Tattoos

[niico]

Hey there.

I spent yesterday searching this website for information on nurses & Tattoos. I found lots of information, but I was looking for something more Canadian-specific.

I'm headed to college this fall, but I plan on getting tattoos over most of my arms. I was thinking about only getting them on the upper half of my arms so they wouldn't be visible under scrubs. But at the same time, I don't want to feel restricted in what I can and can't do.

So I'm looking at getting them down to my forearm, but not near my wrists. This way, I have the option of revealing them outside of work, because I tend to wear long sleeve clothing.

I'm going to either Centennial College or Durham College for Practical Nursing. i've searched their websites but nothing helpful came up.

Getting these tattoos means a lot to me because the art will represent the challenges I've faced, how I overcame them, and allow me to express my individuality externally.

A nursing career is important to me.. BUT, Finding happiness in life, which is ever so short, means more to me than any career, so I'll gladly forget about nursing if i'm going to be judged for doing what makes me happy.

Either way I'd prefer if patients didn't see my tattoos because I'd still like some personal privacy while working. As an LPN I'll probably be working LTC.

so could I wear a long sleeved shirt under scrubs ? Or should I just forget about pursuing a nursing career ?

Thank you so much for being understanding. I hope I didn't offend anyone somehow.

[Fiona59]

I've been wearing long sleeved undershirts under my scrub tops and infection control has never said a word. It's a given that sleeves are rolled up while washing and direct care.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

It would take too much committment for me to get a tattoo, I can't look at the same artwork on my walls for more than a decade, I cannot imagine looking at the same artwork on my body for life. Not only do peoples artistic tastes change over time, their life perspectives change as well, a tattoo that has meaning at 25 years of age, is not likely to have as much meaning at 50 or 75 years of age.

[HarryTheCat, MSN, RN]

It would take too much committment for me to get a tattoo, I can't look at the same artwork on my walls for more than a decade, I cannot imagine looking at the same artwork on my body for life. Not only do peoples artistic tastes change over time, their life perspectives change as well, a tattoo that has meaning at 25 years of age, is not likely to have as much meaning at 50 or 75 years of age.

Plus, that beautiful "artistic" tat you get at 25 ("It's my body! It's my life! I gotta be MEEE!") can start to look pretty creepy when things start to sag and wrinkle a bit.

[Fiona59]

Just think about those incontinence products with 'tramp stamps' peeking over th tops, 30-40 years down the road....

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Maybe 30 years from now, the incontinence product companies will make their pullups and diapers with windows in the back so that geriatric tramp stamps can be on display.