Nursing and Tattoos!!

[Andre4063]

I'm wonder what is the affect of nurses who have tattoos that show.. I know you can always wear a long sleeve shirt under your scrubs. But has anyone had issues at work for showing their tattoos?

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

As hospitals and providers get closer to realizing the effect of HCAHPS on reimbursement, they are really emphasizing 'customer satisfaction'. So - everything is about how the patient and family percieve their care & a lot of that has been shown to be based on appearance and attitude of the staff. If the patients & their family members associate tattoos & piercings with negative aspects of society, the organization is likely to require them to be covered up while on duty.

Therefore, you are likely to find that dress & appearance codes in an organization will reflect the views of the population in that area. Failure to adhere to the policy would result in the same type of consequences as other policy violations.

[R*Star*RN, BSN, RN]

People in my area are pretty liberal, though I work for a catholic organization.

There are some nurses with tattoos that show, mostly females, and it's usually something like flowers around the wrist or a flower at the nape. We have a lot of people with tiny nostril piercings, though that's the extent of non-ear piercing that I've seen.

I don't have any tattoos personally, but I do have a nostril piercing.. I've had many patients (I work mainly with 55+) tell me that the nostril is charming and becoming. It's quite small, and not noticable from a distance. However a nostril piercing is easily removed if the circumstances change.

I've not heard of anyone within my organization getting flack for visible tattoos as long as they are tasteful. But I have heard of other nurses having issues because of visible tattoos and even "trendy" hairstyles.

To maintain flexibility within the profession I'd definitely go with the more discreet tattoo placements. Or in many situations you could wear long sleeves, though I'd keep in mind that doesn't apply to all situations and many times you will be rolling your sleeves up to the elbow.

[elkpark]

This seems to be a geographical thing as much as anything else. I am in the South, and my employer, which is the largest healthcare employer in the region (there really isn't much anymore that isn't part of my employer "healthcare system") has a strict "no visible tattoos" policy and it is enforced. Many people come in to work with so many Bandaids on that they look like they were rolling in barbed wire before they came to work. (Some of them have to use the large, specialty Bandaids to cover larger tattoos, and I wonder sometimes how expensive that gets over time ...)

[catnip3]

I have tattoos, but because of my profession, I got them where they would not be visible in the work setting.

[jaznia15]

The hospitals I have performed clinicals at have all required tattoos be covered up. I have one on my lower arm and have always had to wear a long sleeve shirt, this actually works out for me because I am cold natured and as many people know hospitals are cold so its a win-win. I think people look foolish with big bandaids or bandages on but I guess some feel its better than a long sleeve.

[droider]

I just worked at a long term care place and most of the staff had tattoos showing..