title: Body piercing: issues and challenges for nurses.
abstract: To provide safe and effective care for patients with body piercings, nurses must become more knowledgeable about this increasingly common practice. Competent nursing care is more than simply noting the presence or absence of body piercings, but includes accurate assessment, cultural sensitivity, and related patient education. Body piercings can create treatment challenges during trauma or post-assault care. An increased awareness of the history of body piercing, the piercing process, care of piercings, (including related wound care), and issues related to patient education, can enhance comprehensive nursing care.
authors.forename: Kym A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Halliday
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D001828:Body Image; D046288:Body Piercing / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D053604:Forensic Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D016746:Transcultural Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D014945:Wound Healing; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control