Recently I found myself in a large metropolitan hospital, visiting and not ill myself. During this visit, I came across a sight that I truly did not think I would ever see -- a nurse with dreadlocks and a teeny-tiny nose stud.

Now, I had always heard that any type of body modifications -- tattoos, piercings, out-of-the-ordinary hair colors -- put an actual death sentence on any future career plans. That from the moment the needle pierces your skin you're done for, destined to be perpetually unsuccessful.

You see why this nurse came as such a shock. Blatant body modifications in the professional field? What?

This got me thinking. Are body modifications becoming more accepted in the workplace? Is this view of what many would consider an art form finally shifting to a more positive light?

If yes, then finally.

Did you know that there are some cultures in the world that welcome this art form, encourage it, even? From Hindu women piercing the left nostril to honor Parvati, the goddess of marriage, to traditional Samoan tribal tattoos, body modifications are an integral part of some cultures. Further, these cultures are both thriving and successful, entirely unhindered by the physical modifications of their respective participants.

So why shouldn't the American culture welcome these modifications in the workplace as well?

Obviously, there are some tattoos and piercings that could negatively affect productivity. For example, chefs probably shouldn't rock a nose stud or surface dermals, both of which have a history of falling out, while in the kitchen. Similarly, kindergarten teachers probably wouldn't be quite as successful with frightening or vulgar neck tattoos.

But a short phrase going up one's forearm, or some unnaturally colored hair? Not quite as harmful.

Of course, there is still an argument against such modifications and from what I've noticed, it seems to revolve around a need to be "professional." To look "professional" and to generally give off a "professional" vibe.

To be honest, I get it. When in the workplace, it's probably good to uphold a general atmosphere of professionalism, so you know, work gets done.

What I don't get is what makes body modifications so unprofessional. What is so offensive about personal style? (I so could go on about how society generally needs to be less affected by physical image here, but I'll leave that for another day.) How do tattoos or piercings make wearers unable to complete a job effectively?

Hint: they don't.

As someone that dons a few extra ear piercings and a teeny-tiny nose stud myself, I'll let you in on a secret:

My abilities did not suddenly disappear the moment that the needle pierced my skin.

Shocker, right?

My grade point average did not drop, my motivation to succeed did not dissipate and I most definitely did not change mt career path to "cartel leader."

Those conclusions may seem a bit extreme but in some minds, they are what body modifications equate to.

As these modifications become more and more popular in American culture, opening a dialogue regarding their place in the workplace also becomes more pressing.

With that in mind, I leave you with two questions:

Is it time for the perception of body modification in the work place to change?

And if so, where should the line between what's OK and what's not, be drawn?