Lots of threads on tattoos but....

In general, I think tattoos are much more acceptable than they used to be. Unfortunately,

I have tiny skulls on both of my middle fingers.

I could see this being a major problem. Something about seeing skulls on middle fingers seems pretty offensive. Just my personal opinion, but I doubt I'm the only one who'd feel that way.

You could cover them up for an interview, but what happens after that? If I discovered that my employee suddenly had middle-finger tattoos there would be (terminal) consequences. It's just too unprofessional.

Listen, we need nurses who love nursing and who want to be there for people in their sickest and darkest hours! If you have the drive and compassion to be a nurse, to make someone feel comfortable when their grossest of the gross is leaking all over their bed and YOU have to clean it up, who cares what or how you choose to represent yourself artistically or socially. Your true caring and compassionate self will shine through any body, art, or whatever expression. Your patients will be looking in your eyes for acceptance, not looking at your body art trying to decide if you are worthy of caring for them. If you are a true nurse, that will shine bigger and brighter than your appearance.

As for ANY peer, leader or manager that wouldn't hire you for that, GOOD. You don't want to work for someone that judgmental anyway, because there will for sure be issues later on about every other thing you are or are not or whatever the belief is at the moment LOL. Please, judgmental small minded people, take my little, tasteful and deeply meaningful thumb tattoo as a sign that I am an open minded, free thinking and accepting person and if that doesn't work for your company please don't hire me.

Also, try not to look past my thumb tattoo at my 3.96 GPA, the fact that I hold office in my student government, that I'm a member of several nursing organizations, that I have a comprehensive history of successful corporate experience. I hope to goodness someone that would judge someone else like that doesn't end up as my boss....eeek scary.

In general, I think tattoos are much more acceptable than they used to be. Unfortunately,

I could see this being a major problem. Something about seeing skulls on middle fingers seems pretty offensive. Just my personal opinion, but I doubt I'm the only one who'd feel that way.

You could cover them up for an interview, but what happens after that? If I discovered that my employee suddenly had middle-finger tattoos there would be (terminal) consequences. It's just too unprofessional.

I have a tattoo myself but do find the themes of many others to be offensive. I really dislike skulls and the grim reaper stuff ... I find it 'dark' and am strongly opposed to such imagery.

But whilst I would be reacting negatively to such imagery .... I would need to remember that I am making a judgement relating to my own belief system ....therefore inappropriate for penalise an employee for a skull; versus a rose ... or a shamrock

I have a tattoo myself but do find the themes of many others to be offensive. I really dislike skulls and the grim reaper stuff ... I find it 'dark' and am strongly opposed to such imagery.

But whilst I would be reacting negatively to such imagery .... I would need to remember that I am making a judgement relating to my own belief system ....therefore inappropriate for penalise an employee for a skull; versus a rose ... or a shamrock

I agree with you in principle but was trying to realistic with my answer. Realistically, I consider skulls more unprofessional (less professional? don't know how to word that ...) than other tattoo themes. If I saw one on Joe Schmoe out on the street I wouldn't blink twice but on a nurse? And in such a visible area? It certainly isn't going to enhance your school or job applications.

Yes, technically, we can recognize this as judgmental and probably not worth the amount of attention that will be paid to it. But it will matter nonetheless.

I agree with you in principle but was trying to realistic with my answer. Realistically, I consider skulls more unprofessional (less professional? don't know how to word that ...) than other tattoo themes. If I saw one on Joe Schmoe out on the street I wouldn't blink twice but on a nurse? And in such a visible area? It certainly isn't going to enhance your school or job applications.

Yes, technically, we can recognize this as judgmental and probably not worth the amount of attention that will be paid to it. But it will matter nonetheless.

Well ..... they are fairly popular these days. I really don't think they are hurting job opportunity. Perhaps in the past but not now.

Even our docs have them - a Surgical resident at work has three visible ones (no skulls though LOL)

Maybe you can speak with a tattoo artist and see if there is any sort of cover up he/she can do. Nothing else, they can probably be made into solid "rings".

dreamer827,

How did you choose those tattoos? Did they have specific meaning? Did the tattoo artist explain how they could be interpreted or that they might have a meaning in certain populations? Hand tattoos for women can definitely have an interpretation that might not be beneficial to someone seeking a career in the health care professions.

Tattoo removal is a booming industry for several reasons. Some realize in a tough economy one must make themselves marketable so they must present themselves in a favorable way when there may be hundreds applying for the same job. Another reason is some have gotten a tattoo because it looked nice but didn't realize it could also be mistaken for some other identity in an organization that might not be part of their beliefs at all.

Since we have a large gang and inmate population in my area, we've actually had a few CE courses to identify tattoos of various members. It definitely made some think more carefully about getting a tattoo for their own body and what the design should be. It is little wonder why that stigma is on tattoos.

Art is in the eye of the beholder but sometimes you may have to choose between what might become a distraction to your profession and your passion to express yourself. It is no different than those who have strong religious or political beliefs. It can become a distraction if your opinions are expressed or worn too openly and others don't share the same opinion or passion.

I'd worry more about those fingernails than I would the tats.

Most of my kids' friends have tats...lots of MY friends have them too and we're all in our mid 50s. I have a beautiful tat on my ankle...it's never stopped me from being hired and I've made no attempt to cover it up during an interview. Lots of my patients have tattoos...honestly with so many other things to worry about. I'd be more concerned with hiring a dumb tattooless nurse than a good one with some ink.