Help: Tattoo Ideas!!

Specialties CRNA

Published

Okay guys....i just graduated from school and am a real CRNA now. I am very excited and proud to be doing what I'm doing. I was thinking lately of getting a tattoo related to medicine/anesthesia.

I need help coming up with ideas.

I was thinking of either a latin or greek word (want a small one on my wrist). Nothing long and fancy.

I was thinking of the word: VIGILO (which is latin for vigilant).

Any other words, symbols, or phrases you can think of for nurse anesthetists and what we do.

any help would be awesome!!!

Specializes in CRNA, ICU,ER,Cathlab, PACU.

I work at a facility that caters to military people. Now if you have EVER worked in the military you will know that the military has the STRICTEST idea of what professionalism is. Civilians really have no idea. I digress... When I show off my rather large Unit Tattoo no one has a problem. Not staff, family or patients.

I agree with your comment about military facilities having a strict idea of professionalism, however, you are wrong saying civillians have no idea when it comes to professionalism. Obviously, our society is becoming more accepting of tatooes, and the military has adapted http://www.army.com/news/item/1404. That does not mean, however, that commanding officers, patients, consumers wont be judgemental when it comes to selecting a specific professional over another.

Some questions for you or anyone who wants to pipe in (they are honest questions I don't know the answer to):

How many seargent majors and generals in military sport visible tatooes?

How many news anchors, elected politicians, justices (even liberal ones), sport visible tatooes?

How many sports stars and rock stars sport visible tatooes? (okay you got me there, but how many of them are associating themeselves with illicit activity, or dying from reckless behavior?)

Now a question for the OP to consider with this controversy:

Have you ever heard of someone being excluded or judged because they did not have a tattoo?

My last question for everyone....do you want a rock star giving you anesthesia?

this is why it is my PERSONAL preference to not have a tattoo, but to each there own.

I agree with your comment about military facilities having a strict idea of professionalism, however, you are wrong saying civillians have no idea when it comes to professionalism. Obviously, our society is becoming more accepting of tatooes, and the military has adapted http://www.army.com/news/item/1404. That does not mean, however, that commanding officers, patients, consumers wont be judgemental when it comes to selecting a specific professional over another.

Some questions for you or anyone who wants to pipe in (they are honest questions I don't know the answer to):

How many seargent majors and generals in military sport visible tatooes?

How many news anchors, elected politicians, justices (even liberal ones), sport visible tatooes?

How many sports stars and rock stars sport visible tatooes? (okay you got me there, but how many of them are associating themeselves with illicit activity, or dying from reckless behavior?)

Now a question for the OP to consider with this controversy:

Have you ever heard of someone being excluded or judged because they did not have a tattoo?

My last question for everyone....do you want a rock star giving you anesthesia?

this is why it is my PERSONAL preference to not have a tattoo, but to each there own.

How many presidents (in America) sported brown skin?

How many news anchors, politicians and justices sport their native 'ethnic' accent?

How many sports stars with tattoos that do good do you see featured on the news? In fact, how often do good peopel in general get featured on the news?

The problems isn't the tattoos. It's the close mindedness.

Many people feel the same way about male nurses that you do about tattoos. Of course, like I said, there are no tattoos on my body that I couldn't hide if I had to.

Have you ever heard of anyone that wasn't excluded or judged for being different? Tattoos, accent, skin, religion... It's the same ignorance in a different wrapper.

Specializes in CRNA, ICU,ER,Cathlab, PACU.

fine, it is a persons right to decorate their body with whatever they want, but if I am interviewing 30 identical people for one position with identical resumes, awsome report cards, strong recommendations, and flawless clinical performance, the guy with either the swastika tatooed across the back of his neck, or something totally harmless that I don't understand in sanskrit wont be getting the job...sorry. Call it close mindedness, call it old fashioned, whatever, but I am willing to bet that there are a lot of people out there with the same attitude. If you are not willing to accept the reality of that and wish to fight the power, then you choose to do so with certain sacrifices...just accept that when you get the barb-wire tattoed across your neck that you may be fencing off more than an identity problem, and may be paying more than 50 bucks at a tattoo parlor.

here is the reality I refer to: http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/06/19/too.tattooed.to.work/index.html

I respect and understand your closed mindedness argument, but certain things you are born into (ie color of your skin and religion), and certain things you choose for yourself...one way to quickly judge a persons character is looking at the decisions they have made.

by the way, don't get so down on the media...have you heard of Urlacher's Backers? Big mean looking linebaker for the Bears has a barbwire tat on his right bicep? Check out what he does for charity. Of course, he is a linebacker, not a nurse anesthetist.

