BornToCare

I've been interviewed at different jobs with my hair short where you can see I have a tattoo on the back of my neck, and I've asked what their dress code was and they told me pretty much the usual; clean scrubs, no large hoop earrings, no artificial nails, no crazy nail polish colors. Nothing was mentioned about tattoos or having to cover them up (at least not that I can remember). Once I started working at my current job (which I truly enjoy) I did not go to any great lengths to hide my tattoo. My NM saw it when we met and asked me what it meant and I explained, and that was the end of that. As a matter of fact I am planning on getting more tattoo's, but this time on the top of my left foot and the other on my shoulder so no one will see it unless I have a spaghetti strap shirt on. And I don't plan on telling the NM at work because as someone else posted here, it will be something I do on my time off and that does not in any way affect my ability to perform my job. As for piercings on my face, I'll pass. I don't criticize those who do have them but they are not for me. I have gauged my earlobes though very slightly I must admit (only a 14 gauge). Although I did see an ER doctor on one of those emergency trauma shows on tv that had gauged his ear lobes to where you could actually see through onto the other side, and I must admit he looked good. Mine are not like that at all only because "I" don't want them to be.

This was originally posted by Hollyvk {"So why do employers want you to cover up your tats and limit your piecing jewelry? Because your job is not all about you, it's mostly about your patients--many of whom are older and do not share your appreciation of body art or think it is "kool" at all. At best, they may just think it shows questionable judgment on your part, but at worst, they may think you must have had a scuzzy or criminal past . . .the tattoos and piercings are going to be completely out of fashion in a few more years."} I personally do not have neither a scuzzy or criminal past. Nor was I ever a gang member. And unless people have been living under a rock, not everyone who has a tattoo is a scuzzy person or a criminal. Tattoo's are NOT only for people who have been in jail either. I think you should know that as far as actual art on bodies, the earliest known examples of tattoos were for a long time Egyptian. As evidenced by being mainly present on several FEMALE mummies dating back to c. 2000 B.C. and some were even on their hands (you certainly can't hide a tattoo that's been printed onto your hand!). And not because these were slaves or gang babes riding on the back of some charriot lead by a pharoah clad ex-con covered in tattoos raising dust out by the pyramids, but because they "chose" to adorn their bodies. And by the way the fact that having sleeve tattoos which were meant as an adornment back in Japan for royalty (if I'm not mistaken) automatically stamps someone as being a "bad guy or ex-con" I feel goes beyond ridiculous!! The fact is that humans have been marking their bodies with tattoos for thousands of years. So, I guess they still haven't gone out of fashion. And I bet someone a thousand years ago told a person who had gotten tattoos the same thing you said in your posting, "the tattoos and piercings are going to be completely out of fashion in a few more years." Boy were they wrong! Do you plan on hanging around for a thousand years to see if you're wrong too? The truth of the matter is that these permanent forms of art have been used to display a status symbol, as a declaration of love, even as a sign of ones religious beliefs. In the ancient world someone who was "educated or skilled" would have a symbol (tattoo) on their body so that others would know they were specialized in something, and again most of them were "women". In my case my tattoo was done to show what I strive to achieve and maintain--tranquility. And as I mentioned before I had no idea I would ever become a nurse so having one on the back of my neck was not the least bit worrisome for me at the time. Nor is it now. Besides, I've had patients tell me I should have gone for something bigger, as did an 80 yr.old patient who got thier first tattoo (so much for the image of grandma in surgical stockings). Or the gastroenterologist who showed me their tattoos. Or the 60+ patient who has a tattoo of his division who served in Vietnam on his arm with the words, "Because I believe in Freedom", was "he" being selfish when he got his tattoo thinking only of the pleasure it brought to him? Or was he possibly sharing with the rest of us the sacrifice he made for what "he" believed in so many years ago during his youth? I personally go with the latter. So, I guess my "symbol" is part of being an "educated" person. Besides, what century are we living in again? =) So, if I'm ever unearthed in another thousand years I'll be very proud to join that group of ancient elite women who displayed their tattoos with pride. Let's hear it for ink!!

lol not sure!

I guess it does depend on where you work. I have a small tattoo on the back of my neck which means "tranquility" in Asian. I got it before I considered becoming a nurse and one of my former employers would have me cover it up with a band aid which was a real PAIN. On hot days the band aid would either end up on the inside of my collar annoying me or tangled up in my hair. I spoke to the lady and told her she knew I had a tattoo on the back of my neck when she hired me and that I was not going to cover it up anymore because it was a pain to try to keep it covered. Surprisingly she never bothered with it again. Now I'm a nurse and working at a hospital and so far I've not heard a single comment about my tattoo despite the fact my hair is cut very short in a pixie hairstyle, and the tattoo can be seen clearly. On occasion someone will ask me what my tattoo means and when I tell them they smile. Then they say, "it's really cute! "It kinda looks like a little man wearing a sombrero", and it does! I love it! Of course I haven't gotten anymore tattoos on my neck (one is enough). =) Anyways, you really should check with your NM just to be on the safe side.

I too like Dr. Sanjay Gupta. He seems to only say what is pertinent regarding the matter at hand. Unlike some others who just go on and on because they appear to like the sound of their own voice. They literally kill the subject and bore me to tears!

"The career opportunities for a man in nursing are fantastic. (Just as for women.) I don't regret my career change at 47 in the least." My husband is in his early 40's and attending nursing school. Before nursing he'd been in the military overseas, and his stories of the military was all he ever really spoke about. He had truly enjoyed his career. Since leaving the military he'd worked in hospitality (which can be stressful) and he knew it was time for a change. He told me he saw how I would come home hyped up about enjoying being a nurse who felt she was making a difference by really helping someone. So after much debate he went for it. Now, my husband comes home with stories about his clinicals, and I see he's as excited as he use to be when he spoke of his military days! I am happy he's found his second calling!! Tell your son to follow his heart! As it says printed on one of my co-workers shirts, "nursing is the toughest job you'll ever love!" And it really is!! At least for this nurse =)

I am an LPN and I want to work in the ER! It's the one place I would beg my instructors to let me do my clinical rotation in over and over again. Now I find that most hospitals won't even give me a chance to interview for the ER. =( I've gone back to school and I am doing my RN prereqs. Any advice on how to work my way into the ER?