Lip piercing - new job in care home

[TrueFriendsStabYouInTheFront]

So I had an interview for a Carer job in a lovely care home and got the job, really pleased! Won't start for a few weeks due to crb etc!

Anyway, I completely forgot until today, that my brother said he would buy me a voucher for a lip piercing I want done. He just rang me to say he's got the voucher and he will take me on Saturday to go get it done.

Not sure if that will be acceptable in a care home or not as I have never worked in one before. It's a weekend job, my current job in the week is office based and not at all bothered about piercings or tattoos

So wibu to get it?

Ask them

I think this would be frowned on. I work in a healthcare setting and piercings/tattoos are required to be discrete.

Depends on their policy. I work in a care home and I'm only allowed studs in one hole in my ear.

I think it depends on the care home - not just their policy, but also the clients there. Some people with dementia can become aggressive because of their confusion, for example, so may grab you and pull it out.

different care homes have different rules but new piercing are a definite infection risk - to you.
Universally, nail varnish, gel and acrylics are out - nails should be short and visibly clean and everywhere should have a 'bare below the elbows' rule' again to reduce infection and cross contamination.

Piercings and tattoos are are a bit more fluid BUT for your own sake I wouldn't go with a new piercing.

Why not ask him to postpone it. Within a fairly short time you will know how your new workplace views it. How much personal and potentially contaminating work you are doing and also - if you are likely to continue working there. Care work isn't for everyone

You need to know what their policy is.

I come into contact with a lot of care homes through my work (I’m a GP) and certainly at the more ‘upmarket’ ones unconventional piercings are not permitted.

Its a health and safety issue- if a resident grabbed you (as they often do if its dementia) they could rip it out or really hurt you. Same with dangly earrings. When you are using manual handling techniques (which you will in this scenario) it could also cause you to knock it, rip it etc
Its more about health and safety than them frowning upon body piercings- the same rules apply to carers wearing dangly earrings or huge knuckle rings

I really wouldn't. I'm sure it will look great but as others have pointed out it is definitely a safety risk.

@toodlethenoodle

Thanks for everyone's advice, will definitely postpone but as it is a v nice home, I can imagine they wouldn't be too impressed! And you're right, it could easily get whacked or grabbed

@toodlethenoodle Batshit

If you do choose to get it done, you can get a clear plastic retainer type stud to put in it which is barely visible and also harder to rip out/cause damage.

And ignore toodlethenoodle

I work in a nursing home, one that's considered "nice".
We do have to be bare below the elbows, but actually they have no hard rules about tattoos/piercings.

The residents and their families don't appear to assume that those with them are there to mug the residents, or that people with them look like scum. What an stupid thing to say. In fact, they can be a great conversation starter. Residents more often than not, ask if they hurt or is there a meaning behind it. We've had a fair few residents with tattoos come to think of it...
The majority of residents couldn't care less what you look like as long as you treat them with kindness and dignity.

If you don't mind risking them asking you to take it out, then get it done.

No! Don’t do it .... they are awful!

LOL, I opened the thread intrigued to know by care homes are employing people to do lip piercings .

They will not allow it. I had to take mine out for this reason. You can wear a clear one and see if they notice / say anything?

@toodlethenoodle are you from the 1950s?

I'd just ask OP.

@BlouseAndSkirt that really made me chuckle! I hadn't noticed it could be read that way

There are a couple of carers at DMs care home that have facial piercings. My only concern would be getting them torn out but frankly that’s up to the individual.

I felt a bit silly but I emailed the manager - she said they don't specify whether people can or can't, but that having one is at the workers own risk so that's good news if I decide to go ahead and get my 'scum' piercing still chuckling about that one!

Some places are fairly relaxed although every care homes policy will state you must remove all visible body piercings except for earrings which must be wither a small enclosed hoop or a stud. If you're going to go with it I'd recommend a stud while it heals, then you can take it our during shifts once it has healed up. Or save the voucher for when you can book annual leave and have it done then x

Don’t do it (yet)

I have nothing against piercings. I don’t think, aesthetically, it will be a problem at work, but perhaps practically. I think the advice I would give would be different if you had already had it done.

As you haven’t had it done yet, you have to consider the healing process. As others have said, you don’t want patients grabbing at it or you don’t want to accidentally catch it on anything whilst it’s sore and healing. This could accidentally happen if you’re helping someone get changed or maybe if their hair brushes against it & gets caught? I’m not sure if being in a care home for extended periods of time may make you more susceptible to injection as it’s healing either.

Until it fully heals you can’t take it in/out whenever you want to, as you’d interrupt the healing process. You can’t play around with different jewellery/retainers until it’s healed either.

I very much doubt it as I'm a care assistant in a dementia home for the elderly we are not allowed false nails either only stud earrings the only rings are a wedding band shirt clean nails also and hair tied back

I have just had an interview with my lip an eye done she didn't mind at all