Recommendations: Long sleeve shirt to cover tattoos

Nursing Students Male Students

Published

Hey everyone, I know this subject has been talked to death in other forums, but nobody seems to be getting to the point, and I have too much med-surg homework to read to be messing around for hours on these forums!

My tattoos were awesome when I was in the Army... now I'm a nursing student and I have tattoos on both of my arms. They are NOT offensive, and can be covered by a long sleeve shirt under my scrub top, or by wearing a lab coat, which I have cleared with my clincal instructor.

I find it to be very uncomfortable to wear a lab coat all the time, and wearing a white cotton undershirt seems kind of gross.... wiping pts and whatnot, it seems bulky and I feel like I'm getting stuff on it that's staying there (in contact with my skin) all day.

I'm thinking about getting something skin-tight, like underarmour (or a cheaper, knockoff). What's everyone else doing???

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, ICU.

I know a guy who wears pretty tight fitting polypro kind of long shirt. It is thin, breathes, and won't soak up stuff readily. His is black which matches the color scheme of the hospital. Hope that helps.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have tattoos on both arms. They were cool when I did collision work. Cars didnt mind. Some people may find it offensive. I wear underarmor under my scrubs. They are tight fitting, breathable and cool in the summer warm in the winter. I live in Florida and cotton just wont do. Also I agree with cotton soaking up all the funk from the day. I can pull them up past my wrist if need be and they stay put , whereas cotton after the first pull streches and will have to be pulled up to my elbows exposing my tattoos. I have different colors so they match or contrast my scrubs. Good luck . Hope this helps

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Does your school require you to cover them? It's healthier for you and your patients to be bare below the elbows.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCM, PHN.

I am also heavily inked, and have one full sleeve. I LOVE my tattoos, they are part of who I am and tell my story. PLEASE check out TatJacket. Google it. I own several and wear them to work and they have been a job-saver! GREAT product I cannot recommend enough. It's too darn hot to layer long sleeves under scrub tops or wear jackets all the time. I wore TatJackets in clinic, on the unit, and now in my care management job that requires business clothes. Never have had a problem and if people ask I just tell 'me I'm covering scars!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

youll just soak up and ferment microbes in those long sleeves and infect your patients. just get the tats removed please

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think it's crap that people are so easily offended by tattoos. People should be able to say, "yes, I used to be in the Army and I have tattoos" and that should be fine. People act like any tattoo is a gang tattoo, and that's offensive because some of them stand for positive things.

That said, I have civilian tattoos but they are only half sleeves, so I can cover them with an undershirt that goes to the elbow. I do have an issue with my leg tattoos and the white scrub bottoms, you can see them clear as day (and they are large), so I'm looking forward to wearing non-white scrub pants eventually.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks everyone (almost) for the help.

@mclennan - ill def check out TatJacket; thanks for the recommendation

@jt43 - yes my school requires me to cover them.

@canadiandude - that's about the stupidest ******* comment to an honest question I've ever heard. I'll just get my two sleeves of tattoos removed an have giant scars covering my arms because I don't like sleeves.... Don't you think it would me more probable to bring an extra shirt incase I get something on it so I'm not passing around infections all day? Thanks for the "help"; sorry I'm not tall enough to reach your high-and-mighty soapbox.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Get some ink jackets. Search google for underarmor looking sleeves specially made for tattoos. I will probably have to cover mine until I can remove them.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Thanks everyone (almost) for the help.

@mclennan - ill def check out TatJacket; thanks for the recommendation

@jt43 - yes my school requires me to cover them.

@canadiandude - that's about the stupidest ******* comment to an honest question I've ever heard. I'll just get my two sleeves of tattoos removed an have giant scars covering my arms because I don't like sleeves.... Don't you think it would me more probable to bring an extra shirt incase I get something on it so I'm not passing around infections all day? Thanks for the "help"; sorry I'm not tall enough to reach your high-and-mighty soapbox.

It's tough to excuse wearing long-sleeve shirts if they reach the wrist due to passing pathogens from patient to patient. Some nurses may even have incontinent patients who are needing to be cleaned constantly (like a patient with Clostridium dificile). Changing your shirt each time you see a patient simply isn't practical. There's nothing wrong with scars to be perfectly honest. If you can live with scars, great! I can. I will probably be removing mine. I would be weary not to flame people, even if they flamed you. It just perpetuates.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have been wearing long sleeves under my shirt around pts with c. Diff, regular diarrhea, urinary incontinence, and everything else for three months. I am aware of the sleeves and haven't gotten them dirty yet. I am required by OLTC to cover my tattoos at all times. However, I also find that 99% of the time I'm the only one covering my ink. There have been a few times I have worn short sleeve undershirts (when I have to do showers, I keep a short sleeve shirt in my locker) and only one pt has mentioned my tattoos. Mine are civilian, not lude or disrespectful, but I do understand that some of the pts may not particularly like them.

The shirts I bought are like UA, except WAY cheaper. I paid $5 each for mine back during the summer (clearance price) but the sell for $12 online. UA sell for upwards of OMG and these seem to be the same material. They fit tight (I'm a big guy) and are super comfortable. Everyone thought they would be hot when I started but there haven't been any times that I've had a problem with them, even in 110 degree outdoor temps. I typically wear this shirt from 7am to after 11pm. If you're unsure about the tattoo jacket, also search for compression shirt. I know cops that wear them all day under a vest and uniform shirt with no adverse effects.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i like compression shirts too. some teachers make me hide my tattoos, some dont. when i have to hide them i do. i got mine at target, champion brand. pretty cheap and they breath nice too. being that they are tight around the arms/wrist i dont worry too much about pathogens. my lowest tattoo is 4 inches above my wrist so i can pull them up a bit when needed. heck, id even say you can pull them up when needed even if you have tattoos lower, as long as the instructor doesnt catch you. just dont show them if you have naked ladies tattooed on you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment