Nurses with tattoos

[Deargceann]

I'm starting nursing school soon, and I am trying to figure out which specialty I might like. I am leaning towards psych, but I don't want to be pigeonholed. I have tattoos on my arms which will be visible with scrub tops, but I know I'll have to wear something underneath to hide them. My question is, are there any specialties that would be more or less prohibitive for wearing long sleeves? Thanks in advance.

[Safetymouse, LPN, LVN]

At the hospital I work at, there is a nurse in the float pool who goes all over the hospital with at least three very visible tattoos on her arms and a small one on the back of her neck that is shown off when her hair is up. As far as I can tell...nobody bothers her about them.

[Deargceann]

Thanks everyone. I pretty much figured L&D was out, I don't really want to be elbow deep with sleeves on. lol. I wasn't sure about OR since they are usually knocked out anyway. I'm used to people judging me by my tattoos, that's why I cover them in any kind of conservative setting. You would be amazed at who compliments me on them when I'm out and about. I was shocked the first few times little, old ladies did. As far as using band-aids or wraps to cover them up, I'm pretty sure I would look like a mummy or I lost a fight with a weedwhacker if I did. I always get a laugh too when I make my heart tattoo on my forearm "beat." Evidently the department head is a beast about tattoos, but since she said to come to class like I am going to work, I'll just wear long sleeves and pants even to lecture. I figure if she freaks when she finds out, I'll just explain that I wanted her to see the quality of my work before she made any assumptions about me. The way I look at it, tattoos are our generations long hair on men. Eventually, it won't be a big deal, and larger cities will be more open than the deep south town I live in now.

[steelydanfan]

Ok, my personal bias here. I HATE tattoos on women, and don't really care for them on men either. I think they look cheap, and I happen to subscribe to the belief that people who get them are impetuous and thrill seeking. Consider the consequences people, when you are 60 that tat is going to be an unsightly blur. There is a reason why military guys only had them put on biceps or shoulders!

OK rant over, and NO there is no reason to discrimate against someone with a tattoo. But for certain of us, it does smack of irresponsibilty, and while I would'nt discriminate, you can bet there are people out there that do.

[amy007]

I just graduated nursing school and i have a sleeve. i was required to were white long sleeves under my scrubs which it was pretty easy to find thick ones that were thick enough. I had a couple cool instructors who lets me slide by with out my long sleeves or lab coat on hot days....i felt bad tho when patients would look at me wierd tho so i tried not to do it often. I thought i wanted to do either psych or peds but once i got some experience i dnt think its my specialty. im leaning more towards hospice. have u figured it out yet?

[Deargceann]

I hate that whole "How are you going to look when you're 80?" comment. As far as I know, I've never seen any hot 80 year olds.

[LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN]

Another thing to consider is where you are going to work. I don't have any tatts....yet. But a couple of co-workers do, I work at a consertive religious hospital, those that have tatts have to cover them up, plus only one earring per ear. One of my co-workers works PRN at another area hospital and told me that at the other place they don't care about the tatts.

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

OR. You can wear a warm up jacket as a nurse, but no long sleeves under your scrubs. Haven't really seen anyone spoken to about visible tattoos though..I myself have 4.

Signed, a "cheap, impetuous, thrill seeking" nurse, LOL.

[RPN_2012]

I heard that NICUs don't allow long sleeves, all sleeves must end below the elbow. So if you have to cover your tats with long sleeves, I don't see how that can be done in a NICU.

[Pegasus65]

Hehehehe I can assure you my tattoo wasn't "cheap" by any means.. my little reptile cost me a small fortune! Nor was it something I decided to do on the spur of the moment. As for it blurring out... I really don't see that happening since it is intricately colored. However, each person is entitled to their opinion on tattoos. My hubby wasn't exactly thrilled when I got mine either, but it is something he has learned to live with lol.

Have a great day everyone!

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

YOU have one? Really, YOU? LMAO!

This is the reaction I get when people find out I have them. I guess I appear pretty conservative, LOL! They are even more surprised when I say I have 3 and plan on several more!

All mine are covered by scrubs (both ankes and hip), but I think that tats are more of an issue in nursing school than in the workplace. Personally, I choose to cover mine up while working, but others do not and I do not see a problem with it as long as the employer does not mind.

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

I hate that whole "How are you going to look when you're 80?" comment. As far as I know, I've never seen any hot 80 year olds.

I know, right! I mean, if the rest of me is all saggy and wrinkly, is a little bit of ink really going to make me look worse than I already do? At least it will bring back fond memories of certain times in my life. Who cares what it will look like when I am 80?

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

Ok, my personal bias here. I HATE tattoos on women, and don't really care for them on men either. I think they look cheap, and I happen to subscribe to the belief that people who get them are impetuous and thrill seeking. Consider the consequences people, when you are 60 that tat is going to be an unsightly blur. There is a reason why military guys only had them put on biceps or shoulders!

OK rant over, and NO there is no reason to discrimate against someone with a tattoo. But for certain of us, it does smack of irresponsibilty, and while I would'nt discriminate, you can bet there are people out there that do.

Mom, is that you??? Just kidding :) Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

OK, that is my last post on this topic (for now at least!)