Tattoo/employability question

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I've been considering Nursing school for a few months, only problem is I'm worried that I will go through school and not be able to find a job, based on the fact I have a Facial tattoo...It's a black star beneath my right eye 1" x 1"...along with 54 more on my right arm..... I knew the facial tattoo would make things "Different" for me, and I'd have to accept it.

I live in San Antonio, and upon completing school, I'd like to work in the area, does anyone live in the area and have any input for me? As to the likelihood of finding work with "ink" on my face?

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Specializes in Dialysis.

you have 54 tats on your right arm? I've seen supervisors at Wal-Mart who have to bandage up their arm tattoos. suppose you hae to wear a bandaid over it while at work? or get some really good cover up?

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Yes.. 54 stars.. big and little ones..black ones and outlines... and a pair of snakes.. twisting around my whole right arm. Very similar to the Caduceus... I get a lot of people who LOVE the stars.. and of course there are the people that don't. But they usually don't say anything..

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Specializes in Hospice/Palliative Nursing.

My nursing school did not allow visible tattoos...they had to be covered. I'm assuming work would be the same.

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

i have a friend who is an LPN that has a big paw print on her neck. she has to wear a turtle neck to work. but in my last hopsital i worked with an RN with a gigantor tattoo that was a spider web as a sleeve extending to her entire neck and she was allowed to wear short sleeves. it depends on where you work and their policies.

i would say to present yourself with the arm tats completely covered and leave the facial tat outward, but ask your prospective employer what their policies are and if they would like you to cover it up.

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Most places will make you put a bandage over it.

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Specializes in Home Health, Case Management, OR.

They make coverup makeup for tattoos. Perhaps you could use that for your facial tattoo, and wear a long sleeved tee under your scrubs. A tattoo, or 50+ should not determine whether or not you go for a nursing degree and has nothing to do with your competency or how you will care for pts. I know a lot of people in society do not agree with me on that though, so you will have to be willing to do what you have to to appear professional during working hours.

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my nursing school didnt allow visible tattoo... the people that had them had to cover them up

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Most schools and places that employ nurses won't allow visible tattoos. Makeup made specifically to cover tattoos should work for the facial tatt. Long sleeves should help with the ones on your arm.

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Specializes in Psych, ER, Resp/Med, LTC, Education.

God how crazy is it that in this day and age of nursing shortage we would make a big deal about tatoos. **** if I was a patient I could care less as long as she or he was kind and caring and competant. I had a nose peircing but did get rid of it just because it bugged me but my employer didn't say a word. And I do have tats, though not really visible--hip and ankle. As a nurse I have seen more patients with tats then I ever thought I would-- in L&D I saw tats on more patients then not. --and there you see even hidden ones--and in psych tons of patients have tats. I don't think its a big deal and your ability to be an awesome nurse should have nothing to do with this. I would say go for it. And honestly the area of nursing I find the least amount of judgement is in psych nursing. I think it helps when the patient sees the nurse who he/she can relate with--not to say someone with no tats or peircings can't be a great psych nurse but ...just saying. I personally think it is descrimination to not hire based on tats. One star......big deal, its not like your whole face is covered! You can wear long sleaves. It may depend on where you live........but I would move somewhere not so conservative if you find descrimination. Good luck to you!

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Lab. Coat.

I have a new nursing supervisor who has lots of tats, and piercings. Its not until the cuff of her sleeve rises up and you see a sneak preview

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They have special sleeves cuffs you can buy.You can find em in some tattoo parlors or online. (Tattoo Sleeves)

Work pretty well for arms. They have makeup that covers facial tattoos.

Thread Hijack:

Did the facial tattoo hurt??? I have on on the back of my neck that hurt like #$@#. I always wanted on on my face but wondered how much it hurt. ROFL. Yeah I know, I'm a big guy AND a baby. :D

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