Any guys with visible tattoos?

Nursing Students Male Students

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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?

Hello,

I am starting my nursing classes in May, and have been stressing about my ink as well. I am nearly sleeved on one arm and have relatively small guaged earings in both ears. I have met with my advisor (Who has been wonderful) with my earings visable, but have made the choice to wear long sleeves to all of my appointments. Obviously, I don't feel my choice in artwork will impair my intelligence in the field of nursing, but I don't want to be "Blackballed" by some uptight individual either. Any suggesetions?

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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.

Oh my god! This is the school that kicked me out! Apparently OCCC is notorious for accepting students with visible tattoos then telling them they cannot continue in the program because OCCC doesn't give them any viable options to realistically cover their tattoos. I was told by a guy working in the bookstore that I was the third person in this semester that had to leave the program because of my tattoos. I sent in an appeal to get my tuition reimbursed, but was denied. I'm currently in the process of doing a second appeal. I am also going to go to The Times Herald Record and tell my story. I don't know if I can post my email, but maybe we should discuss this together and go to the paper. I wish I could find the other students that got kicked out of the program and do something about it!

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Don't know what to say about this. None of my tattoos are visible as this was my rule before I started getting them. I would recommend against it because there's no way it can help you in your career only hurt you and hold you back.

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Oh my god! This is the school that kicked me out! Apparently OCCC is notorious for accepting students with visible tattoos then telling them they cannot continue in the program because OCCC doesn't give them any viable options to realistically cover their tattoos. I was told by a guy working in the bookstore that I was the third person in this semester that had to leave the program because of my tattoos. I sent in an appeal to get my tuition reimbursed, but was denied. I'm currently in the process of doing a second appeal. I am also going to go to The Times Herald Record and tell my story. I don't know if I can post my email, but maybe we should discuss this together and go to the paper. I wish I could find the other students that got kicked out of the program and do something about it!

small world!! My name at ya ho o

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Hey I have a 3/4 sleeve and here's a few things to consider that I run into...

- People always wanna ask questions about them and why you got them. Elderly females especially...

- My I have to have them covered at clinicals some agencies have policies too so be prepared - I like to use the Basketball shooting sleeves

- Ratio has been higher for nurses/ healthcare workers at the facilities I have worked at than the guys at the car shops I used to work for... although you rarely see anyone above a RN (charge, management, ect) with them showing ...

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I'm an older male (33) third year RN student. I have tattoos on my arms, hands, and back of neck. It's who I am now so I own it. Be yourself. If your a good nurse nothing else should matter because times are a changing.

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Specializes in ICU.

The best thing I have seen used to cover visable tatts are TED hose. Just wear them on your arms.

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Specializes in Home Health, Long-Term Care.

I guess it really depends on the hospital. I see techs at the place I volunteer who have tats all over their arms and neck and display them visibly while working, no complaints from patients or staff.

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Unfortunately you are going to have to play by the rules of the institution(s). I'm inked shoulders to elbows but lucky that my school and clinical sites only require that I wear long sleeves under scrubs to cover up. I already had couple UnderArmor and found some Champion polyester/spandex for $9 so not really a big deal.

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I have 2 tattoos that are covered. I see people all the time that have sleeves or visible tattoos or gauges in their ears and all I can think is who would hire that person. Its great that you want to express yourself and be unique, but it doesn't mean everyone else wants to see it. Its unprofessional and can be un-therapeutic. It is what it is. Get over it. Should have thought about it before getting inked up!

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Specializes in ICU.

Tatts and piercings are self expression? They show uniqueness? Not hardly. When people see a guy with several tatts usually they think the guy is military or rides a bike. What is unique about that? A young girl with her bellybutton pierced is about as unique as the white person with the Chinese symbols tattooed on themself. When it comes to dealing with the public impression is everything. If having sleeves gives the patient the impression you are an unclean badass, a loner that does not care about anyone, then they are right. The hospital does not expect the patient to accept your life choices.

Personally tatts don't bother me, because I have several. I thought far enough ahead to have them put where a t-shirt will cover them up. On the other hand, I would not deal with a nurse, doctor, or any professional that had their tongue split.

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The Bill of Rights should be amended so that persons cannot be discriminated based upon the presence or absence of visible tattoos. Not everyone wants to see tattoos... ok... well this is 2011 and it is time to accept diversity.

I'm still in school (1 year left) and havn't yet had trouble finding a job because of having a forearm tattoo... I'm a CNA and a Student Nurse. It's not offensive at all. My clinical instructors havn't cared either, though one made a comment about it and told me that it was fine but not to get any more visible ones, but she was in her 60's and movin' on out. The plan is to continue to wear sleeves to job interviews and then casually show up one day to work without sleeves and see what happens. I'm from the northeast and i don't think anyone here seriously thinks that tattoos are for people who ride motorcycles or loners or "unclean badasses", maybe the very elderly, but then again that age brachet is most likely going to be the population i'm treating... We shall see what becomes of it. I hope that people at work are accepting though, I really like my tattoo!

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