If you’re into fashion but you’re trying to be a nurse, the two subjects may clash.
When you picture a nurse, you actually don’t see a lady that has a fashionable outlook. And if it comes to jewelry, that might not even come close.
Can nurses wear jewelry?
Well, this question may have answers from two sides. You can have both “yes” and “no” as an answer.
Actually, it depends on the authority of your workplace. However, there’s a huge chance of getting ‘no’ as an answer.
There are certain reasons for it and they’re quite valid. Today, I’m going to talk about four different types of jewelry and if nurses can wear them.
So, without more chitchat, let’s dive into the main part.
Can Nurses Wear Watches?
Watches have been used as a formal type of jewelry by nurses. Though authorities may bring negative statements on other jewelry, they are likely to give permission to wear watches or smartwatches..
Maintaining and managing time is an essential part of life. And nursing students probably race with time almost all the time.
Though a huge number of people checks out time on their smartphones, this is not the case for an average nurse. She must always keep in her mind if she’s sticking to her schedule.
This is why nurses always carry watches with them. Fortunately, if you are a nurse and you wear a watch, it won’t be a burden for you at all. Rather, it will blend perfectly with your scrub.
Let me offer you a few categories you may choose from.
Fashionable and Practical Wristwatches
Being a nurse, you can express your personal sense of style if you wear a wristwatch. There are many nurses, probably even in your workplace, who wear bright-colored watches.
On the other hand, there are a group of nurses who prefer watch-faces or straps that comes with the images of stethoscopes or caduceus nursing symbol. They highlight their love for this profession by wearing such watches.
If you are a person who works in settings frequently with poor lighting, you can try the illuminated watches as they’re ideal for you.
Lapel Watches
Want the most convenient and practical type of nursing watch? Switch to the lapel watch. It can expose patients to pathogens or dangles in the way.
Most hospitals will let you wear the lapel watch, so you can use this as your jewelry substitute.
Now, durability matters a lot. You can try the lapel watches, but you should know that you cannot expose them to water.
Smartwatches
Who doesn’t love wearable technology, right? Well, if you are a gadget freak then you’ll be glad to know that hospitals in America let nurses use smartwatches to improve efficiency and accuracy.
Nurses often use smartwatches for their futuristic looks. Maybe in the future, you’ll see that smartwatches offer alerts when there’s an important appointment or staff meeting.
If you have a nursing smartwatch with you, you’ll be always on time to where you’re needed.
Can Nurses Wear Earrings?
It’s obvious that nurses need to maintain hygiene more than anyone. As they have to take care of patients there’s always a chance of getting physical contact. This is why they always have to make sure that they don’t become a medium for transmitting any disease.
Earring is flattered by women, but it is surrounded by serious risks. This is why almost all the hospitals in America do not allow nurses to wear an earring.
Earing can create an abscess. This is not only very disturbing and disgusting but also harmful for everyone. If a nurse develops an abscess, there’s a chance that she may harm her patients by transmitting bacteria.
Sometimes certain types of earrings can form allergic reactions. If the patients are allergic to your earring and somehow he/she makes physical contact, it can be harmful to him/her. As a nurse, it can also be a threat to you.
Earrings can hamper the balance of hygiene you maintain. Some earrings attract dust more than your skin does. This can actually cause infections in your ears.
The signs may include redness and irritation at the site. Your skin may also develop pus or fluid. It can also cause foul odor which can be disturbing for the patients.
When the infection becomes localized in the ear, medical terms call it perichondritis. It can enter your bloodstream in severe cases and form sepsis. What worse is, it can often cause a deadly condition known as the septic shock.
How do you expect that with all these risk factors, the authority of a hospital will allow you to wear earrings? If the infection increases inside you, there’s a high chance that you may end up harming the patients instead.
This is why, to make sure the patients do not get harmed by any kind of bacteria or infection, hospitals actually ban the use of jewelry. However, there are exceptions as well. You’ll find few hospitals that will let you wear earrings but that’s a bit rare.
Can Nurses Wear Nose Ring or Pin?
Nose rings may have its pros and its cons. Yes, women love nose rings as it’s a part of the feminine aura. However, when you’re talking about hospitals, the news may disappoint you a bit.
One of my friends who went to nursing school had a tough experience. She used to love wearing nose rings, but the school didn’t let her. And her working place? You can guess what happened.
Though it may sound unpleasant to you that hospitals do not allow nurses to wear nose rings, there are plenty of good reasons behind it.
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Here’s why:
If you have a big nose piercing and a big nose ring, it may seem dirty and unhygienic to some conservative people. Plus, nose rings can often cause infection in your nose.
This infection, in the worst possible cases, may spread on your face. This will not only harm you but also harm the patients around.
People expect healthcare workers to look clean and fresh at work. Though nose piercings are normal, some old folks still see them negatively.
Some institutions actually have strict rules. They don’t allow even the simplest form of piercing. When you want to get a job, it will be better for you if you read their body art policies.
If you’re a nurse who wants to work in the United States military force, you should know they’re strict in all kind of body modification.
First off, you’ll never see a female soldier with a nose ring. And in the case of the nurse, they hold a strict stance.
You may get disqualified if they notice your nose ring. Even if you do get a job, you’ll probably have trouble getting on the higher rank.
But hey, here’s the good news though. Some hospitals do accept nose rings and they don’t see it as a threat. You’ll find nurses who actually wear nose rings in the hospitals happily. All you need to do is find the right place for you.
Final Words
“Can nurses wear jewelry?” This is a question that almost all female nurses ask themselves while studying for nursing or applying for the job.
There are some hospitals that allow jewelry while most of them don’t. But you can’t blame the ones that don’t. Hospital professionals care for their patients so much. To ensure their safety, the authority takes such steps.
If you’re a nurse, you’ll need to think like a patient first. Would you want someone to get you infected? If the answer is no, you’ll know why most hospitals condemn jewelry.
But there are plenty of simple pieces of jewelry you can try. You can always go for a watch which is not much of a threat.
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