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.
Specializes in OB, ortho/neuro, home care, office.
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....?
I have several tattoos. If they can be hidden in the interview then I wouldn't worry about it. They usually don't ask about tattoos, it is of personal preference. As long as you aren't wearing clothes at work that intentionally show it off I doubt there would be a problem
I also have 3 regular piercings (ear) and 2 unusual ear piercings. One in the pinna itself (hard to explain, almost in ear canal - I've only ever seen 1 other like it) and one on the cartilage in my upper ear. No one says a word about those. At least nothing negative. Most in fact, that do notice it, give me complements and quickly ask, "did that hurt?" lol
:balloons: I have had a tattoo for 9 years (Got it for my 50th BD present from my husband). Have never had any problems with it at work. In fact, I work with a lot of nurses who have them.
The funniest comment I ever had about my "Ankle rose" came from an elderly man with alzheimers. He commented that I had a rose growing out of my sock. I told him my foot was dirty and it took root. He really had a chuckle about that.
lime ihave 11 piercings in each ear. i never take them out. 2 in my nose. 1 in my eyebrow. they are moderate in size. 5 tattoos. i have not had a problem with them yet. i am an icu nurse . no person has ever gone for them. no made remarks. when people are sick , they are more concerned with your skills. and how you act towards them. i consider myself extremely professional. i am certified in many things. people need to look past looks. unless they are vulgar.
:angryfire I am a male nurse working in the UK. I have a tat on my arm which is covered by my uniform, and used to wear three 18 gauge stainless steel hoop earings (same as the ones used for body peircing) in both ears, two in the lobe and one in the cartilage of each ear. I also used to wear one in my tongue and one in my lip (I always took the lip ring out for work without questions.) My earrings were never a problem until a new head of nursing came into power and issued a new uniform policy. The matron for cancer services (my directorate) came around one day and made a point of calling myself and another nurse aside and made a big production about the new policy making specific refrence to the fact that earrings were not to be worn, which I thought was a bit weird as the other nurse didn't even have her ears peirced. It was apparent to all in the conversation what the real intention of the discussion was and since that time I have removed all my earrings for each shift. The thing that ticks me off is that many of the female members of staff continue to wear their hoop earrings and break other aspects of the uniform policy such as wearing wrist watches (which are forbidden), and are never hauled up on it.
Hi, I am a LPN, I work in a long term care home (nursing home) on the medicare wing. I have 7 in each ear (a total of 14) I wear studs while at work. Which is no problem, the don't hang. I have ahad a few patients make positive comments about them. I don't have to cover them up.
Hope this helps
Kathy
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QUOTE=Soon2BNurse]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.
I have a solid band tattoo on my left forearm..i've never gotten any flak for it... just from patients, but usually they compliment me. I work with nurses that have some tattoos as well. I've seen others in my hospital with visible tattoos. I don't think most employers would be swayed by tattoos unless there is a hospital policy or if unfortunately they have a personal bias against it. I'd like to think we are judged on the content of our character but i'm just a nurse, not a Dr. :)
DID YOU TRY TO FIGHT IT. IT'S NOT FAIR TO LET WOMEN AND NOT YOU. THEY SHOULD CARE MORE ABOUT YOUR SKILLS AND PROFESSIONALISM. NOT ACOUPLE OF EARRINGS. GOOD LUCK.
To be honest I didn't even bother. The hospital where I work clings tenaciously to a reputation it built years ago which is now a faded memory. The matron acts as thought we were working in the bygone era of harsh rule where Sisters and Staff Nurses would leap up and line up for inspection when the matron visited the ward.
I did think about making an issue of it, but decided to stay myself and choose battles which are more worthwile to the unit. It doesn't take a second to take out/put in my earrings, and if it keeps Matron happy and out of my hair it is worth it. Also to make an issue would have meant a clampdown by the matron making all the nurses lives on the unit miserable, I wouldn't want to be the reason for them getting hauled up as they are such hard workers. Part of my role as a Junior Charge Nurse is to ensure that trust rules are followed, so I chalk it up to leading by example, plus I can wind up the other nurses when they are in violation of the uniform policy, (Are those regulation stockings Junior Staff Nurse???). I agree with you totally, rings in my ears do not change what kind of nurse I am. I give it my all every shift, earrings or not.
JentheRN05, RN
857 Posts
I have several tattoos. If they can be hidden in the interview then I wouldn't worry about it. They usually don't ask about tattoos, it is of personal preference. As long as you aren't wearing clothes at work that intentionally show it off I doubt there would be a problem
I also have 3 regular piercings (ear) and 2 unusual ear piercings. One in the pinna itself (hard to explain, almost in ear canal - I've only ever seen 1 other like it) and one on the cartilage in my upper ear. No one says a word about those. At least nothing negative. Most in fact, that do notice it, give me complements and quickly ask, "did that hurt?" lol