Tattoo cover up

[juniorminty]

Hello!

I just started my clinical rotation for school last week and it's been really really great! I am in the LPN program at my school and we've just been doing bed baths and changing linens and charting but it's been awesome getting out of the classroom and 'getting my hands dirty' finally!

I just had a question for those of you out there with tattoos. I have several, most are covered by clothing except for one on my wrist. Our program and both hospitals we do rotation at have a strict 'no visible tattoos/piercing' policy when we're in clincials. Currently I use just white sports tape wrapped around my wrist to hide it, and that has worked out fine. Our instructors suggested either long sleeve shirts under your scrubs (but we're in South GA so it's already hot as heck here), or some kind of ACE wrap/bandage.

I know that most hospitals have tattoo policies and I am not sure that what I am doing now would fly once I am working at a hospital. I have also been wanting to get a tattoo on my shoulder that extends down partway on my upper arm, and I am sure scrubs would cover it but I would like to know what to do in case they don't. Does anyone currently working in a hospital have tattoos or know someone that does? What did you or they do to cover them? What is acceptable at your hospital?

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

Ten years ago I thought tatoos were just disgusting. Sorry, I'm old.

Now, while I don't have any, I kinda think some are pretty cool.

Attitudes will change and restrictions will relax. If you're a good employee my bet is your place of employment will look the other way about a tatoo that peeks out from under a sleeve or neckline.

I just don't see a Mike Tyson kind of tattoo ever being acceptable in the hospital. Unless you're a brilliant Thoracic surgeon.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

I work in long term care and not one of the places I've worked in has ever had a tattoo policy. We have policies for fake nails (not allowed), facial piercings, dangling earrings, and giant rings but none for tats. All the other items are a potential infection control problem. Tats are not.

PS I'm the DNS and I have a tat on my ankle. My bosses have never mentioned it.

[asluss]

The hospital I've worked in didn't allow fake nails, but the long term care facilities I've worked in do allow them as long as you are meticulous about keeping them clean.

[kbucksn]

I have several tattoos and used to have several piercings as well. When I worked int he hospitals they were VERY strict about covering up, I worked registry and EVERY hospital was that way. Fortunately my tats weren'y visible but I did have an eyebrow piercing so they made me cover with a bandaid...I eventually just took it out, it wasnt worth it. As far as the tattoos honestly I would make sure the next one you get can be covered, after all of your hard work it's just not worth it. You will get sick of wearing a shirt under real quick especially once you are running around a full shift. I would think the sports tape would be just fine for the one on your wrist even in the hospital/work setting, all they care is that it isnt visible. But again, especially in this economy and the trouble new grads are having finding work I would not take that chance for a tattoo. Maybe you can make it smaller??? Just make it coverable....best of luck to you and congrats for making it into the program!!!

Karla

[nurseineleven]

I know some girl in class who is probably late twenties.She has a tatt on her inner right arm and she uses an

"underarmor" sleeve, it seems to apparently be either cut off a long sleeve top or simply something made to cover a tatt. I certainly hope she isnt gonna get another tatt!

[athensgrrl]

Mine was small enough for a band-aid, but my classmate used coband on hers.

[JSlovex2]

Is it small enough that your watch can cover it? At the facilities I have been to they stress no sleeves around the wrist, for infection control purposes. If you do wear long sleeves they have to be pushed up. I'm just thinking how nasty a wrap around your wrist could get by the end of the day. If a watch can cover it, then that would be the way to go. If not, it wouldn't hurt to try the makeup. I would stay away from the wraps and long sleeves. Let us know how the makeup goes if you try it. I'm thinking about a small wrist tat myself.

this!

wearing a watch or a bracelet (wide band) and especially elastic/beads works perfectly. most facilities allow a watch.