Tattoos & Nursing

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Anyone have any visible tattoos?? How do other people (managers, pts etc.) react to them? I have a very visible tattoo on my forearm that I am worried will cause me problems later. I've never had any negative reactions to it I'm just afraid people will think I'm unprofessional.:mad::nono:

I haven't been around alot of tattoos in my life--but I know that if I was choosing someone to take care of me...I would most likely choose the one without tattoos. I know its not a great assumption to make (that the one w/o tattoos could take better care of me)..but I would definitely feel better about that person. It's all in where ya come from I guess...

Just my 2 pennies.

FYI- myself included, several women in my school have tattoos, and we are at the top of our class at this time. Having a tattoo certainly doesn't mean you are less intelligent or less capable. I would much rather have a competent nurse with a tattoo than the one without that barely squeeked through nursing school. I am certainly not trying to start a arguement- just wanted to give my 2 pennies also

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Specializes in critical care, management, med surg, edu.
Having a tattoo certainly doesn't mean you are less intelligent or less capable. I would much rather have a competent nurse with a tattoo than the one without that barely squeeked through nursing school. I am certainly not trying to start a arguement- just wanted to give my 2 pennies also

I agree totally. Appearance isn't everything.... but it is something. Many people do not consider them to be a sign of beauty or professionalism. Tattos under the uniform don't bother anyone.

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Specializes in Geriatric and now peds!!!!.

Originally Posted by evbella viewpost.gif

Having a tattoo certainly doesn't mean you are less intelligent or less capable. I would much rather have a competent nurse with a tattoo than the one without that barely squeeked through nursing school. I am certainly not trying to start a arguement- just wanted to give my 2 pennies also

You took the words right out of my mouth evbella!!!!!!!! I have 4 tattoos. One on each ankle, one on my chest that is visible at times, and a bracelet of Japanese butterflies on my right writst. I have gotten tons of compliments on the bracelet. My DON has tattoos herself. gone are the days that only sailors and bikers had tattoos. Just because I have tats doesnt mean that I am a incompetent nurse.

Wendy

LPN

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, Emergency, SAFE.
They who? I have a nosering.;)

THEY being MY facility... You can have them but they must be covered. i.e bandaid (even when it looks stupid and more obvious to be covered with a bandaid.)

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I think its incredibly ignorant to judge people on this. Is the person who has the visible tattoo really any less trustworthy than the one who has it hidden?

I don't think the lack or presence of a tattoo would matter to me as a patient. I think a lot of the younger generation would feel the same. The older generation may present a problem, but when it comes down to it, how many are going to turn down medical help they need because of it?

I just think we need to get to the point where we stop judging people based on the color of their hair, or their peircings, or tattoos. It has absolutely nothing to do with abilities, and everything to do with personal views on beauty. Whats so wrong with that?

Of course, I am biased. I have a small tattoo on my ankle, which is really bad, and I need to have it covered up. My hair currently has prurple streaks in it. And my husband has a sleeve on his leg, and a large alien tattoo on his arm. He is incredibly intelligent, and one of the top employees in his dept at work.

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Specializes in LTC/ rehab/ dialysis.

Obviously each facility has their own policy as to tats/piercings being covered or uncovered. I feel that as long as a tattoo isn't distasteful or gang related it's cool. Some tattoos are truly an art form. However, that said, I wouldn't want to be lying in a hospital bed and have someone with large tats of skulls, the devil, etc working on me.

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Specializes in Oncology, Research.

I have tattoos also, 7 total. I do try and keep them covered at work but if one pops out I am not going to apologize for it. I am a professional with a masters and trained at one of, if not the best universities in the land. Even though some may judge unduly, I remain confident in my skills and abilities to provide solid nursing care.

I just wonder for those of us that are quick to judge, how do you deal with your patients with tattoos? I know that most will give the response that they treat everyone equally, however, I would be dubious as to that considering that some are quick to label nurses with them as unprofessional. I sincerely hope that we are not pigeon-holing our patients in the same.

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I've only got one and it's covered, same with my piercing. Keep meaning to get more though...My school's policy is that you cannot attend clinicals with either showing. If you have to wear long sleeves every day, so be it, and any facial piercings in addition to one/ear must be removed. If you have anything on your face/neck/hands, you'd better figure out a way to cover it up. I think all that's silly, personally, but then again I have one so I'm probably a little biased. My mother is 60, and she absolutely hates it and tells me to cover it up in front of her family.

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Specializes in critical care, management, med surg, edu.
I think all that's silly, personally, but then again I have one so I'm probably a little biased. My mother is 60, and she absolutely hates it and tells me to cover it up in front of her family.

Precisely my point. In general: Older clients will object. Middle year clients will accept. Yound clients will be enthused. Rural clients will object, suburban will accept, urban will be enthused. There will be exceptions.

No one is questioning the ability of a person with tats & pierces to provide excellent care. Just hope to point out that many clients and employers have a different idea of what looks professional.

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Specializes in NICU.

Hi All! I'm new here and this was the first thread to jump out at me. I have extensive tattoos on my back and hips. My ink has been featured on 2 national tv programs and I'm in a coffee table book. For me, I've never had a healthy body image so getting this beautiful art work makes me feel beautiful and unique. That is a positive thing, not "yucky". That said, I thought long and hard about not only my designs but where I would place them just in case some day I regretted my decision. Fortunately I have never regretted it and I doubt I ever will but it's nice to know that people only see my tattoos if I let them.

As far as piercings go, does anyone know of any evidenced based research on nursing and piercings? I had my nose pierced (plus some non-visible ones) and was forced to remove it for nursing school even though several nurses (including the charge) on the units I was working had them. I offered to cover it with a bandaid but they said it was unexceptable. When I took it out, it got infected. It seems to me it is more sanitary to leave the piercing in and/or cover it up than to remove it and have a gapping hole in one's face! I plan on getting it re-pierced once I'm working but in the mean time I'd like to find some research to support my theory to present to the powers that be. It seems to me that for all the lecturing we get on being aware of our own biases that there is very little awareness amongst administrators! :idea:

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Precisely my point. In general: Older clients will object. Middle year clients will accept. Yound clients will be enthused. Rural clients will object, suburban will accept, urban will be enthused. There will be exceptions.

No one is questioning the ability of a person with tats & pierces to provide excellent care. Just hope to point out that many clients and employers have a different idea of what looks professional.

Actually, I would be willing to wager youd have more acceptance in rural than suburban. Many rural areas around here were the sole places to get tattoos for years. Suburban places tend to be more uppity, and at least in this area, a lot of people tend to think they are better than everyone else. Urban- well, who doesnt have tattoos in urban areas!lol

dancing doula- I knwo I would worry about newer peircings period, whether the jewelry is in or out! When it takes months to a year for soem piercings to heal, and then working in places where you will be exposed to bacteria...but as far as more sanitary or less to have the jewelry in, I cant imagine there is any major difference as long as its healed.

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I wonder about this. "Some clients, older clients, conservative clients, insert group here clients" may judge a nurse on his/her appearance. We could be having the same conversation about nurses who are male, nurses who wear (or do not wear) makeup, nurses who wear dresses as opposed to scrubs, nurses who are thin (or fat), nurses who are "pretty", on and on.

When is it okay to accept the judgements made by those who would judge by appearances? What is the point of this conversation, besides the earth shattering realization that we all have differences in opinion on what may be considered professional appearance for a nurse? And, the point is....what exactly?

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