Tattoos and nursing - page 11

1. 
   Feb 20, '09

   My experience is that nursing school is more strict on covering up tatoos than most workplaces. There were several in my class who had to wear a large bandaid on their neck during clinicals. My tatoos are covered by scrubs so I had no problem.
2. 
   Mar 10, '09

   I have tattoos but few are visible at work, none are radical or likely to upset anyone. I also have piercings but nothing extravagant at work.
3. 
   Apr 30, '09

   I have a sleeve on my left arm, and a lot of tattoos on my right arm. I have had exposure to other RN's and staff members that work in hospitals around the area and they have never said anything about my tattoos other than the odd, "I wouldn't expect you to be the type that would care so much about others."
   
   I also have a long sleeve dickies scrub shirt to wear under my scrubs that is comfy. I've had the tattoos for well over ten years, and I feel that if someone doesn't want to hire me even though I obviously worked my way to having credentials and a license to help others, then they will have to deal with having one less caring individual on their staff. Someone else will hire me, and they will be able to see how caring and smart and helpful I am.
   
   My tattoos are big, but my heart is bigger.
4. 
   May 3, '09

   There are plenty of nurses that have tattoos. When I was doing my public health rotation, the nurses there took me aside and showed me their tattoos and piercings.
   I have two myself, one is visible, for many years.
5. 
   May 5, '09

   I have a full back piece and working on a full sleeve. I get the same thing "You dont look like the type" lol. What type do you have to be to have tattoos? By the way I am 52 years old and figured "I know what I want to be when I grow up" and if I want ink then I got inked. I do cover for initial interviews or meeting but after they get to know me then I have no problem showing. What's on my skin just like skin color has no bearing on how I do my job or my compassion for others, nor should it!
6. 
   May 5, '09

   There is a lady in my program and she has the word Faith tattoo'd on her wrist and it isn't large at it. When our professor is in a bad mood, she wears a band-aid over it. There is also a guy in our program with a large tribal tattoo on both wrists and he is require to wear a long sleeve underarmor type shirt under the uniform. I have quite a few tattoos and none are visible except the one on the back of my neck. However, the collar of my uniform hides most of it.
7. 
   May 6, '09

   Quote from statphleb SN

   Unfortunately to make extra money for nursing school I worked at HOOTER's :imbarand there none of your tats could show. I would cover mine up with theatrical flesh tone makeup. It can be alittle pricey but I assure you it covers tattoos flawlessly. Good luck!

   I can just hear the manager after the interview. "Could you please cover all you visable tattoos, Thanks. Oh would you mind wearing this shirt that has your boobs hang out and if you have a small pair of black shorts that show your camel toe that would be great."
8. 
   May 8, '09

   Reading some of the posts in this thread make me more content with my decision to pursue nursing. I'm still finishing my GE's in college and always questioned if I'm wasting my time by trying to get into a field that might have zero tolerance for tattoos. I currently have most of my right arm tatted (soon to be a full sleeve) and about to get my chest tatted, which will be visible while wearing scrubs with the neck opening. So for the most part, and I know this isn't accountable for all, maybe most nursing schools/clinics, that it is acceptable if I can cover it up? I was thinking maybe the athletic underarmour shirts would work under the scrubs? Hopefully being tatted will not be a huge disadvantage while trying to acquire a position as an RN. What are your guys thoughts?
   
   thanks.
9. 
   May 8, '09

   It depends on the place. I work with the elderly, and the residents tend to look down on anyone with tattoos.
10. 
    May 8, '09

    My nursing school is quite strict on paper regarding tattoos and piercings. One of my fellow students has full sleeves and so far has not had a problem. He does wear a long sleeve tshirt but they still show, they extend up onto his neck. I have had several female friends told to remove tongue, nose and brow piercings and cover with a bandaid. The hospital I hope to work at (associated with the school) also has about the same policies, including a rule about only one pair of earings. I have a half sleeve and have always worn a long sleeve tshirt to clinicals, except my community health rotation where I worked in a free clinic and didn't worry about it as no one did ("professional dress" was alienating to some pts there). I also have three earings in one ear, they are small gold bands which are permanent (solid ring no closure) and have had no problem. They are small and discreet people tend to notice the waist lenght hair a little more (I keep it tied back and think it is crazy that so many of the female nurses don't keep their long hair tied back way to much risk of getting it in something ). I will choose to keep my tats covered since they might be upsetting to some (too many skulls and bones).
    I think the attitude displayed by many people towards tattoos says more about them than about the person with tattoos.
    The issue of patient comfort has validity but there are two sides to the story. It has been established that uniforms and lab coats create anxiety and a feeling of being in an impersonal place for many (fun prints in peds have been shown to help but we ignore the feelings of adult pts). I have had more than one patient say they dont trust so and so doc the one who always wears a lab coat.
    As for professionalism I think there are many more important aspects of professionalism than tattoos. I am willing in general to conform to the standards of an employer if they are reasonable and well intentioned (culture of the community). Remember the Code of Ethics for Nurses includes a duty to self so self expression and independence are within our professional code.
    Hep C is a red herring! Aren't nurses tested for such things, I know where I work we are. And how is it we are going to transmit it? A far more relevant concern is MRSA which most in healthcare for more than a few years are colonized with.
    As general advice I would say keep your tats covered, if you are getting new ones put them in places that are easy to cover if you are the type of person who wants to get along and get by, if on the other hand you have a strong personality, strong feelings and wish to stand up for them do what you will.
    For the tat haters, I think some introspection would be valuable (same provision of the Code of Ethics).
11. 
    Jul 25, '09

    I'm about to begin my 3rd semester of a BSN program, and so far I have noticed the school is a lot more strict regarding tattoos/piercings than the actual hospital. I only have 3 tattoos, but 2 are very visible. One in red on the inside of my forearm (inner elbow) and one on the back of my neck. I don't hide either for clinicals. So far I've only gotten inquisitive statements regarding them, although I'm sure some of the instructors have thought to say something but didn't. I also have a monroe piercing, and I wear a spacer in it during the duration of clinicals for the semester. It's still visible with the plastic, a lot more low key.
    
    I'm glad a lot of people are talking about tattoos and it seems they are getting to be a lot more accepted in the nursing/medical fields. It has to have been 4 years since I sat for my last piece, and I'm itching for a new one. I'm waiting until I graduate next summer to get an extensive upper-back, shoulder piece. However, it shouldn't be visible outside of scrubs, either. :wink2:
12. 
    Aug 2, '09

    its so cool seeing other nurses on here that also have piercings and tattoos! I just think of the healthcare field as such a conservative looking field its interesting to see others who "hide" their little secrets at work as well! I have a septum piercing which flips up quite nicely and hides and a lip piercing which I can easily remove and actually I work at a few different places and really none of them mind it since its diamondy and small. I want quite a few tattoos in the future but I'm smart and know not to get a full sleeve or anything like that! professional at work and play when I'm off!! (my best friend is a social worker and she has the same piercings!)
13. 
    Jan 28, '10

    Tattoo's are extremely popular. I am 34, and I have 3 of them. My advice is to hide them when you interview and as much as possible at your job. Along with using clothes to hide them, you can get this thick make-up called "Derma..." I forgot the last part to the name but if you go to a major department store like Macy's, Nordstrom, Dillards, Belk, etc. in the make-up section you will be able to find it. It is around 35 to 40ish dolllars, and it covers up thick scars and tattoo's. Oh yeah I think it is called "Derma Blend" If I were you I would invest in some. Good Luck!:bowingpur

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