
If anything this shows the huge regional variability. Honestly, I still wouldn't take it out until I was told to. Be cognizant of potential hints/comments about it, but otherwise just see what's ok.
Sure I remember being way more cautious as an entering 3rd year, but you tend to realize that its very specific actions that blacklist you, and for the people that would give you a hard time for something smaller, they probably would have found another excuse to give you a hard time.
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Wedding rings, particularly ones that have gemstones or engraving (so basically all of them), are strong fomites that were well established as such in the 1990s. They aren't allowed for the same reason fake nails aren't allowed, essentially.
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Most surgeons I have seen just have their rings on a chain or necklace during surgery beneath scrubs.
Did you wear yours during your interviews? Would love to know. Thank you!
Yes
