Published Jan 21, 2011
dreamer827
17 Posts
I did a search for a tattoo thread and came up with several.... but I have a few small ones on my hands. My ring finger tattoo is covered by my wedding bands. I have tiny skulls on both of my middle fingers. And 3 hearts on the index finger of one hand. I got these tattoos years ago when I had given up on ever going back to school and starting a career. Oh the things we do when we're young and dumb. I don't regret any of my tattoos, but I want to b a nurse so bad and I'm about to spend 2 1/2 years working towards that goal. I searched the threads and because there are so many I didn't read them all. But from what i did read most said as long as you can cover them you should be ok. So I guess my question is are there any nurses out there with visible tattoos? Are my finger tattoos going to ruin my career before it even starts? I'd hate to have removed because they all mean so much to me.... but so does my future career
clemoi
16 Posts
I have a tattoo on my thumb that i cover with a simple silver ring, but you can still see it. During my first nursing class i wore bandaids over it to cover it but they came off every five minutes when i washed my hands and i realized it was more hazardous (carrying germs) than anything. I stopped covering it and since then not one instructor, nurse, manager, or patient has said anything about it. I worried about it for awhile but now I realize that i am always clean, unwrinkled, put together and professional. that's what really counts. hope that helps :)
steelydanfan
784 Posts
Tatoos will always be seen as "out there". IMHO, most of them are done at 18 and regretted at 30. "Young and Dumb" hits the nail on the head. Sorry. yes your visibile tattoos will hurt you in your job search. To the general population, they look cheap and cast aspersions on your mindset and morals.
I'm going to get a lot of flack here, but tattoos has been first and last associated with criminals.
lurolphil
2 Posts
in my experience both as a care aide and as a student nurse, i have seen some nurses (and nursing students) with tattoos. the use of opaque or coloured gloves can often hide tattoos and thus solved the problem. perhaps, this can be an option for you as well.
P_RN, ADN, RN
6,011 Posts
There is also a makeup called covermark that is waterprooof that will cover most any tattoo that doesnt get scrubbed with a brush.
abvincent1
50 Posts
I think the only time it will impact you is perhaps in a job interview. However, our society is moving more toward a individual bias where the younger cohort is adopting a worldview more in line with "who care's". I think as the older move on and the younger move up tattoos, etc will be looked at far differently.
Personally, I don't care if one assisting me is any thing but good at his/her job. So my advice is, rather than stress over your tattoos, just focus on your goal/s---all will work out in time as it should
pedicurn, LPN, RN
696 Posts
Tatoos will always be seen as "out there". IMHO, most of them are done at 18 and regretted at 30. "Young and Dumb" hits the nail on the head. Sorry. yes your visibile tattoos will hurt you in your job search. To the general population, they look cheap and cast aspersions on your mindset and morals.I'm going to get a lot of flack here, but tattoos has been first and last associated with criminals.
Many people are quite surprised to learn that I have a tattoo as I seem quite conservative.
I got it when I was 40 yrs old and it's lovely .... very well done.
I haven't noticed people changing their opinion of me - if anything, the younger set seem to think I'm cool.
It's not visible, so I guess that helps
Blackcat99
2,836 Posts
I agree with you 100%. Yes, I think visible tattoos will hurt in a job search. I would get them removed.
I hate to admit it but when I see tattoos I immediately think that the person is probably a criminal or a person with a criminal past.
rockabye
147 Posts
I work with a few nurses who I have seen tattoos on the inside of their wrists. I haven't seen anyone have a problem with it and it certainly hasn't affected their nursing career. I personally wouldn't make it a big deal to cover them up except for job interviews. Otherwise just handle it on a person-by-person basis if your instructors or management has a problem with it. Wearing gloves, which you are supposed to do for most patient care anyways, will cover them up. Your tattoos are small so its not a big deal. Just don't get anymore visible ones .
loriangel14, RN
6,931 Posts
My charge nurse has a very large one on the calf of her leg and in the hot weather she wears capris. Not a problem apparently.I work with many with visible tatoos( including a new grad they just hired) so I guess it repends on the facility. I work in a hospital. Assuming that a person is a criminal just because of a tatoo makes no sense.
futrn
132 Posts
Wow! As a person with tatoos, one on my upper right arm...one on each wrist which can only be covered with a long sleeve shirt which is too hot to wear as an aide or nurse...I find it very offending the way people on this thread are associating tattoos. I got a job last year as a patient care tech in a hospital just fine and I am getting ready to be nursing student next semester. Maybe it is a generational thing as I am young only 26 although no one has had any problems or said anything to me about my tattoos at my old job or in my prerequisite classes nor any advisors. I have a 4.0 gpa got an 84% on the TEAS V and I do not look like a criminal and I plan on being an excellent hard working nurse with even more tattoos. It is 2011 already people tattoos have been growing rapidly in our culture since the 80's it is time to break the stigma...honest if a place is not going to hire me because of my tattoos then I don't think I would really want to work there...I wonder if they treat their patients with tattoos as a criminal or drug addict. You know a key quality of a good nurse is being accepting of cultural difference not judging it. Ok I am done ranting now.
I worked in corrections in the past and the great majority of inmates do in fact have tattoos. A correctional officer at the prison told me that tattoos on the hands are commonly seen on gang members. Anyway, to each their own.
I wish you the best of luck in finding a job with or without tattoos.