Nurses with Tattoos and Piercings

Nurses General Nursing

Published

  • Specializes in CNA, LPN and CMA.

You are reading page 4 of Nurses with Tattoos and Piercings

CMALynzer

21 Posts

Specializes in CNA, LPN and CMA.
I guess I live in a much more progressive area. I've worked for over a decade now in various areas and I've not yet come across a policy that forbids visible tattoos or piercings. We have many, many doctors on the unit that also have VERY visible tattoos. Additionally, the doc that just did our hospitals most recent cont. ed lecture had full sleeves...both arms. She was fantastic!

Professionalism is not just how you look. To me, the most important aspect of professionalism is how you present yourself, not whether you have an extra piercing or color on your arm. I'd personally rather work with a well groomed tattooed coworker then a tattooless nurse who shows up in tight fighting clothes with her junk hanging out front and the entire pink thong showing whenever she bends down to lock a wheelchair or empty a urine bag.

:yeah:I completely agree with you 100%:up:

We all need tyo understand that this is a different time with different people, we don't live in the 1950s...

CMALynzer

21 Posts

Specializes in CNA, LPN and CMA.

One thing I'd like to mention also is that many piercings close quickly. I once had my tongue pierced, I took it out because after 3 years I had grown bored of it and it only took 4 hours for it to close.

I'm too afraid to take my nose stud out because I know it will close before the end of the shift as well.

I don't think the way a nurse looks should really affect her effectiveness in her work. If she is a good nurse who works hard and cares about her patients' care and safety, it shouldn't matter if she has ner nose pierced or a tattoo.

I do agree that dangling jewlery should not be worn for your own safety. That's common sense. but studs should not be a problem.:twocents:

SamJLaB

3 Posts

I am 24. My friends and I don't watch MTV or reality shows. We don't have cable or satellite. IMHO, the "news" on TV contains far too much opinion and not enough coverage of world events. We watch movies and shows(none reality) from netflix and get our news from different sources on the internet.

N.U.R.S.E.

131 Posts

I think tattoos,piercings and over the top hair color screams unprofessional u only get 1 chance to make a first impression somehow with all those absurdities people prejudge u a point I always make to my nephews and god daughters if a doctor walked into ur room with visible tattoos and piercings, gold teeth and odd hair coloring like the videos many try to imitate what would be ur first reaction suddenly I am not as sick as I was and I want a second opinion and just like a criminal record with u forever so are tattoos the limit u and restrict and no I do not like nurses to dress unprofessional either looking like video vixens or men unshaven and hair longer than most women just call me old fashion and none of those things mind you were allowed at clinicals hello potential employer

Clementia

113 Posts

I know this is an old thread, but I still wish to vent my irk. Thinking that tattoos look unprofessional does not constitute a "judgment". It constitutes an opinion. Judgmentalism would be deeming everyone who wears a tattoo a bad person. We're allowed to have opinions regarding tattoos, just as we have opinions regarding other forms of adornment, without being labeled judgmental. I have the right to think that your tattoos are unbecoming to a professional, and this does not mean that I think you are a bad nurse or a bad person. Let's be a little more careful with the English language.

bpilko111

18 Posts

Okay- I believe every person has a right to their own opinion, and I respect everyone's opinions. Quick question- I have tattoos (three of them- one very small and two larger ones), but they are ALL in places that cannot be seen when wearing normal, everyday clothing (meaning that I don't have to wear anything special to hide them). Is that unbecoming? I love my career choice, and would never purposely do anything to disrespect others. I love "body art", and I love my ink, it is all meaningful and has a purpose.

al586

81 Posts

I cover up my tattoos & piercings at work. This is quite a project, as I was a tattoo artist prior to being a nurse. I do it because there are many cases where my tattoos and piercings might make my patients uncomfortable. They are my top priority.

Rhi007

300 Posts

I can understand the removal of most piercings that pose a risk....fresh nose piercing and you go to work and look after a patient with MRSA or VRE, it gets infected and bam but I would say 9/10 nurses and 2/5 docs where I volunteer have tattoos so most are very accepting

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN

1 Article; 5,115 Posts

As a comparative early adopter (I have tattoos that are older than most of the people posting here :) ) I always made sure that they would be covered by normal work attire. (They are visible with a bathing suit, but I don't get that uncovered at work.)

Like it or not, if you want to be considered a professional by people who will, in fact, have opinions about your presentation and make judgments about you, then make sure you look like the professional you want them to believe you are.

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN

2,066 Posts

Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

I work in a state prison. Here, such things are a matter of safety. Jewelry from piercings can be pulled out in an altercation, and tattoos are often a sign of gang affiliation. My employer is fairly lenient regarding piercings, primarily restricting the size of hoop earrings (again for safety reasons), but tattoos must be covered.

workingharder

308 Posts

Like it or not, if you want to be considered a professional by people who will, in fact, have opinions about your presentation and make judgments about you, then make sure you look like the professional you want them to believe you are.

Correct.

+ Add a Comment