Nurses with tattoos, is it acceptable?

honeymist · Nov 4, 2009

That's weird if they would care. Right now I work in finance for an investment firm where that would probably be an issue if it was VISIBLE, but that's because you're dealing with high net worth clients, older, very buttoned-up professionals/business-dress clad people with somewhat conservative ideas about things like tattoos, etc. I actually have a small tattoo (very hidden...what would be inappropriate is if i was wearing something that LET it show! haha), but anyways, for nursing I cannot see it being a huge issue, especially where in your case the location of the tattoo is not really going to be visible. I say go for it girl!

Katie5 · Nov 4, 2009

Mine are older than dirt but they are also where the sun don't shine

Lol :yeah: . One of our quiet instrutors had that-we all found out one day in class when she bent over-( she had on low riders).She reacted late by pulling up. But it sort of gave her and us a closer relationship after that. Who would have thought?!!

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Nov 4, 2009

It depends on the employer. I work in LTC. The new night nurse at my job has some large visible tattoos, and no one has said anything so far. Other facilities might be different.

itsnever2L8 · Nov 4, 2009

Do you plan on exposing your shoulder blade at work?

:lol2:

Lacie, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2009

well it's going to look as the rest of the body will - unattractive. So what if the tattoos look bad, it'll just detract from the other sagging/wrinkled parts! I crack up at those women who have implants and they're the only thing that is young and perky on an older body. Pretty funny! Who really cares at the end of the day? As long as you're healthy.

Lol, well if they want to look at my body when I'm 80 in lieu of my ink go for it!! 10-1 90% of those young people caring for me by the time I'm 70-80 will have their own ink to show. And you are right it is hilarous to have an elderly patient who has better looking boobs than I do secondary to thier implants or lifts. Or the person whom you can tell had more than a couple facelifts and cant move anything on thier face but thier lips:eek:

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2009

No offense to those wearing body art, it's a free country after all. Just curious, does anyone worry about what it's going to look like when they get old? The elderly navy men who have the tattoos on the forearms, for instance- a furry anchor or hursuit hula girl is probably not what they envisioned long ago.

Nope, haven't worried about it at all. In fact, I rather like those fuzzy tats on those little old men. It speaks to their history, where they've been, what they've done. That hirsute hula girl can make for a great ice breaker. I've even seen a few LOLs with tats.

April, RN, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2009

that's part of the fun - i know a lady that has a tattoo of a horse on her breast that has gracefully evolved into a giraffe!

HAHA! I laughed out loud at this!

RheatherN, ASN, RN, EMT-P · Nov 4, 2009

This type of thread has come up time and again. I believe its where you work, what the work setting is, what your mgt has to say. BUT, its where your tattoo (s) are. i dont think that your shoulder blade would matter. i do have one on the back of my neck (medical cad with snake and RN with it, all colorful and beautiful, i LOVE it and would LOVE to show it off more tot tell you the truth)-and i intentionally made it JUST slightly peak above a scrub collar, but normally i am wearing a shirt underneath anyhow, you cant see it. everyone has different views, if your proud your proud, i dont really care. but there will always be the person that will tell you that its a profession that tat's are NOT under ANY circumstance acceptable, no matter where, whether you can see them or not. you have to do for YOU. but refer to what the other person stated, are you going to show off your shoulder blade? lol

-H-RN

AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN · Nov 4, 2009

I worked with a male nurse who was COVERED in tats and had his ears gauged to the size of dimes. Hands down, one of THE best nurses I ever worked with, and that fact that he was huge helped on the floor. This guy was about 6'6" and weighed about 300. Built like a brick wall.

Boy, I miss having him on the floor.

I used to wanta tattoo, but my favorite thing is Tweety Bird. I know if I get Tweety on my heinie in my 20's, by the time I'm in my 50's, he'll have turned into Big Bird, and when I'm in my 80's in a nursing home, and they turn me over to wipe me, my grandkids are going to really wonder why Mamaw has Tweety Bird on her rear end.

Bottom line, you should be OK.

AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN · Nov 4, 2009

Or the person whom you can tell had more than a couple facelifts and cant move anything on thier face but thier lips:eek:

This is true. I have seen a few that I'd be willing to bet could whistle through their belly button.

sharpeimom · Nov 4, 2009

this is true. i have seen a few that i'd be willing to bet could whistle through their belly button.

:roll:roll:roll

kathy

sharpeimom:paw::paw:

sweetlyn_violet · Nov 5, 2009

It is so amazing to receive all your responses. It boils down to one thing, if you do your job well, it does not matter if you are inked or not.

Deciding to have the tattoo involves acceptance that it grows old with you. Even if my skin gets wrinkled all over, I would still be proud to have the tat on me. In the first place, every tattoo has its story. This is gonna be my way of expressing my creativity and sorta chronicles of my life. Every one is entitled to their own opinion. For those who don't like it, I respect your view; those who love it just like I do-Rock on!

By the way, my tattoo would be a picture of a leaf. So just imagine when I grow old, it will look wilted- very fitting.. LOL.. Fun, fun!