Cultural Diversity and Tattoos

[OwlieO.O]

So in my BSN program we are getting a lot of education focused on cultural diversity and honoring others as people, and the choices they make about lifestyle. We are to help others achieve optimum health while respecting their culture and not imposing our personal values on them.

Interesting enough, nurses (including student nurses) are told that our tattoos are "unacceptable" and "unprofessional." I have to wear long sleeves to cover of my peony flower tattoo on my upper forearm, because it "might offend" a patient.

I work for a hospital that has a no tattoo policy, but our lower management/charge nurses don't care. I work with nurses that have told me they don't care about my tattoos, and many of them and our patient population would feel more comfortable working with me because I have tattoos. And frankly, wearing long sleeves is an infection-control issue with the department I work in. I'd rather show my tattoos than spread microbes from patient to patient.

So, as nurses we are to celebrate the cultural diversity of others, but our own diversity is unacceptable. It is important for us to be professional (smell nice, clean look, etc.), and tattoos don't change this. However we may be letting patient care slip as we nit-pick at some issues. I wouldn't relate this to those with of piercings cause that can affect patient care (infection control, injury issue, etc.), especially in the OR. I won't wear jewelry in the OR to protect my patients.

So I'm wondering what other student nurses have experienced regarding this issue of cultural diversity and their own tattoos, or experience with other students with tattoos.

[QuietRiot83, BSN, RN]

I don't have any tattoos (yet), but i do have piercings. I have 6 total in both my ears and my nose pierced. I use to have my tongue pierced but took it out recently (personal choice). Same as your school's program, we have a personal appearance policy that includes no visible tattoos or piercings because it might offend the patients. I have forgotten to (or just didn't care to) take out my nose stud during clinicals and have never had a health professional or a patient say anything to me that bordered on my piercing being offensive or unprofessional to them. I don't see my piercings as infection-control issues because they are not open wounds. I make sure to wear either one pair of earrings or none. I don't wear rings, necklaces or bracelets, and at times I forget to wear a watch.

I got off track there for a minute, but basically, I agree. I feel that as nurses, people look up to us, and see us as professionals, but appearance is only one part of the professionalism that the patient and your colleagues will notice.

[nlitened]

I have a bunch of tattoos and plan on getting more. There are only two that are visible when I have my scrubs on and they are in an area that is extremely hard to cover with anything (including tat cover up). I have never had a problem getting a job (I have worked at two hospitals) and my soon-to-be first semester nursing instructor commented that she loved them. With that being said, I know that during clinicals I will have to cover them with tat cover up and reapply when needed because it's not like I can go without washing my hands all day. After school is over I do not plan on covering them for any interviews. At the hospitals I have worked at (GA and FLA) there have been many tattooed individuals...visible and covered. I was told that just as long as they are not offensive or in poor taste then it shouldn't be an obstacle. My tattoos (both current and future) have NOTHING to do with how I care for my patients. If anything, it is a conversation starter...everyone wants to know what they mean;) Tattoos are nothing new, especially for my generation, and are becoming more accepted. I'm not concerned. But your program does have rules and you must deal with them. I only have to cover mine for clinicals, in lecture and lab they are not an issue. Cover them up when you must, and proudly sport them when you can.

[missycrowell]

I Love this!!! I never had a problem getting a job because of my tattoos. Most of my large ones are covered up by normal clothes. but i have one little one on my wrist and one small one on my forarm. and just a tiny bit of my quarter sleeve comes out of my scrub top. Ive worked in long term care facility and a hospital.... I have never been told to cover them. No one cares. Of course for clinicals I will cover them up. many many people in my local hospital have sleeves on both arms, most of the girls have them on their wrists.

[stephatron289]

I'm not a nursing student (yet!) but I have worked in memory long term care and I am currently a medical assistant. I have never had a patient or supervisor comment on my tattoos. I have one on my forearm in French which everyone can see, unless I wear long sleeve shirts, and I have one on the back of my neck (which, for some reason, no one ever notices.) I was nervous how my patients would react to the one on my arm since it is so prominent, but I've never had a single person treat me any less professional because of it. Most of the time, they ask what it says and tell me they like it (one of my memory care residents always asked me if it was a love letter from my boyfriend ).

