Tattoo's on Nurses

aila49 · May 21, 2005

I have five tattoos. Two are on my upper arms. They have never presented a problem for me. In fact, when one does flash, people lift the sleeve and look at them. I have never had a bad comment about them. I have a mouse with a rose in it's mouth on my right upper arm and a mouse swinging on a daisy on my left upper arm. (my chinese horoscope is the rat, ). I also sport an eyebrow ring. By the way, I have been a nurse for 16 years and am a travel nurse at the moment. I am 56 years old.

Nora

Hi all!
Finals are over and I can breathe again! Yipee!
I have a question. I have 4 tattoo's any of which could possibly show in scrubs. None of which would show fully.
1 is on the back of my neck and I have long hair, but even with my hair pulled up my shirt covers most of it.
The other 3 are on my upper arm area where my sleeve would cover it unless my sleeves came all the way up like a tank top almost. Like, if I wear a top with cap sleeves you can see a little of it.
The one on my neck is a sun, moon and stars.
The ones on my arm are 3 Kanji symbols.
So, finally, here's my question, is this something that a hospital will flat out not hire a nurse over?
In all my hospital stays I've never seen a nurse with a visible tattoo, or at least never noticed it.
Does anyone have any experience with it?
Thanks!

Heather56 · May 22, 2005

About a year ago I got my first tattoo and since then have gotten several more. I have alot of work on my left forearm, celtic knots and shading. I have not had any problems at work and have only recieved positive comments from patients (maybe the tats discourage negative remarks!) I work in ER so have contact with all kinds of people. During one recent shift I had 3 different patients with chest pain, all well-dressed women in their 70's. Each of them grabbed my arm and asked about my tattoos with great interest. I generally tell people the tats are my midlife crisis and, at 49, I don't have to go through the hassle of my parents telling me I was ruining my life!

raynefall · May 22, 2005

Hi all!
Finals are over and I can breathe again! Yipee!
I have a question. I have 4 tattoo's any of which could possibly show in scrubs. None of which would show fully.
1 is on the back of my neck and I have long hair, but even with my hair pulled up my shirt covers most of it.
The other 3 are on my upper arm area where my sleeve would cover it unless my sleeves came all the way up like a tank top almost. Like, if I wear a top with cap sleeves you can see a little of it.
The one on my neck is a sun, moon and stars.
The ones on my arm are 3 Kanji symbols.
So, finally, here's my question, is this something that a hospital will flat out not hire a nurse over?
In all my hospital stays I've never seen a nurse with a visible tattoo, or at least never noticed it.
Does anyone have any experience with it?
Thanks!

Since I have not started working yet (I'm a GN) I can't comment about certain hospital's policies towards tattoos. I have three of em', I cut my hair real short a few months ago so, the one I have behind my neck is visible and I have one on my wrist and then another on my leg but that's obviously hidden. There were a few nurses (one was the charge nurse) at the hospital that I did my final rotation who had tattoos on their wrist. I've been thinking about getting a few more, I wouldn't worry about it.

piscesgirl · May 22, 2005

This is something i thought about when i considered nursing. i have two tattoos, noticable only in tank tops, and several piercing that are hidden when i dont talk. my first tattoo is the outline of a rat and the kanja, i was born in the year of the rat. my second one is of two fish, me and my mom are both pisces, so one fish is her and the other is mine. now for the piercings, i have my belly button and my nipples, all of which will never been seen in the workplace, and my tounge. Thats the one ill think ill have a problem with. i have considered getting a third set of piercings in my ears, but the policy at the hospital i would like to work at states only 2 per ear. when i got my tats and piercings i fully understood the attention it would bring, mostly positive. to be honest i love it when people ask the meanings behind my tats.

nurse_ange1 · May 22, 2005

I just finished school, and many of my classmates have tats and piercings. The only thing the school didn't approve of were nose rings. Lots of the girls had tongue rings and small tats on feet/ankles upper arm or back. I don't think any of them were visible during clinical. The policy at the hospital is pretty lax, but I would use discretion and stay away from nude or offensive tats. Some are pretty tasteful in my opinion.

shrek · May 22, 2005

I have a tattoo on each forearm, and on my left shoulder. I used to keep them covered with a lab coat or a scrub jacket...that was years ago though. I have never had one pt, fellow employee,administrator or doc say a word. I don't think it has anything to do with what kind nurse or the level of professionalism. It's just who you are...it isn't what kind of nusre you are.

Just my opinion. :rolleyes:

sabrn2006 · May 22, 2005

I wanted to get my nose pierced but decided against it at this point (half way through my ADN program) I want people to judge me based on my work and my personality rather than on my appearance. I do have 2 tattoos that are covered in the clinical setting (a dancing bear on my left lower leg, which is a reminder of a different era in my life, & a sun on the back of my right shoulder, that I got after graduating from college the first time) I definitely want another tattoo or two. I may get one this summer or else I will wait until I graduate next May. I would not get on my arms, hands, neck...any place I can't hide if I want to. I am not ashamed of them, but they express only one facet of me.

blady629 · May 22, 2005

As a nurse manager I can tell you I have hired RN's with tatoo's. After all we are all people. Now it would depend on the HR policiy as well but we do not have any polciy against or for body art.

If the tatoos were offensive I would suggest covering them up.

I can tell you that these are 2 of my best RNs. If as a manager I judge people on soley on appearance we would be in trouble. Your actions and words will speak more than your tatoo's.

