Tattoos and nursing

Gaudy jewelry? You must have been admitted to my hospital!!
You should see our social worker/case manager at the holidays!!

heh. i'm getting the staff and snake tatood on my right shoulder this week . i guess in my heart, i'll always be a medic first!

I did a search on this topic because I was very much interested in what the general consensus on tattoos was. I am going to get my first tattoo on Saturday. Hopefully it will be the first of three...I don't know yet. I would like to get a teddy bear holding balloons with each of my children's (3) names in them. At first I was joking when I suggested it to my husband and mother, but both were very receptive and supportive. My mother even suggested I get the tattoo on my upper arm instead of my back as I originally planned. She said the arm so it could be seen. I was just curious as to what others thought about professionalism in nursing and tattoos.

BTW, the other two I plan will be two dolphins encircling my belly button (and the navel ring I'm getting on Saturday) and the other will be on my lower back with my husband and my names in Chinese lettering with the words: "LOVE, LIFE, ETERNITY." and our anniversary date underneath in the small of my back. :hatparty: We'll see how I tolerate the pain of this first one though!

I have tattoos all over...too many to count. I have a sleeve, some of my back done, chest, ear, legs (one thigh and calf). And yes I am female!!! All of my, except my ear, are covered by scrubs. The only way any one finds out is when I bend just right. I have never had any problems. They are more excepted than ever!

I was so excited when I saw this thread. I am planning on getting my first tatoo next month sometime. I am getting a dolphin on my back I have to say, many of my nurses and aides have tattoos, but as long as they come to work every day and do their jobs, I could care less! Yes, we must be professional, but we also are humans first.

I'm not usually conservative, but I think tattoos should be covered while providing patient care. Visible piercings other than ears should be removed as well. That was the rule when I was in school (recently), and I think it made sense. Most other professions have similar policies, so I think it's appropriate.

(I took my cartilage piercing out when I started school, but the navel ring stays since no one can see it)

I clicked in here kinda hoping I would see some cool tats.

Can y'all share a pic of your tats?
(Unless it can't be PG-13 )


I mean, if we're gonna sit around and talk about 'em, why not show 'em, right??

I know some folks don't want to share their tats, and that's cool - I just figured some people may want to share.

Unless maybe we should start a new thread for this??


Whaddayathink????

Sure, I'll share as soon as I get a new digital camera. The battery door on my current one is broken off, and unfortunately it houses one of those electrode things. It's still swollen right now anyway, so I'm sure you wouldn't want to see at this point in time. However, it's nothing too major. I am African American (light skinned, though) so my tat is just black. It is a dancing panda holding three balloons with my children's names in them. It's on my upper arm near the shoulder so it can be easily covered (for the most part) by my scrubs but be visible when I chose for it to be. I LOVE MY NEW TATTOO! (No regrets!)

I have a medium sized Japanese symbol on the inside of my left wrist. I had it done so it was just big enough to wear a watch over it while at work (I found a big, sporty one by Nike that works perfectly.) You could try a watch and bracelet combo while at work maybe. HTH!

Are you in the Southeast U.S.? People can be rather conservative.

I know they would prefer their nurses to be virgins. (just kidding)