Can a Nurse have a Tattoo???

Nurses Professionalism

Published

My mom keeps on telling me that Nurses can't have any tattoo or even any piercings, like industrial or cartilage or any thing like that. IS IT TRUE?!?!?!?!

Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.

No.

I have several tattoos, albeit in places that can be hidden when I'm on shift, or are out of a direct eyeline eg ankles.

I also have a nose piercing. I'm currently working in LTC and have never had a negative opinion from any of my patients

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Times are changing, but as you can tell by the variety of posts it's hard to know where OK ends and not OK starts. I think that as you are starting out small tattoos are your safest approach. Once you get established somewhere they notice more about you than they do your body art. I know some nurses have very visible tattoos.

Just wanted to share that back when I started in the '70s one nurse had a really tiny gold nose ring which was literally the scandal of the entire hospital. I laugh at that now, but she went to war over her right to wear it and won. "I don't take care of patients with my nose." Exact quote.

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Specializes in Med Surg.

Everyone has a right to tattoo anything they want. Everyone does not, however, have the right to be free from consequences of having said tattoo.

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ajmclean said:
You say that discrimination is a legal term and I used it in that sense. You inferred that although I didn't imply it. Ergo, you made an assumption and you know what that means :cheeky:. I used the term, as found in the dictionary, to express an opinion, not a legal one. If I was making a legal opinion, I would have stated so and cited a reference. I do have an extensive legal background although IANAL.

Let me clarify my comment- It is discriminatory, IN A NON-LEGAL CONTEXT, to prohibit tattoos. Why? Because the excuse given is that it is not professional. Really? Where's the foundation for this? Where's the empirical evidence? There is none. If we were to ban things because it's unprofessional, we'd ban overweight nurses, CNA's, PCT's etc., because it's unprofessional. It doesn't represent good health practices that we try to convey to our patients. We'd ban off-duty use of alcohol, tobacco, carbonated beverages, etc. And we'd do drug tests. Come on, get real.

Sigh... :sarcastic:

I tried. Oh well.

So....good luck with nursing school, and your attempts to find employment afterward!

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Wow....I have never had an issue with my tattoos.

I have a full sleeve (Lt arm), two inside my right arm on my forearm, couple on my fingers, my ear and back of my neck. The rest are not visible when I work. My ears are stretched. I've had hair every colour of the rainbow, parts of it shaved and have never had an issue.

I work with lots of RNs/LPNs/Care aides that have tattoos.

So I guess it depends a lot on where you work and maybe even which country (I'm in Canada).

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Specializes in Public Health.

Nobody has issues with tattoos or piercings here but it IS Las Vegas. Lol

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NURSES W TATTOOS

I myself have two arm sleeves. It is the facility policy that they be covered. I wear long sleeve shirts under my scrubs or a sweater, or a jacket, etc. The neck on the sides is a bad area to get one for the medical field. I have one on the back of my neck as well and I do ok, at other facilities I had to wear a large bandage over it and it was a pain in the ass and pulled my hair out when I took it off. I wouldn't do knuckles or the tops of your hands, even though I want to desperately. The issue for me is that some of the older population of pts have a stigma attached and don't trust you for healthcare. I have also had times where it has helped create a good working relationship with pts because they feel I am relatable. Just be prepared to sweat ridiculously in the summer time from wearing long sleeves. You can always get your legs done, a chest piece, etc. and none would be the wiser. I also get sick of pts asking me (or the public in general) what they all mean, etc. As far as piercings I know that a lot of my co-workers have nose piercings and such and it is a non issue here. BUT at my gynos office the LPN there wears a ridiculous bandage on her nose to cover the piercing, which I think is more off putting but to each their own. I see no issue with moderate body modification but when you are getting gaged out I'm sure it would be an issue. The ears are supposed to only have one piercing or something like that but most places are lax on that, jewelry in general that's loose is a pt safety issue or rings that can cause skin tears/abrasions. Your mom seems like she's trying to spook you.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

I have my wrists tattoo'd & it's no issue. They didn't even bring it up during the interview either.

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Specializes in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine.

I have two tattoos. Both are in places that don't show when I'm at work. Some of my patients and families would be offended; so would some of my coworkers. I love my tattoos, but they are for me, not for the rest of the world.

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In my area, tattoos must be covered up. Piercings are okay as long as they aren't extreme. Lip piercing and gauges are a no no. I had a fellow nursing student who had very sexual tattoos and she almost got kicked out of the program for refusing to cover her arms up.

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Pneumothorax said:
U can but they can't be like on your face or one of those chest pieces or a sleeve. Some have a zero tolerance policy, other. Orgs say, cover it up with something like a bandaid watch etc.

Better to use ur judgement and lean on the side of professionalism and get them in places that won't be seen with your uniform / scrubs on.

No chest piece? Really? You can't even see them. I have a large tattoo on my chest.

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