Any guys with visible tattoos?

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So recently I got into tattoos. I got one on my forearm which is visible and am probably going to want to get some more visible ones on my arms as well... and possibly the back of my neck. So far none of my clinical instructors or employers (I'm a CNA for a home care agency) has cared at all. But im worried that eventually someone is going to care and that it might pose a problem, but i dont know if this is all in my head or not. None of these potential future tattoos or the one I have now are at all offensive. Any thoughts?

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Specializes in Med-Surg/ER/Mat.

if they cloned you, and one of you had tattoos and the other didn't and you both applied to the same job, more likely than not the you without will get the job. as unfair as it is, looks do have an effect.

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Hmm... What if I wore sleeves to the interview?

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I don't think the back of the neck would be that big of a deal unless it was deemed "offensive." I've got sleeves so I was a bit worried too but after searching on here I'm not giving it that much thought - just cover them up.

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/almost-into-nursing-488763.html

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I have a tattoo on my arm that shows completely when I wear short sleeves. I have to cover it up in order to attend clinicals per the hospital policy. I just bought an elastic ankle bandage to wear on my arm and no hospital employee has ever mentioned it. The biggest issue I've had with clinicals was finding a way to cover the holes in my ears left from wearing gauged earrings.

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How do you cover your ears? I used to have pretty big holes in my lobes and inner conch but had re-constructive surgery.

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Specializes in CNA: LTC & DD.

I've seen several nurses, of both genders, wearing moisture-wicking long-sleeved tops under their scrubs. They say it keeps them more comfortable and dry than any regular undershirt. I think you can buy things like that at a sports outfitter like REI. It might be worth looking into, if you can get them on sale they're not too expensive, but they aren't cheap either.

But I have seen nurses, male and female, with visible tattoos and with a professional and friendly attitude - never seen a patient or resident complain, although sometimes they do say some pretty thoughtless things! "You'd be so much prettier without those!" being one of the classics, directed at women with tattoos. "Why does a nice boy like you have those?" being one for the guys.

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How do you cover your ears? I used to have pretty big holes in my lobes and inner conch but had re-constructive surgery.

I tried wearing plain inconspicuous earrings, taking all of the earrings out, and covering my lobes with bandages. None of those options worked with the hospital staff, so I had to find flesh-colored retainer plugs to wear during clinicals. My instructor was very pleased with the look of the plugs, and none of the hospital staff has said anything to me about them.

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Specializes in CNA.
None of these potential future tattoos or the one I have now are at all offensive. Any thoughts?

Get all the tattoos you want, just make sure you can cover them up at work.

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I have a full sleeve down to the wrist on my right side, and to my elbow on the left.

Graduating this May and never had an issue. Ink up, buddy.

If someone gripes, you can always throw on some UnderArmour, but I've never had an issue.

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Hi,

I am not a guy, but I would strongly advise against getting any more visible tattoos, unless your facility allows you to wear long sleeves or something else to cover up. I have two visible tattoos on my left wrist/arm and have had nothing but problems with them- at both school and work. I got kicked out of my nursing program due to my tattoos and I posted a thread back in February about what happened to me. Long story short, the only way I was allowed to cover my tattoos was with make-up. Alas, I couldn't find any make-up to cover my wrist tattoo that could withstand repeated hand washing. At my school they wouldn't allow me to wear long sleeves or use a band-aid to cover my tattoos because of the germ factor. Their uniform policy only allows students to wear white 3/4 sleeved tops under the uniforms, which didn't cover my tattoos. The tattoos even had to be covered during my skills testing, in addition to clinicals. After I left school I worked as a cook in a chain restaurant and in June they are implementing a no visible tattoo policy- even if you work in the kitchen where the public doesn't see you! So yeah, I have had nothing but bad luck with these tattoos. I love my tattoos and I have 7 of them, but I'm thinking of spending the $2000 to get the visible ones removed to I can follow my dream of becoming a nurse. Or move out of this area.

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Hi,

I am not a guy, but I would strongly advise against getting any more visible tattoos, unless your facility allows you to wear long sleeves or something else to cover up. I have two visible tattoos on my left wrist/arm and have had nothing but problems with them- at both school and work. I got kicked out of my nursing program due to my tattoos and I posted a thread back in February about what happened to me. Long story short, the only way I was allowed to cover my tattoos was with make-up. Alas, I couldn't find any make-up to cover my wrist tattoo that could withstand repeated hand washing. At my school they wouldn't allow me to wear long sleeves or use a band-aid to cover my tattoos because of the germ factor. Their uniform policy only allows students to wear white 3/4 sleeved tops under the uniforms, which didn't cover my tattoos. The tattoos even had to be covered during my skills testing, in addition to clinicals. After I left school I worked as a cook in a chain restaurant and in June they are implementing a no visible tattoo policy- even if you work in the kitchen where the public doesn't see you! So yeah, I have had nothing but bad luck with these tattoos. I love my tattoos and I have 7 of them, but I'm thinking of spending the $2000 to get the visible ones removed to I can follow my dream of becoming a nurse. Or move out of this area.

Just curious where your school is? Im running into this problem at SUNY Orange in New York. All of the clinics/hospitals around here allow for their nurses to wear long sleeves, but Suny Orange does not allow their students to wear long sleeves (only 3/4 sleeve). You have to hide all tattoos, and i have both of my arms sleeved. Its total BS and Im going to make a big stink about it to the local newspaper.

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