fine, it is a persons right to decorate their body with whatever they want, but if I am interviewing 30 identical people for one position with identical resumes, awsome report cards, strong recommendations, and flawless clinical performance, the guy with either the swastika tatooed across the back of his neck, or something totally harmless that I don't understand in sanskrit wont be getting the job...sorry. Call it close mindedness, call it old fashioned, whatever, but I am willing to bet that there are a lot of people out there with the same attitude. If you are not willing to accept the reality of that and wish to fight the power, then you choose to do so with certain sacrifices...just accept that when you get the barb-wire tattoed across your neck that you may be fencing off more than an identity problem, and may be paying more than 50 bucks at a tattoo parlor.

here is the reality I refer to: http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/06/19/too.tattooed.to.work/index.html

I respect and understand your closed mindedness argument, but certain things you are born into (ie color of your skin and religion), and certain things you choose for yourself...one way to quickly judge a persons character is looking at the decisions they have made.

by the way, don't get so down on the media...have you heard of Urlacher's Backers? Big mean looking linebaker for the Bears has a barbwire tat on his right bicep? Check out what he does for charity. Of course, he is a linebacker, not a nurse anesthetist.

Like I said, my tattoos ARE hideable. While I am an idealist, I like to consider myself a practical idealist. You would never see my tattoo at the interview. However, I do respect employers wishes to enforce dress codes. As far as I am concerned, I can show off my tattoo later.

You won't like my answer...

Professionals don't get tattoos. Of course if you want something cute on your butt, where no one else will see it, go right ahead.

They actually make ink now that is white/clear. You have to look really hard to see it. My friend has one on the inside of her wrist and you have to get within inches to be able to see it.

I did get the point you were trying to make. Its just that insinuating that people at McDonalds, GM and other such jobs can't be professionals, due to something as trivial as having tattoos,wasn't nice or necessary to the point you were trying to make (IMHO).

Times are changing. Tattoos are becoming mainstream and more accepted. Employers know this, and with the workforce getting younger, I don't think it'll be a huge deal.

Its unfortunate that the decision to modify's one's body gives anybody the right to pre-judge them.

People who work at McDonalds or on the GM line can be professional (adjective) but are not professionals (noun).

There was a big thread here about this a while back.

The definition of what constitutes a profession and who is and is not considered a professional is very specific, narrow, and exclusionary.

Anyway, I think the OP's idea of a latin wrist tattoo that would be hidden by a watch would be kind of cool.

Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, Emergency, SAFE.

My last question for everyone....do you want a rock star giving you anesthesia?

Did that rockstar graduate from an accredited school? :D

Specializes in Anesthesia.

I'm actually going to agree with JWK on this one. I don't think tattoos evoke professionalism and I think it can give some people the wrong impression of your abilities and education. Unfounded? Yes, but still likely. I think the choice to get a tattoo is a personal decision, but also a very PERMANENT one. I know many, many people who have gotten tattoos and loved them......until about 10 years or so down the road and then they say, "Why did I do that?" I think if you choose to get a tattoo it needs to be non-visible at all times while working.....I can't imagine that a tattoo on your wrist would NEVER be visible, even if you wear a watch. I always hear people say, "Well I'm going to get the tattoo where no one can see it." Well, my question is: If no one can see it, then what is the point of having it? Just doesn't make sense to me. Good luck with your decision!

Tattoos aren't necessarily for showing off. Of course in scrubs you might not see them but in shorts and a sleeveless tee they are on display. Besides, the point of a tattoo is to decorate yourself with something that you feel important enough to make permanent. It's not for other people.

i appreciate the for comment... however, the tattoo will be completely covered by a watch when i am working. actually i know a number of fabulous surgeons, doctors, and anesthesia professionals (and i work at a very highly ranked and elite hospital) that have visible tattoos and I truly don't think patients think they are unprofessional because of it. I think your comment was a bit harsh and unwarrented.

While his/her comment was not worded as nicely as it should have been, I think that most people (silent majority, flyover states, red states) whatever you might call them, would agree with his statement. It might be unfair, uncool, close-minded or whatever, but our society isn't at the point yet where its members are ready to see their judges, politicians, doctors lawyers etc. walking around all tatted up. It is still too associated with bikers, strippers and horny college kids :)

Specializes in SICU.

When it is common place to hear a tattoo located on the lower back of a female referred to as a "tramp stamp", I would say that tattoos are not quite in the widely socially accepted category yet (esp. for women I dare to say). Ultimately it is your choice, but it is not without possible prejudice. More importantly, your patient population needs to feel safe and in the care of a professional. There are generational/religious/social gaps that are very real, and while in the ivory tower everyone judges everybody in a fair and just manner the real world just isn't like that. Just my two cents. :twocents:

Congratz btw! Awesome accomplishment!

It's interesting that, except for the OP, very few anesthetists have posted in response to the question posed, and the few that have seem to be generally opposed to the idea of visible tattoos.

+ Add a Comment