I study to be a doctor, but one of my profs said, that I'll have problems with my piercings. Is it true?

Question

I have three facial piercing (nose, eyebrow, mouth) and seven earring. I study hard, my marks are never below B+. I don't know if my teacher meant, that in the Hospital, while working I gotta take them off, or that I won't be employed despite my good education. I also have a tattoo, but it's around my bellybutton, so at the university noone sees it. Shall I take them out, and let the holes heal? Would you choose a doc with piercings, or a one without them?

Answer 1

you don't have to let em heal! get the lil clear plugs. people won't notice them so much.

you can get em at the links below for super cheap.

as long as your grades speak for you i wouldn't worry so much about it.

Answer 2

The problem is not that it's unprofessional..You'll be around medicine and you'll be examining people..If you're a surgeon, your piercing could fall inside of a patient. It's a health risk. It's not clean. I want to be a doctor also and that's why I'm trying to get as many piercings as I can right now. I plan on being covered in tattoos..That will not matter because I will have the skill..and tattoos are safe..they won't fall off, they aren't dirty. Your tattoo will be fine, but your piercings will not. Enjoy them while you can!

Also, when I had surgery on my ankle, I had to remove my piercings because they said that one of the machines would react with the metal or something like that. So that could also be a reason.

Answer 3

It's not so much the fact that you have piercings per se, it's more the general social consensus of what a heavily pierced individual would be like. A doctoring profession is usually very traditional and they prefer clean-cut looking individuals as that gives both employer and patient the trust in their idea of the person that that person is one who is professional and gets the job done and is serious about treating the patients and putting them first and at ease. Its a natural sociological instinct for people to use the way others present themselves to pidgeon-hole them into different categories - not so much, goth, emo, hippy more about the elements that make up a person..how two identical twins can resent themselves slightl differently and one will always be picked out as looking more.. say professional, or confident or whatever element that the outsider is judging them on. Don't take this the wrong way, everyone does it - everyone.. Anyway, so the point was...if you were to walk into a doctor's office when you really were sick and needed medical advice and you were given advice by two doctors, one with lots of piercings and one without..which would you go with? You tend to trust the non-pierced doctor, not because either is better or worse in their knowledge or dedication to the job, but because you went in there wanting professional advice and so you were naturally looking to be attended to by soemone who in your socially constructed opinion is presented in a professional manner. The general consensus is that lots of piercings do not equate to being pidgeon-holed in the professional category. Ask your prof what you can do to compromise, work out a way where you can keep most of your piercings (or all, but use clear studs or whatever for most or at least the facial ones, i guess) but also which ones you can keep with normal studs (etc) to maintain a professional appearance.

Answer 4

I would personally be very happy to have a doctor who has piercings!

Seriously, I know quite a few doctors who are pierced and tattooed. Some quite visibly. You won't have a problem getting a job once you're done, as most places are experiencing doctor shortages.

I'm currently studying to be a paramedic, and we were told to remove our piercings for our clinical placement. When I pointed out that one of the supervising nurses had piercings and wanted to wear mine, I was told that it was school policy. They may want you to remove them for your internship, but wearing retainers should be fine. Once you're all done school, I doubt very much it will be an issue (Although I would take them out for the interview process)

I'll also add that I've been working as an ambulance attendant for the last 3 years. I've never once had a patient who refused to let me care for them because of my visible tattoos and piercings. Most are pretty open, and see quickly that I know my job and do it well. My being female has created more issues with patients than my piercings. (I've had a few patients who didn't want me examining them or driving the ambulance because I am a girl).

Answer 5

I would definitely say that your professor is right. With that many piercings, especially on the face, you do not seem or look like a professional. Being a doctor is a serious job, and people want to be able to trust their doctors. The patients, if you'd even get any, would think you're just some punk woman, not a serious person. If this is something serious you want to pursue, take out the earrings and let them heal. I can guarantee that you will get more patients if you look like you're a professional.

Answer 6

You know the sad part is your teacher is probably right, so many people go on what a person looks like instead of getting to know the person, i have piercings & tats myself and i see myself as a very down to earth person.....I would love it if my doc was the same way then at least iknow they wouldn't be looking at me like a freak when she tells me to stick out my tounge and sees my ring. I would go for it though and keep them in the world is changing look how mainstream tattoos are becomeing. I would deff pick a doc that had piercings!!!!

Answer 7

A lot of businesses require you to remove all facial piercings while at work due to professionalism. You can keep them, just while in a work environment you should remove them so that you are taken professionally rather than as a joke (and I don't mean that in a harsh way.) Many older people do not care to see all the piercings and it does frighten them a little. I believe is all he was saying. Best of luck.

Answer 8

I suggest taking out the lip and eyebrow. I wouldn’t mind going to a doctor with a nose piercing. But it all depends on if the hospital you will work at has rules on facial piercing.

Answer 9

Lets see if I can handle this with a little more grace. Your jewelry is your choice. Your profession is also. When I was younger I had to take a miserable job as a masons helper. He told me that I should remove my wedding band while working,this being something that I never had done I protested. He stated that he couldnt make not wear it but there were reasons not to. In that case he had witnessed the reason; a former employee had caught his ring on a nail and had the finger removed along w/ the ring. eewwww. my ring came off then no question. When I got off work it went back on. My point is that legally they cant make you but sometimes our elders have the expierinces that tell them what is better for a given situation. If you want them during your off time thats your time, but work is work. Dont take work home and dont take home to work. God bless and take care

Answer 10

Honestly, that's one of the drawbacks of having many piercings. It is very unprofessional. Think about it...would you honestly (really, honestly!) take a doctor seriously if she was sporting a nose, eyebrow AND mouth piercing?? Personally, ears do not bother me...but face piercings....noooo...I would not allow a doctor to touch me that had these. Sorry, but that's the way it is. If you want to be taken seriously as a professional, you have to LOOK professional...and that means showing respect for your potential patients. Remember, the majority of those you will work on will be geriatric patients. Do your grandparents like your piercings??? probably not.

Answer 11

It never really bothers me on nurses. I think if you are going to be a doctor though then you ought to take out the eyebrow and mouth piercings. The nose and ears are OK.