Lots of threads on tattoos but....

I honestly believe that the effect of your tat will be based on your location and with whom you interview.

My 2 son's and my stepson all got large forearm tats when they were serving in the Army. Everyone of them is stuggling to survive because they have been shown the door by many an interviewer. Stepson had 5yrs as an MP and was turned away from the PD in SC because of the tats. Both of my sons have had interviewers show them the short sleeve "uniform" and then were told that the tats would not be considered a positive reflection on the company so no job.

Two of my DD's have tat's. The oldest is a veteran (combat medic) in NS now. Hers are not visible so won't be an issue. For my other DD, she is a CJ (criminal justice) major and has a tat of a shamrock (irish heritage) on her calf. Only time will tell if she is affected by it.

When it comes to tats, I advised my kids against them. I was summarily ignored. Now, it is what it is. One point I made to my daughters.....be careful about getting tats....think about what that tattoo would look like on Nana! (My mother was a runner-up in the Miss NY pageant and a model.....but is now 225 at 5'3" at 75 yo). What looks great now might look hideous and out of place decades from now.

I do believe that attitudes will change. I just would wait until THEN before inking up!

Nowadays lots of people get tattoos and the view of them as 'criminal' is very very outdated. I am 53 and have no tattoos, have no problem with them. That being said, many older people do have a negative opinion of them and wonder why, especially a young girl would have them. You will find people who care and those who don't. Ultimately, It will up to the individual hiring you and what ever their opinion is. They won't say "It's because you have tattoos" but it will lurk in the back of their mind and color their perception of you, either positively or negatively, just as people out in the world will see them.

I'm sure you yourself have some people you look at and say, ummmm, not so sure about that style. Like pants down to the knees, multiple piercings, mohawk haircuts, mini-skirts, bras showing, LOL, it goes on and on. Some will like your style and some won't.

Soooo, tattoos will probably cut down on your choices of where you can work, but will not stop you form working everywhere. Good luck :)

Unfortunately it works like this: you have the right to tattoo your body as you wish (e.g. arms, face, etc), but you need to understand you face the consequences from those actions by others. People judge, evaluate and "think" things about your decision if you do so---you can even see it in some of the posts here. Sadly SOME others may think less of you as a result, as though you are not a quality person, nurse, etc. If you are truly proud of them, then when someone comments or degrades you as a result, sweep it off your shoulder and sigh...the world is filled with hypocritical persons who think it is their right to judge others without staring at themselves in the mirror.

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.

What a ridiculous statement. I got my first tattoo at 19 and my 2nd at 32: no regrets here. Also, none are visible.

To the OP: I went to nursing school and had a clinical with someone in their mid-20s with a large visible tattoo on the side of her neck. It wasn't an issue. She's a successful OR nurse right now.

Tattoos are very mainstream now. Yes, you may be judged by it (as apparent by some people posting replies here) but I think most people today are more thoughtful and will judge you by who you are *underneath* the ink.

:) Good luck with school!

Call me all the names you like, but I would never hire someone with visible tattoos. I doubt steelydan and I are the only ones. Just something to keep in mind as one makes such choices.....

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

It's going to vary a lot on the facility. At my hospital, we have a policy that tattoos should be covered "if possible" and if not, they should be "conservative." My nursing school had a no visible tattoo policy, but only one of my clinicals instructors cared to enforce it.

Honestly, I'd be more concerned about being able to cover them for interviews: those are much more formal situations often than actually working, and you don't want to be knocked out of the running for a job where it really might not be a huge issue once hired.

I don't have much of an opinion on nurses with tattoos...I would say I probably find blatantly visible/obnoxious tattoos to be a little unprofessional, but otherwise who cares if you are doing your job well.

This is completely a side note, but I am planning a wedding and I have a completely different opinion of BRIDES with TATTOOS. Nothing makes me cringe more than a gorgeous bride in her white dress and veil with a giant, nasty tattoo on her shoulder!!! :grn: Haha I said it was a little off topic...but I couldn't resist! So glad none of my bridesmaids have tattoos haha!

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.

I think Steelydanfan is just being honest and giving her own personal opinion about tattoos. Why can't we all agree to disagree in a more respectful manner?

Of course everyone is welcome to their personal opinion, but steelydanfan also claimed to be speaking for the "general population" too. And given how common tattoos are becoming...I just don't think that's really an accurate generalization. Some people clearly still have a negative association with tattoos, but the "general population"? Certainly not where I live. I didn't find the post offensive- it just gave me a good chuckle.

One point I made to my daughters.....be careful about getting tats....think about what that tattoo would look like on Nana! (My mother was a runner-up in the Miss NY pageant and a model.....but is now 225 at 5'3" at 75 yo). What looks great now might look hideous and out of place decades from now.

IDK, I've never looked at an old person with a wrinkly, faded tattoo and thought "grandpa/grandma would look so much sexier if it weren't for that old tattoo."

With small tattoos like that, you might want to look into having them removed.

I'm in the process of having one removed right now (not visible to the general public, just not a tattoo I like anymore). If they're small and one color, it probably won't take more than 4-5 treatments for them to be gone, or so faded that most people won't notice.

:clown:I don't have any but I have worked with many nurses and aids with visible tattoos and there hands, arms and necks and they all have found jobs very easily by there accounts. I know there never asked to cover them in our facility and no one looks twice at them. I personally think its more in how you carry yourself and the dedication in your work that will speak volumes toward reputation.

and ps. body arts been around for alot longer then the concept of "criminal" has been around in alot of cultures.

Call me all the names you like, but I would never hire someone with visible tattoos. I doubt steelydan and I are the only ones. Just something to keep in mind as one makes such choices.....

Wow.

How does this sentence work in other ways?

Call me all the names you like, but I would never hire someone who is fat. Just something to keep in mind as one makes such choices.

Call me all the names you like, but I would never hire someone who doesn't wear makeup. Just something to keep in mind as one makes such choices.

Call me all the names you like, but I would never hire a man with long hair. Just something to keep in mind as one makes such choices.

Call me all the names you like, but I would never hire someone with breast implants. Just something to keep in mind as one makes such choices.

Call me all the names you like, but I would never hire a Republican. Just something to keep in mind as one makes such choices.

Call me all the names you like, but I would never hire a vegan. Just something to keep in mind as one makes such choices.

Call me all the names you like, but I would never hire a Steelers fan. Just something to keep in mind as one makes such choices.

Call me all the names you like, but I would never hire a Sarah Palin supporter. Just something to keep in mind as one makes such choices.

Call me all the names you like, but I would never hire someone who didn't go to an ivy league school. Just something to keep in mind as one makes such choices.