Tattoo's on Nurses

nancyrn98 · May 25, 2005

I have never heard the argument that they are more of an infection risk, only that they are simply unprofessional.

JHUBRAIN · May 25, 2005

The hospital I recently worked at had a written policy regarding piercings....they were not allowed. I guess they can choose their employees according to what they deem to be acceptable and if you don't agree with their policies that's fine with them. Tatoos were another matter, they had no policy regarding the display, although I'm sure if there was a distastfull one in their opinion it would have to be covered. Why am I on this computer when I have a final in a few hours....?

Our policy states that nose piercings must covered (eyelid as well) - Most nurses use a plug, take it out, or for the eye lid, cover it with a bandaid. Tats are not to be seen and covered in clinical areas. Although it is a personal choice about tats and piercings, many patients (and Adm) don't care for them, and it seems sadly they make the rules. I have seen a CNA not hired at a hospital I worked at due to a valgur tat that went on his neck (nudity and skull).

JBMax69 · Jun 22, 2005

Hiya Fellow Nurses! This is my first time to respond on here, finally found something near and dear to my heart that made me wanna speak up.....I am a RN, Nurse Case Mgr in the outpatient clinic for a federal VA Medical Center.....there is no policy against tats here but I too feel that as long as they are not distasteful in nature they should not be an issue! I have 3 tats, one on my ankle, one on my upper arm, and my newest on the back of my neck....all with hearts and/or tribal.....I have never had a patient react negatively to my tats....in fact, I have had many positive responses...of course most of my clients have tats themselves! :) I do have 3 ear piercings bilat and have had more "ew" comments on those than about my tats--funny huh?! But once I explain that I couldn't wear earings when I was little r/t allergies so now I want to make up for that, the patients understand....

anyways, I'm rambling on, my advice is to be yourself and don't apologise for your life choices....the patient's will accept you for who you are if you emmit a caring positive attitude, and if your job doesn't then I who wants to work for them??

good luck, J

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!

bluecandi · Jun 22, 2005

I have worked with nurses having nose peircings. For some folks they are a culteral thing.....as is the case with these particular nurses. :)

TypicalFish · Jun 23, 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 a back piece and a left-chest piece; both are big. I had them while I was a Tech; I never received any grief about them from anyone. During clinicals I thought that they weren't visible until several of my clinical-cohorts noted that the uniform we had to wear was so flimsy, that you could see right through them-they could see my back piece very well. Not one of my teachers ever said anything-how could they? They constantly lectured us not to judge our patients by outward appearances. But I will admit that I am a modest dresser-always have been, even before ink, so I doubt anyone interviewing me has ever seen them. I even had a nurse-manager drag me into a room because she wanted to see them-it depends on where you work; but I wouldn't go into a interview with them showing-you want them to see you and your skills-and not sit there and think "wow, look at that!" Once you are on the job-your skills should supercede your ink. And some employers have written rules about tattoos showing, you could ask-once hired, or at your physical. Since yours cover up easy, Iwouldn't worry too much about it.

I know many nurses with ink and even nose piercings. Good Luck

grannynurse FNP student · Jun 23, 2005

I have a back piece and a left-chest piece; both are big. I had them while I was a Tech; I never received any grief about them from anyone. During clinicals I thought that they weren't visible until several of my clinical-cohorts noted that the uniform we had to wear was so flimsy, that you could see right through them-they could see my back piece very well. Not one of my teachers ever said anything-how could they? They constantly lectured us not to judge our patients by outward appearances. But I will admit that I am a modest dresser-always have been, even before ink, so I doubt anyone interviewing me has ever seen them. I even had a nurse-manager drag me into a room because she wanted to see them-it depends on where you work; but I wouldn't go into a interview with them showing-you want them to see you and your skills-and not sit there and think "wow, look at that!" Once you are on the job-your skills should supercede your ink. And some employers have written rules about tattoos showing, you could ask-once hired, or at your physical. Since yours cover up easy, Iwouldn't worry too much about it.
I know many nurses with ink and even nose piercings. Good Luck

Call me old school but I don't believe that tattoo's, nose rings, dangling ear rings, long fingernails have no place in the area of bedside care. Tattoos should be covered up, nose rings, eyebrow rings, tongue rings, dangling ear rings should be removed. And please do't get me started on long fingernails. I would most likely not ever refuse care from a nurse who had a nose ring or a visible tattoo but I wouldn't appreciate their 'body' art. Maybe it has something to do with my age and the time I graduated from my primary nursing program.

Grannynurse :balloons:

mountainspirit80 · Aug 12, 2005

Hi,

My son is a tattoo artist, he has done 3 tattoos on me. They are rather large on both my upper arms. sometimes the bottoms of the tattoos peek out from under my scrubs. It has good and bad results. If a patient sees the end sticking out it often breaks the ice, and they start to talk about what the tattoo means and thier opinions and such. Of course, the start of conversation often leads to other more important discussions and they often feel at ease talking to me because they feel Im "down to earth". However, as far as the hospital, it all depends on where you work, I wouldn't flaunt them and I try to keep them covered as much as possible, but I will show them to who ever ask about them, and tell them the reason why I have them. I have not had anyone complain ever. Hopefully you wont either. Actually, its other nurses who have given me the most problems, sometimes nurses can be very blunt and hurtful. Ive learned to have "thick skin" when it comes to other nurses opinion. I just tell them they are allowed to have their own opinion. With some its a topic I rather keep to myself :offtopic:

leoparado · Aug 14, 2005

:balloons: :balloons:

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!

leoparado · Aug 14, 2005

yes i have 5 tattoos. sometimes they show alittle but not much. why don't people realize we are people and have a life outside nursing! tattoos have nothing to do with my skills or professionalism. 1 have been in critical care 16 years with no probs. my pts respect the care i give them. i also have piercings, which have never been a prob to any pt. i hope you don't get discriminated against.

:balloons: :balloons:

zenman · Aug 14, 2005

I would most likely not ever refuse care from a nurse who had a nose ring or a visible tattoo but I wouldn't appreciate their 'body' art.
Grannynurse :balloons:

Studies show that 80-85 percent of the people who have tats have some type of personality disorder. Thank goodness I only have 5 of them..he..he.

Dawnnikol · Aug 14, 2005

Studies show that 80-85 percent of the people who have tats have some type of personality disorder. Thank goodness I only have 5 of them..he..he.

haha. Who doesn't have some sort of disorder?

My dad has been a nurse for about 4 years now. He started out as a CNA and is now an LPN working on his RN. He has tats on his forearms and upper arms, but everybody he works with adores him.

I always found it funny that people without tattoos judge those who have them... you certainly don't see us judging you for not having them! ; )

sddlnscp · Aug 15, 2005

Studies show that 80-85 percent of the people who have tats have some type of personality disorder. Thank goodness I only have 5 of them..he..he.

LOL - Well, they told me when I started working for Social Services that if I didn't have a personality disorder before I started, I would before I finished. Boy were they right! Hahaha - that could explain some of my art - but hmm, 2 of them I had before I got here, so I guess I've always been a bit off. :rotfl: