Tattoos and nursing

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:uhoh3:I have a tattoo of a lotus flower below my collar bone and am going to school for my associates in nursing. I am worried that finding a job will be hard.

Tattoos to me basically say "I was dumb when I was younger, and I'm cheap now that I'm older (to have it removed)". If God didn't give ya a half-faded rose of thorns on the crack of your ass, you have to think there was a good reason for it. To me it's no different than those folks that cover their cars in bumper stickers, just a sign of low class.

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Specializes in LTC.

Makeup. Actors use it everyday.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
Tattoos to me basically say "I was dumb when I was younger, and I'm cheap now that I'm older (to have it removed)". If God didn't give ya a half-faded rose of thorns on the crack of your ass, you have to think there was a good reason for it. To me it's no different than those folks that cover their cars in bumper stickers, just a sign of low class.

So, putting yourself in the role of the NM, would not hire a nurse if you saw him/her driving to the interview in a car with bumper stickers? What if you saw them out at dinner later that night and their tattoo was now visible? I will agree that crude tattoos in visible places show a lack of class, but do any tattoos prevent them from even being a candidate for the job?

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So, putting yourself in the role of the NM, would not hire a nurse if you saw him/her driving to the interview in a car with bumper stickers? What if you saw them out at dinner later that night and their tattoo was now visible? I will agree that crude tattoos in visible places show a lack of class, but do any tattoos prevent them from even being a candidate for the job?

I guess it would be like if I was going to buy a used car and the dealer said he had a couple good deals, but they had permanent bumper stickers such as "93.7 KDFM FEVER!" or "I HATE STUPID PEOPLE". I'd probably say, you know, these are ok cars but I'm sure I could find similar ones without the dumb pictures or slogans imprinted on them by their previous owner.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.
Tattoos to me basically say "I was dumb when I was younger, and I'm cheap now that I'm older (to have it removed)". If God didn't give ya a half-faded rose of thorns on the crack of your ass, you have to think there was a good reason for it. To me it's no different than those folks that cover their cars in bumper stickers, just a sign of low class.

You're funny. I especially like the dichotomy of using "crack of your ass" and "low class" in the same sentence. :lol2:

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Specializes in ICU, M/S,Nurse Supervisor, CNS.

At my hospital, you can have as many tattoos as you want, as long as they are not visible while at work. I personally have 5 and no one would guess that I even have one. There are nurses who have full arm sleeve tats and tats to the neck and fingers...they just wear long sleeves or use make-up to cover them at work. Having a tattoo doesn't make you any less of a nurse, it doesn't impair your ability to care for a patient. It may, however, change the view/opinion that others may have of you, but like I said, just keep it covered.

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I just found it interesting that amongst all the women in that list, the only woman who has my respect is Ms. Patricia Horoho.

The rest are either lying politicians (who don't give a **** about guttin' the Constitution), conniving 'business CEO lady', a couple of "Supremes" who don't mind playing 'fast and loose' with the Law AND a "professional Royal" ... a blessed "Queen" no less....

Yeah. What a "list of luminaries to live up to" right there....

YES! Can I get an AMEN for Roy!!

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To the manager who wouldn't hire me because I have a tatoo: be careful not to judge. I have a very large tatoo (fortunately I am able to cover it with full length clothing for work purposes). This tatoo is NOT the product of being stupid when I was young. It's actually not that old. I was attacked and ended up with some serious scarring. Having lost my job I also lost health insurance, therefore, no coverage for a plastic surgeon. My choice was to either get a pretty tatoo to cover the scars (for a little money) or have to be asked repeatedly, "what happened to you?" until I could afford a plastic surgeon. (which costs a lot more money) And seriously, I can't handle anyone asking me to repeat the story of what happened to me. So, my tatoo covers scars from being attacked. And you wouldn't hire me because of this? You think that I was young and made a stupid decision? You would be wrong. Be careful who you judge.

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Tattoos are fine if you are willing to accept potential consequences of getting them. As long as you realize it may limit your ability to move into management or to work at certain facilities go ahead. Unfortunately most people do get them when they are young and only living in the moment. I don't have a tattoo, but if I decided to get one it would have to be significant enough that no one could make me hide it.

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Wear a high neck wife beater under your uniform. I always wear one so when I stoop or bend over I am still covered up, almost everyone where I work wears some kind of t shirt under their scrubs. If the shirt doesn't cover it up then look into the Kat VonD tat coverup they sell at Sephora, it's made especially to cover up tats, and it would get you through the interview.

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Specializes in ED.

I have a tattoo on my wrist from when I got married to my wife. No one has said a thing, my nursing school nor my employer. It is able to be covered by a watch.

With that being said, I also have 1 inch gauges in both my ears. Even though I have droopy earlobes, I did not have a problem finding a job. I still get the odd look here and there, but I overcome prejudice with a smile, being knowledgeable and confident.

Appearances do count, but tattoos are no big deal.

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Side story:

A couple of days ago, I had an 86 year old patient notice some ink on my inner forearm. Now, it said "Bactrim," and I had written it about half an hour prior to remind me to chart a VORB for another pt's UTI. She said, "ooh, I love tattoos. What does yours say?". She seemed almost disappointed that it wasn't one. :lol2:

I do have a tat, on my right shoulder blade, that I got after finals during the second semester of nursing school. I was neither young (43) nor stupid at the time.

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