Tattoos and nursing

ikaryuu · Jul 12, 2010

From my school, students had to cover up. As for my personal belief, I'd like to have the nurse taking care of me presentable as a mentor. True, tattoos, could be another way to express one's self but thinking as a nurse's point of view it is about your patient and what they would think of you years to come.

Nierdo · Nov 4, 2011

I never saw tattoos on nurses till i went to an SF hospital. WOW! sleeves, necks and arms? oh my! coolest thing i saw in nursing school.

Annjella · Nov 4, 2011

The nursing school I'm in doesn't even allow students to have tattoos. I just try to make sure no one ever sees mine!

Babs0512 · Nov 5, 2011

Personally, tattoo's and a few piercings - are a sign of the times, I have a nasal piercing that I've had for 20 years (yes, everyone else copied ME! LOL) I have two tattoo's on that starts on the top of my left foot, wraps around the ankle and travels a third of the way up the side of my calf. It's floral and I've gotten a lot of compliments on it. The other is on my other calf, about a third the way up.

Since I now work in "business clothes", you can't help but see the tattoo's when I'm wearing a dress or suit. My piercing is there to stay. None of it prevents me from behaving professionally, or doing my job. It's part of what makes me, well, me.

In short order, these young people with tat's and piercings will be in administration - then what? Again, you can't judge a book by it's cover. Times change, and we must change with them.

Just MHO

DixieRedHead, ASN, RN · Nov 5, 2011

I am old. I wonder if someone could explain a tongue piercing to me. It's not because it's pretty because it's inside the mouth, unseen most of the time.

Lynx25, LPN · Nov 5, 2011

I am old. I wonder if someone could explain a tongue piercing to me. It's not because it's pretty because it's inside the mouth, unseen most of the time.

Think about it.

But, in reality, if you talk all the time, I suppose it would be seen quite often.

Emoorhou · Nov 5, 2011

I think a tongue piercing is more of a sexual thing than asthetic

DixieRedHead, ASN, RN · Nov 6, 2011

I think a tongue piercing is more of a sexual thing than asthetic

Oh..................what bad taste.

Zombi RN · Nov 11, 2011

I think the attitude displayed by many people towards tattoos says more about them than about the person with tattoos.
As for professionalism I think there are many more important aspects of professionalism than tattoos.
For the tat haters, I think some introspection would be valuable (same provision of the Code of Ethics).

:yeah:good posting!!

Chico David, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2011

I'm 60 years old and been around long enough to have seen the whole change process in societal attitude toward tattoos and/or piercings. I have absolutely no problem with them from the standpoint of professionalism or whatever. Esthetically, some I like, some I don't. But that's only me. I suspect that well over half our young nurses have some form of body decoration or modification somewhere. As with so many other things that used to be big issues, it is just fading away as something to worry about. And the less time we spend worrying about those superficial things, the better off we will be.

DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN · Nov 14, 2011

We haven't conquered racism and sexism yet so tattoos and piercings may take a wee while.

I used to care more about tats. They aren't for me. I would be dishonest if I didn't admit to taking a mental step back when I see full sleeves, massive neck tattoos etc. on a nurse or doctor (or my barista). However, it doesn't last long and I get over myself pretty quickly now.

I'm working on it. Give me a break. :)

oklahomagal · Nov 15, 2011

I saw this poster when I was getting my last tattoo.