I was way younger when I got my tattoos done, before considering nursing.
I have on on my wrist going onto my hand, and on my other hand, I have one right on top of it.
I've used dermablend which did not work, used Kat Von d and didn't work, used Glamoflauge which did not work, went to a Sephora artist and they played around with a mix of makeup and nothing worked.
YES I know I shouldn't have gotten them there, so don't go judging me for it. I already learned from it. I don't want to hear all of that "you should get tattoos in other places" .. "You shouldn't have done that" .. All of that. I'm not here for that.
But if you have experienced the same thing and tried to cover any visible tattoos of yours or knows someone who has visible tattoos (e.g. Hands, fingers, wrists, forearms, neck, face, etc) please let me know or ask around what they've done to cover their tattoos up.
My professor has let me use a thumb hole long sleeve shirt for labs and she said she would speak to the director about my tattoos for clinicals .. But she never had and she KNOWS I have tattoos. So idk why she has yet to speak to he director and I start clinicals on the 23!!!
I emailed her days ago and she has yet to reply back and my school is closed. I was thinking of maybe wearing latex gloves (or non latex) prior to entering the pts room? A few nurses I've spoken with (during different tattoo removal consultations) suggested to use medical gloves or use the big bandaids that are waterproof ..
But I do plan on getting my tats removed during nursing school so that I can have them removed before graduation/before my nursing career.
No but I should probably invest in the waterproof ones. I just get the large bandages from Target.
Thank you. I just got a cut from my cat last night and used a Band-Aid brand and it stuck so well onto my skin. Was sort of hard to get off. Maybe that'll work!
We have plenty of nurses and scrub techs with tons of visible tattoos....not really an issue at my hospital.
Wish it wasn't a big deal with my school! They say no tattoos due to the fact that the hospitals or nursing homes we will go to, might have a strict policy on them
When I worked in assisted living, the residents loved the heavily-tattooed male nurse on my shift.
I was getting my CNA last fall and was training at a nursing home. My teacher told me to wrap up but eventually I couldn't keep up with it because of having to constantly wash my hands ..
Eventually my teacher didn't care, nor did ge facility. Everyone was tatted up there and had gauges! It was nice and the patients there didn't mind. They never pay attention to that stuff
Patient safety is the priority, since the tattoos are on your hands, the best thing from an infection control point of view is to leave the tattoos exposed and follow infection control guidelines regarding handwashing and gloves.
I have sleeves. The left one is beautiful, the right one will be, it's a work in progress! I wear long sleeves shirts under my scrubs and push them up when need be. Fortunately I never went further down toward my hands than my wrists with tattoos. I think you should do as dishes mentioned — bandaids and whatnot will ultimately be infection control issues. Maybe they haven't mentioned it because they're not going to. Tattoos are so common now, many places don't prohibit them as long as they aren't racist, hateful, or obscene. I could expose mine at work but they are personal and keeping them covered is a choice I make. Good luck!
I have sleeves. The left one is beautiful, the right one will be, it's a work in progress! I wear long sleeves shirts under my scrubs and push them up when need be. Fortunately I never went further down toward my hands than my wrists with tattoos. I think you should do as dishes mentioned — bandaids and whatnot will ultimately be infection control issues. Maybe they haven't mentioned it because they're not going to. Tattoos are so common now, many places don't prohibit them as long as they aren't racist, hateful, or obscene. I could expose mine at work but they are personal and keeping them covered is a choice I make. Good luck!
My teachers told me it's because of "CDC" issues. Something about tattoos are still considered "fresh" although they may be really old. They said something about that microorganisms can still live on the tattoos and spread to patients.
Some bs like that. I thought well, I'll be constantly washing my hands like everyone else does, and will be gloving. Why is this an issue? Because of how we "look"? Ok ..
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
My teachers told me it's because of "CDC" issues. Something about tattoos are still considered "fresh" although they may be really old. They said something about that microorganisms can still live on the tattoos and spread to patients.
Some bs like that. I thought well, I'll be constantly washing my hands like everyone else does, and will be gloving. Why is this an issue? Because of how we "look"? Ok ..
That makes sense if they are fresh but who is going to go to work with a super fresh tattoo?
xmilkncookiesx, RN
153 Posts
I'm assuming its hospital policy. They just state in the nursing program policy that it is to be no visible body art (tattoos, piercings, etc).
It's not offensive. I have paws that start on my wrist and run up to my left thumb. (Knuckle of my thumb)
On my right hand, it's on top of my hand and sort of runs to the side of my hand and onto my knuckles a little.
Honestly wish tattoos weren't such a big deal in the medical field.
They keep telling us it's "unprofessional" ...