Society has changed and as a profession we have made some strides. Almost all of us no longer wear the strached whites and the caps. Nurses come from all levels in society and many this is a second career for them. Getting some of these removed is expensive and scarring, covering them is much easier.

If you are uncomfortably with the tatoos ask when you go for interviews. Being upfront says a lot about a person.

Hi all!
Finals are over and I can breathe again! Yipee!
I have a question. I have 4 tattoo's any of which could possibly show in scrubs. None of which would show fully.
1 is on the back of my neck and I have long hair, but even with my hair pulled up my shirt covers most of it.
The other 3 are on my upper arm area where my sleeve would cover it unless my sleeves came all the way up like a tank top almost. Like, if I wear a top with cap sleeves you can see a little of it.
The one on my neck is a sun, moon and stars.
The ones on my arm are 3 Kanji symbols.
So, finally, here's my question, is this something that a hospital will flat out not hire a nurse over?
In all my hospital stays I've never seen a nurse with a visible tattoo, or at least never noticed it.
Does anyone have any experience with it?
Thanks!

Teach1995 · May 22, 2005

Hi all!
Finals are over and I can breathe again! Yipee!
I have a question. I have 4 tattoo's any of which could possibly show in scrubs. None of which would show fully.
1 is on the back of my neck and I have long hair, but even with my hair pulled up my shirt covers most of it.
The other 3 are on my upper arm area where my sleeve would cover it unless my sleeves came all the way up like a tank top almost. Like, if I wear a top with cap sleeves you can see a little of it.
The one on my neck is a sun, moon and stars.
The ones on my arm are 3 Kanji symbols.
So, finally, here's my question, is this something that a hospital will flat out not hire a nurse over?
In all my hospital stays I've never seen a nurse with a visible tattoo, or at least never noticed it.
Does anyone have any experience with it?
Thanks!

I have been a nurse for over 15 years and have 2 tats which are located in covered areas of clothing. However, this past week at work, our hospital decided to re-evaluate the dress code policy. The recommendation was made that if any tatoos are visible, that they need to be covered while in work due to unprofessional appearance. As a manager, I can appreciate that we want out staff to always look professional, but when do we go to far. Facila peircings, I am not a fan due to the possible infections that one can get, but come on, tats!!!

Rita Marie · May 22, 2005

Hi all!
Finals are over and I can breathe again! Yipee!
I have a question. I have 4 tattoo's any of which could possibly show in scrubs. None of which would show fully.
1 is on the back of my neck and I have long hair, but even with my hair pulled up my shirt covers most of it.
The other 3 are on my upper arm area where my sleeve would cover it unless my sleeves came all the way up like a tank top almost. Like, if I wear a top with cap sleeves you can see a little of it.
The one on my neck is a sun, moon and stars.
The ones on my arm are 3 Kanji symbols.
So, finally, here's my question, is this something that a hospital will flat out not hire a nurse over?
In all my hospital stays I've never seen a nurse with a visible tattoo, or at least never noticed it.
Does anyone have any experience with it?
Thanks!

Woo-Hoo!!!! Finals ARE over!!! Grades are posted! I did okay.

I have two that do not show when I am in scrubs or have long pants on. Some of the other students in my nursing classes do have visible tattoos, and although the program doesn't allow them to be visible during clinicals, I have seen them when they go to chose a patient for their clinical rotation. If I see them, I do meantion it to the student that they should to be covered.

The ones that I am thinking of are very graphic and some would find them offensive.

One lady has a large hole in her ears, and usually she uses plugs during class time, but she wears what looks like large studs when she is in clinicals. She is very discrete about it. And as far as I know, she has received little flack.

The only tattoo that I know of that got someone fired was a young man in Seattle about 10 or 15 years ago. He worked as a CNA at Harbor View Hospital which was like the major trauma/county hospital there. On his inner forearm he had the words:

HIV +

He felt that it was a way of getting patients that he worked with to open up and start a discussion. Instead I guess if scared some people and he got fired (now we all know that there may have been other reasons for the termination).

Feather Fever · May 22, 2005

I have several tattoos myself, they too are mostly covered by work clothes. I would try to cover them during an interview as part of dressing professionally but I would never consider a tat as a reason to not hire a good nurse. (I speak from experience)

Hi all!
Finals are over and I can breathe again! Yipee!
I have a question. I have 4 tattoo's any of which could possibly show in scrubs. None of which would show fully.
1 is on the back of my neck and I have long hair, but even with my hair pulled up my shirt covers most of it.
The other 3 are on my upper arm area where my sleeve would cover it unless my sleeves came all the way up like a tank top almost. Like, if I wear a top with cap sleeves you can see a little of it.
The one on my neck is a sun, moon and stars.
The ones on my arm are 3 Kanji symbols.
So, finally, here's my question, is this something that a hospital will flat out not hire a nurse over?
In all my hospital stays I've never seen a nurse with a visible tattoo, or at least never noticed it.
Does anyone have any experience with it?
Thanks!

EarthAngel · May 23, 2005

I know many nurses that have highly visible tats that have no problem at work. Some work for the world famous cancer center here in Houston, and are nurse managers!!

Just be smart about them, dont flaunt them, and try to keep them covered and most definately do not let them be seen during an interview. But if -god forbid@!!! :rolleyes: you are found out, just say that youve had them, and who knew youd become a nurse back when you first had them done! (thats what I say hehe) Many places say any visible tats have to be covered up. I have yet to see a place that will fire you for having one peak out from the edge of your sleeve or neckline of your scrub top!