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?

Specializes in ICU, ER, nursing admin, med/surg, flight.

I am a nurse of 9 years and have both arms with sleeves, tattoos on my neck and legs, and my ears are gauged. I have not found a problem with my tattoos because I make it a point to always wear long sleeved undershirts beneath my scrubs so that my tattoos are not immediately visible. Especially if I interview for a job as a nurse, I assure that I am wearing a long sleeved dress shirt so that my tattoos are not disclosed immediately. Then, on my first day of work, I often will pull up my sleeves and display my art because then what are they gonna do? Fire me? lol.. Likely not. I am now a nurse practitioner student so a lab coat will now be my cover;)

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Specializes in Infectious Disease, Neuro, Research.
I am a nurse of 9 years and have both arms with sleeves, tattoos on my neck and legs, and my ears are gauged. I have not found a problem with my tattoos because I make it a point to always wear long sleeved undershirts beneath my scrubs so that my tattoos are not immediately visible. Especially if I interview for a job as a nurse, I assure that I am wearing a long sleeved dress shirt so that my tattoos are not disclosed immediately. Then, on my first day of work, I often will pull up my sleeves and display my art because then what are they gonna do? Fire me? lol.. Likely not. I am now a nurse practitioner student so a lab coat will now be my cover;)

:cool: Please note the latent Machievellianism and subtle maturity, above. Emulate the thinking, not just the style.:D

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As I stated before, I have no problem with covering my artwork...truthfully, I intended on covering it initially at work anyway. But now I have a question for danny RN. As a a heavily tattooed man in the nursing field, upon graduation from your masters program, will you be less restrained when showing your artwork in the work environment? In other words, now that you have jumped through the proverbial "hoops", and have climbed the nursing ladder, do you feel it is your right to display your work?

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I had the same fear as you. I quickly found out it's not as bad as we all make it out to be. I have a sleeve btw.

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@MarkieMark- Thats refreshing...It seems as though people are completely outraged by them, or just don't care. Personally, I like to form my opinions based on your content...not your visual representation. Although, the baggy pants down past the ass do perturb me as well...Maybe I'm being hypocritical?

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That comes to personal preference now. I'm sure someone could look at me and say oh wow tattoos and judge me before they even knew me. That's their problem not mine. Do I have a sleeve and multiple tattoos (legs, ankles)? Yes. They all have meaning and none are offensive in any way, shape, or form. Little does one know I've never drank or done drugs. I got one detention in 5th grade for telling someone how to do a problem. That's literally the last time I was in any sort of trouble. I believe tattoos are an expression in life and as long as doctors, lawyers, judges, mechanics, engineers, teachers...and so on are doing their job in a respectful, courteous manner I have zero problems.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Work nights. No one cares on night shift.

Just last night I was talking to my pt, who was 68, about the tattoo she wanted to get and then she asked if I had any and we got into a huge discussion over it. Was really fun at 0400 discussing this with a pt.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med Surg.

I am a heavily tattooed female and this post just caught my eye. I'm almost graduated from a LPN program and just finished my first semester of my RN. Most of the hospital policies here say no visible tattoos (I have 2 full sleeves and a full chest piece up to my clavicle). I have encountered more stress about tattoos from my clinical instructors than anyone else. They let me wear longsleeves but I also have to wear a jacket in the hallways because otherwise they consider it to be "out of uniform" (even though we wear white scrub tops and I have white longsleeve shirts). I haven't started clinicals for my RN program yet, but in September I will and I'm sure it's going to be an issue. I personally prefer to keep my tattoos covered up in the hospital setting and at school. I want my patients to feel comfortable, my instructors to take me seriously, and hospital staff to know I am professional. Most people would be shocked to learn I had tattoos.

Even though we want to believe that people should accept us for who we are and not what we look like, they don't. We are expected to show up and dress professionally, and be creative on our own time (we can't even have funky hair color), and I don't particularly disagree with that. Tattoos or no tattoos, I am a top student in my class and I must say, I'd rather have a "badass tattooed loner rebel" like me take care of a patient than most of the students without tattoos! Just sayin'.

Good luck to you. I'd hold off on the neck tattoo, but since you already have tattoos on your arms, what's one more? You're going to have to cover all of them up regardless.

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delete

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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!

I find it a bit hypocritical to speak out against tattoos when you have them yourself. It seems as if you decided to get a permanent means of expression, and then became ashamed to show it. I have been in the military for 13 years and choose tattoos that honor the fallen, and reflect my personal outlook on life. Even the military's view on tattoos have changed allowing tattoos on the neck and hands as long as they aren't offensive. This change is monumental given the military's slow adaptation to social change, this acceptance of the new paradigm shows how prevalent the practice of tatooing has become. In the words of the great Dr. Seuss, "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that mind don't matter, and those that matter don't mind!"

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

"Please note the latent Machievellianism and subtle maturity, above. Emulate the thinking, not just the style.:D" Funny, well said.

Cover 'em up is all. I'm pushing 40, my arms and legs are sleeved, and I've been an RN for a few years now. Before that, I ran the front end of my wife's family's restaurant, & before that I was a banker, et cetera. First impressions are a big deal - whether you're talking about a potential employer or a potential enema recipient. I work nights on a psych unit, so I have my sleeves rolled up most of the time. But if I'm admitting someone or haven't interacted yet with a patient and have to wake them up to draw blood or something, I'll cover up. Sure, you're probably a nice guy who loves his mother and has never smoked meth off of a broken lightbulb, but these people don't know that. Be professional and don't let some little old lady with antiquated sensibilities think she's getting a catheter inserted by a serial rapist pervert. Then, certainly, once you've established what a good boy you are you can ask her if she likes the Tasmanian Devil or topless pinup girls or cross-eyed portraits of housepets and flash some regrettable nonsense at her. In the meantime, it's about the patient's level of comfort and not your sense of individuality or pride in having been in prison. Why is this an issue even worth discussion? You're cool, we get it. Now cover up. Also, anyone with over-sized ear holes should get back in their time machine and make some better decisions in 1995. What else? Yeah, in my next life I will definitely not be married in nursing school while being a fully sleeved guy who has a penchant for ridiculously good-looking, motivated young women. I still have a lump in my throat and a tear on my cheek for the memory of that torture. A real figurative tear, not a tattoo.

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I supposed it depends on your work place. one of the guys on the pediatric floor at our hospital has 2 full sleeves. when parents complain (once or twice every couple of years) the manager tells the parent that she doesn't want him to wear long sleeves as it's an infection control concern.

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