So in my BSN program we are getting a lot of education focused on cultural diversity and honoring others as people, and the choices they make about lifestyle. We are to help others achieve optimum health while respecting their culture and not imposing our personal values on them.
Interesting enough, nurses (including student nurses) are told that our tattoos are "unacceptable" and "unprofessional." I have to wear long sleeves to cover of my peony flower tattoo on my upper forearm, because it "might offend" a patient.
I work for a hospital that has a no tattoo policy, but our lower management/charge nurses don't care. I work with nurses that have told me they don't care about my tattoos, and many of them and our patient population would feel more comfortable working with me because I have tattoos. And frankly, wearing long sleeves is an infection-control issue with the department I work in. I'd rather show my tattoos than spread microbes from patient to patient.
So, as nurses we are to celebrate the cultural diversity of others, but our own diversity is unacceptable. It is important for us to be professional (smell nice, clean look, etc.), and tattoos don't change this. However we may be letting patient care slip as we nit-pick at some issues. I wouldn't relate this to those with of piercings cause that can affect patient care (infection control, injury issue, etc.), especially in the OR. I won't wear jewelry in the OR to protect my patients.
So I'm wondering what other student nurses have experienced regarding this issue of cultural diversity and their own tattoos, or experience with other students with tattoos.
There are many places out there where hiring authorities believe that tattoos belong on sailors, bartenders and members of biker gangs, not on professionals. You are free to express your "cultural values" in any legal way you wish. Just don't expect the world to embrace your choices.
Oy, another Tattoos versus Non-Tattoos thread. Well, it's been at least two weeks since it was last debated, so....guess it's time again
People who have tattoos and rings in their faces believe it should not matter. People without tattoos and no rings in their faces believe it does. Only thing that DOES seem to matter is that whichever side people fall on, they never agree with what the other side is saying!
For me, it's pretty clear: your employer sets a tone and a policy. Nursing schools set a tone and a policy. A student has a choice to attend and obey the policy; an applicant knows going in what the policy of an employer is (or has the responsibility to find out, if any of it is a deal-breaker).
To address the specific topic posed, 'Celebrating cultural diversity' has to do with what the professional affords the patient. NOT that the patient is required to 'celebrate cultural diversity' with a healthcare provider. It's about THEM, not US.
One has to wonder if there are entire message boards devoted to this subject on other professions' forums: attorneys, physicians, accountants, whatever. And if not.....why, then, so much of an issue for nursing?
My advice: pick your battles. I see the acceptability of tattoos as a generational thing. Give it time - change will happen. Personally, I've always been attracted to body art, just never chose to spend the rent on getting any. Now, I'm old and the skin is less than ideal for tatooing. Oh, well - next time around, I guess.
Meanwhile, I do believe that it's highly unlikely that folks with tattoos were unaware of the negative effect their art might have on their employers and/or clients. I think belly-aching about "diversity" now that you have them is a bit disingenuous. What, exactly, did y'all think was going to happen?
When my son wanted to get tattooed, or adopt any other "rebel" signifier, I said no problem, as long as he was willing to accept that some people might react negatively. It was his call. He generally decided to wait.
Hmm - here we go again. So, re use of the word "culture" I'll trot out my Inigo Montoya (Princess Bride) quote again "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means"
Unless you are descended from people who use tattoos as symbols of their beliefs, this is not a part of your "culture". Although they are definitely recognizable groups of people, Bikers, Hipsters, Yakuza, Russian Mafia and other tattoo/body modification enthusiasts are not included as part of an authentic "culture" in terms of societal recognition. Maybe in the future, but not now.
Here's the healthcare workplace reality. The effectiveness of a patient care interaction is largely dependent upon the patient's trust in the provider. This decision (who to trust) is not based upon logic or research. There is a good bit of evidence that human beings make nearly instantaneous decisions about people based upon first impressions -- AKA, the person's appearance. If you don't look like the patient thinks you are 'supposed' to look, it can be a huge obstacle. Since patient satisfaction is now a factor in reimbursement, employers are placing much more emphasis on the appearance & behavior of their workers. Heck, even the Army has rolled out new prohibitions on tattoos.
I think it stems more from a patient perspective. There are many patients who are offended by the sight of even the most innocent of tattoos or piercings, so in an effort to be respectful of these patients, these policies exist. I think it has less to do with offending coworkers or squelching your personal expression.
I am in an area where this isn't a huge issue, and I've even had geriatric patients compliment the tattoo across the back of my neck (hard to cover, even in scrubs), but having that tattoo has held me back from other jobs (prior to being a nurse). It's a risk we take when we choose to get art or piercings in visible places. Do I think tats should be allowed at work? For the most part, yes. Same with piercings (I look forward to getting my nose re-pierced once I have a steady job somewhere, as long as it's allowed per policy). But I also respect that hospitals and other settings have their reasons for these policies.
I would take the tatted nurse who rocks over the non-tatted horrible nurse any day! And tattoos have nothing to do with professionalism. What about those tribes/cultures/groups where body modification is a way of life? So if you had a Samoan doctor with a facial tat you wouldn't take him seriously?? Or an Indian nurse with a nose piercing...you wouldn't want her taking care of you...just because of a piercing??? Give me a break! Like OP stated, she is being taught to accept cultural differences because she wants to show respect to her patients...NOW show us a lil respect.
I think the point being missed is the school's side; one needs to be cognizant on that the school is a guest in a facility; they are competing against many schools for a spot and to lose a spot could be detrimental to the school; these standards are in place to not make any potential waves and lose opportunities for students.
Once one is done with school, most facilities have no issues with people who have tattoos and piercings, and some facilities do put a limit on how many piercings are allowed and how visible tattoos can be; it can be similar to the schools policy, more restrictive, or relaxed; it depends on the organization.
You make an excellent point, LadyFree28. I have considered this, and obviously schools need to conform with hospital policy. However, we are made to cover tattoos in lab as well. But I'm glad you brought that up.
We are taught to be culturally aware and respectful- wouldn't it be wonderful if this went both ways? The simple answer here is that it's not about US- and culturally speaking, many people in this country (mostly older generation) have a negative association with people who are tattooed. It's not about YOU, it's about the comfort of the patient. I understand where you're coming from, but I also understand where the school/hospitals are coming from. I had a patient not too long ago who was terrified of one of the physical therapists because he was a big man with big tattoos- she thought he was going to hurt her every time he walked into the room.
How would you react if she was afraid because he was hispanic?
HarryTheCat, MSN, RN
152 Posts
There are many places out there where hiring authorities believe that tattoos belong on sailors, bartenders and members of biker gangs, not on professionals. You are free to express your "cultural values" in any legal way you wish. Just don't expect the world to embrace your choices.