I usually wear a long sleeve shirt only because it's appropriate or if I've been talked to. However, I'll always roll the sleeves up to my elbow or to 3/4 length, and then it doesn't really matter. However, if your clinical site says to cover tattoos, I would do it, regardless. When you establish yourself as an employee and show that you are valuable, no one is going to care if you have a tattoo or not. At least that has been my experience so far (3 years CNA, two years MA).

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

You are not projecting professionalism. People with tattoos and rings all over their head are not taken seriously. That's human nature. A nurse is a professional and should portray it. I don't feel like having a million tats looks professional.

[OwlieO.O]

I don't have any tattoos (yet), but i do have piercings. I have 6 total in both my ears and my nose pierced. I use to have my tongue pierced but took it out recently (personal choice). Same as your school's program, we have a personal appearance policy that includes no visible tattoos or piercings because it might offend the patients. I have forgotten to (or just didn't care to) take out my nose stud during clinicals and have never had a health professional or a patient say anything to me that bordered on my piercing being offensive or unprofessional to them. I don't see my piercings as infection-control issues because they are not open wounds. I make sure to wear either one pair of earrings or none. I don't wear rings, necklaces or bracelets, and at times I forget to wear a watch.

I got off track there for a minute, but basically, I agree. I feel that as nurses, people look up to us, and see us as professionals, but appearance is only one part of the professionalism that the patient and your colleagues will notice.

I should amend my statement, that not all piercings are infection control issues, and many times it is situational. Agreed. It may be possible if someone has an infected piercing, but that is also situational.

[OwlieO.O]

You are not projecting professionalism. People with tattoos and rings all over their head are not taken seriously. That's human nature. A nurse is a professional and should portray it. I don't feel like having a million tats looks professional.

And that is how you feel. And you have a right to your opinion, but it seems inconsistent with what is being taught. I find it very interesting how I achieve very good impressions with individuals and then they find out I have tattoos and are shocked because their thinking that I'm such a professional and nice, intelligent person conflicts with the artwork on my body.

I find professionalism more as the way one carries themself or acts. I've seen situations where imaging techs wearing white coats were thought to be doctors and asked to respond to a code that happened right in front of them, while the real doctor casual attire was ignored. The techs stood their frozen while the doctor reacted outstandingly. My question to others is if they would rather have a nurse with a tattoo who is respectful, kind, and amicable, or a nurse who looks "professional" but doesn't act that way.

[nlitened]

I would take the tatted nurse who rocks over the non-tatted horrible nurse any day! And tattoos have nothing to do with professionalism. What about those tribes/cultures/groups where body modification is a way of life? So if you had a Samoan doctor with a facial tat you wouldn't take him seriously?? Or an Indian nurse with a nose piercing...you wouldn't want her taking care of you...just because of a piercing??? Give me a break! Like OP stated, she is being taught to accept cultural differences because she wants to show respect to her patients...NOW show us a lil respect.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I think the point being missed is the school's side; one needs to be cognizant on that the school is a guest in a facility; they are competing against many schools for a spot and to lose a spot could be detrimental to the school; these standards are in place to not make any potential waves and lose opportunities for students.

Once one is done with school, most facilities have no issues with people who have tattoos and piercings, and some facilities do put a limit on how many piercings are allowed and how visible tattoos can be; it can be similar to the schools policy, more restrictive, or relaxed; it depends on the organization.

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

We are taught to be culturally aware and respectful- wouldn't it be wonderful if this went both ways? The simple answer here is that it's not about US- and culturally speaking, many people in this country (mostly older generation) have a negative association with people who are tattooed. It's not about YOU, it's about the comfort of the patient. I understand where you're coming from, but I also understand where the school/hospitals are coming from. I had a patient not too long ago who was terrified of one of the physical therapists because he was a big man with big tattoos- she thought he was going to hurt her every time he walked into the room.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

We are taught to be culturally aware and respectful- wouldn't it be wonderful if this went both ways? The simple answer here is that it's not about US- and culturally speaking, many people in this country (mostly older generation) have a negative association with people who are tattooed. It's not about YOU, it's about the comfort of the patient. I understand where you're coming from, but I also understand where the school/hospitals are coming from. I had a patient not too long ago who was terrified of one of the physical therapists because he was a big man with big tattoos- she thought he was going to hurt her every time he walked into the room.

As well as THIS.

It is about the comfort and addressing the needs of the pt as well.