Tattoo's on Nurses

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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!

Sort of off topic, but has anyone seen the Miami Ink show on TLC? I think it's really cool. :) I don't have any tattoos, but that show makes me want one, hehe. ;)

Sort of off topic, but has anyone seen the Miami Ink show on TLC? I think it's really cool. :) I don't have any tattoos, but that show makes me want one, hehe. ;)

I have an 18 year old girl and a 2 and1/2 year old girl....i have a few tattoos but they are on my back ...totally hidden...my 18 year old had to wait till she was 18 to get one.because i wouldnt let her...well she got 3 when she turned 18...lol ..one on the ankle ...one on the lower back....one on the upper arm..ugh...but what was really cute ...even though i was quite annoyed!!! ...is she had the chinese symbol of SISTERS tattoed on her ..She said it represents solidarity of sisterhood and that she will take care of her little sister for the rest of her life.... I think they are going to become more acceptable with that generation...tattooing is a big thing among that age group....along with those HUGE holes in the earlobes...good thing she is not into that!!!

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Getting 2 this saturday.

I do special fx make-up for a hobby, Tattoo cover up make-up is made and should be available at a local theater make-up shop. I have 3 tats two of which might be visable whith scrubs. My school has a policy that they should be covered and that a person can only have 2 ear piercings one in each ear :o .

Rob

I have a tatoo on my wrist and it has to be covered at all times in nursing school and clinicals.the problem is trying to figure out what to cover it with.Any clues????
Specializes in Pediatric ICU.

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

As a nurse, I don't think I will ever forget the very strict rules about appearance that were in place when I entered nursing. This was way back when antibiotics were scarce and expensive, and our infection control program depended primarily upon soap and water -- everywhere and often!

No jewelry was allowed except for our school nursing pin, no hair dangling below the collar, no fingernail polish, and the nails were to be kept short and scrupulously clean. Our uniforms were starched whites, and woe unto the sloppy nurse that showed up for work in an unwashed uniform or had a dirty cap or unpolished shoes!

Nose rings were gadgets that were installed on hogs to keep them from rooting under the fence. and tatoos went on the ears of cattle to show that they had been vaccinated.

Did we feel persecuted because we were not allowed freedom to express ourselves? Absolutely not! Nobody forced us to become nurses, and we were happy to dress in a manner that showed respect for the comfort of the patients who had certain expectations regarding our appearance.

Grannynurse: I think what you have to say is valid. I miss those days as well...and I'm only 42.

Fortunately for us in this profession, we can pick and choose where we work. If you are looking to work in an extended care facility or nursing home, those folks may not be as receptive to the tatoos/piercings as those of the young generation might. The main thing is like Grannynurse said, we need to show ..."respect for the comfort of the patients who had certain expectations regarding our appearance."

Sort of off topic, but has anyone seen the Miami Ink show on TLC? I think it's really cool. :) I don't have any tattoos, but that show makes me want one, hehe. ;)

I love watching that show! Much more better, IMO, thank Inked on A&E.

Getting 2 this saturday.

How did your tattoos come out??

At the information session for the ADN program, someone had ask about this and she said just as long as they are covered up. They were on his forearms and she and others in the session said most people do not want the tattoos to show. I have 5 myself.

Hello Everyone,

Well I have been a nurse for about 4 years, I have 4 tatoo's and 7 ear peircings in each ear, the only time I had any problems was in nursing school, that was just with the peircings. My tatoo's show at times, arm and back, due to short sleeves or I have to wear white and you can usually see through white!

Kathy

Specializes in Med-Surg, OB/GYN, L/D, NBN.

I have 4 holes in my ears and my tongue pierced. I also have a tattoo on my lower back. You can't see my tattoo at all at work (since I have clothes on... ) and I wear a clear earring in my tongue. No one has a problem with it since I don't go around waggin my tongue out at people. Occasionally, a patient will notice and ask me about it. But I have never had a negative response.

Kashlee.. If you don't mind :) What dept do you work in? What kind of nurse are you? You said you had 7 in each ear? Meaning you have 14 total in your ears or did I read that wrong and that meant 7 total? Do you do anything to "cover them up" or do you just wear normal earrings? I'm sorry if I sound like I am being nosey, but most nurses don't have anything near what you have. And it would be nice to get some sort of advice from someone who actually has that many piercings.

Mississippi_RN, I wouldn't mind hearing the same from you (see above post from me) as well :)

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