I can be frustrating because you can never tell if it's justified or just someone's prejudice. I say there are very GOOD reasons to remove your jewelry in certain situations, including student courses (lab work, medical courses, etc.) but it's undeniable there's a culture against mods at some places so people try to excuse ignorance with stuff like "it's necessary for the safety".

I think, since this is at an education level and not a professional level, it could really be one of three reasons. To figure out which of the three, she would need to speak with the instructor.

- It could be part of the school's policy. As outdated a notion as it is, some schools do have a policy against students having visible tattoos and piercings. It's pretty unlikely that this is the case, though, unless she's attending a private college.
- It could be as an element of "preparedness." Regardless of the profession, employers see visible mods as unprofessional. Maybe the instructor is adding an extra real-world lesson by enforcing the rule now, so students won't be "caught off guard" (though they won't be, because everyone in the mod community already knows about this) when they go into the field.
- It could be a matter of personal prejudice on the instructor's part. If that's the case, then how she chooses to handle it is really up to her. Some people (like myself) are okay with just indulging their wishes because it's the easiest route to take personally. Other people (again, like myself in more persistent and problematic cases) may want to discuss this with someone at the college.

Originally posted by echovi I have received more threats outside of patient care than I have from patients. Its all just a mass justification for society's distaste for mods. They do not put us at more risk, if a patient wants to hurt you they will find a way, mods or not. If anything, i'd rather have my lobe pulled than stabbed with a dirty needle or a pair of trauma sheers.

You're right, it's still used as a justification for the distaste of mods by some. But you're not 100% right...

If you would read my post, this matter is not only about a patient hurting you. This is about more than that. For example losing a ball from your jewelry: would she be willing to have a law suit against her by a patient because he had a titanium or surgical steel ball migrating somewhere in his/her body just for the sake of the piercing?

And as for the being hurt by a patient: if there's a patient that's not mentally stable there will be no dirty needles or sheers around 99,9% of the time. And that's when they will turn to visible mods.

It'll depend in what area of expertise she will be working. If she will be taking care of people in an old folks home, doesn't really matter whether she's pierced or not. But if she comes in contact with mentally unstable people, surgery, ... It's pretty much for her own good as well to take the visible ones out.

I understand what you are saying, and I don't mean disrespect.

From my own personal experience I have seen plenty of nurses, doctors, technicians in the hospital who have jewelry on. I'm sure this is due to their insubordination. However, I also see many objects that would pose the same risk, pens, pen caps, vocera, tape, stethoscope ear pieces, decorative pins, ID badges, stickers, vial caps, artistic crap, mechanical pieces to equipment, small valves to equipment, etc. Equipment that I have not ever seen any attempt to secure for the same reasons.

On the topic of the lack of shears or needles. I agree that shears should not be present if brains were present. On the other hand, needles are always present and used from IM medication administration to calm the patient down. In addition, patients may float away from the room and grab whatever they can find, which is not difficult due to equipment being left out in the open all the time.

In fact, there was a patient at a nearby facility who waited until medication was administered before grabbing the needle, knowing full well they had a BBP, and exposed 7 staff members by stabbing them each repeatedly.

I suppose my point is that there is danger present with or without body modifications present. Yes there are rules in place. However, of these rules that I've observed, most do not account for pieces falling off just the removal off piercings that are not normal in most persons eyes. For example, ear piercings are fine as long as there are only one or two per ear. Microdermals are not alright, even though they are very secure. Tattoos aren't allowed to be visible and must be bandaged. In addition to that, of all the people I know who have been attacked were insubordinate and had piercings but had their teeth punched out, stabbed with needles, kicked or hair pulled.

I do appreciate the conversation, I hope i'm not coming off too stubborn. My company doesn't mind to be honest. I have stretched lobes, microdermals, tattoos and a magnet. Everyone knows, no body cares. It's just the old careers. Paramedic is new field, nursing is an old career with many, many years behind it.