Tattoos and nursing

Beach Nurse · Jul 12, 2005

Ok so I have a question. I am going to be starting school soon to be a LPN. My question is I have a pretty good sized tattoo on my left wrist. It isnt offensive, its very pretty. It is a dragonfly. Do you all think I will have problems with employment and people taking me seriously after school is done. I want honest opinions. I will not get offended by anyhting any of you have to say. I am just trying to get all info I can. Thank You!

I don't know if being a guy is any different, but I have tats on both forearms and upper arms. If I start a new job I am dressed nice with long sleeve, button up shirt. I do mention it, but no one asks to see. After everyone has gotten used to me I can let them show and know one cares. So no worries.

harle53 · Jul 19, 2005

Im a male nurse, and i have tats on both arms. i have had some patients kind of stare at me when they were exposed from under my scrubs. i have even had a patient tell the doc that she was very intimidated by me. i went in and spent time with the patient so she would feel more comfortable with me. i think if you develop a good patient relationship, they will be comfortable with you tats or not.

n8isgr8 · Jul 19, 2005

I have four tats just got my latest on friday, I used to have my eyebrow peirced. I want to re peirce it so badly but I am afraid that the people on my new job would not approve (! this is me I am a hard working, motivated indivdual. I think it is such a shame that society wont accept me for me. How horrible to be turned down for a job or not respected by patients because of the stigmas THEY have. I also want to peirce my tounge. I hope as I grow older in nursing people will be more accepting and not so prejudice and judgemental. Get to know me. I am one of the kindest people you will ever meet and get nothing but compliments. I just wish I was able to freely express myself!!!!!!

-Jami

fireflyLPN · Jul 19, 2005

Ok so I have a question. I am going to be starting school soon to be a LPN. My question is I have a pretty good sized tattoo on my left wrist. It isnt offensive, its very pretty. It is a dragonfly. Do you all think I will have problems with employment and people taking me seriously after school is done. I want honest opinions. I will not get offended by anyhting any of you have to say. I am just trying to get all info I can. Thank You!

I am an LPN with 4 tattoos - you can see some of the darker colored ones if I am wearing light colored scrubs. My tattoos didn't interfere with my employment as I got a good job at a large local hospital after graduation, but I don't wear white scrubs either.

Anyway, my LPN said when I registered that no one could have tattoos that were clearly visible. They would not let in one girl that had a tattoo of a heart on her hand. With that being said, I think it is only in what is visible to the passerby. No one will be looking that closely at the innerside of your wrist (I presume?). I'm sure if you were to wear a sweat band or maybe even one of those large band wrist watches (70's retro), you would be able to adequately disguise your dragonfly.

Good Luck!

MS._Jen_RN, ASN, RN · Jul 19, 2005

My tattoos are covered, but many of my co-worker's aren't. Many also have visible piercings including lebret, eyebrow, nose and cartilage. The policy at my institution stated that it is up to managment as to wether or not the tats need covered or the piercings need to be taken out.. Most don't care, I think the only reason it's in the policy is to cover themselves if someone had an offensive tat in an obvious place. My school was pretty relaxed about it too. I think that like many others have said, it depends on the organization.

There is one problem I could see with piercings. I work on a rehab unit that sees a lot of brain injured patients. They can be combative at times and I would not want them, their clothing, or restraints catching on anything ancored into my skin, including stud earings. (Just a thought)

~Jen

BabyRN2Be · Jul 28, 2005

Most schools are quite anal about tattoos and jewelry. We can't even wear our wedding rings (just the band).... no earrings, hair must be pulled back and everything must look very professional. The good news is, your clinical attire should include a lab coat that will cover your arms.

Boy, I'd be in big trouble if I had to wear only my wedding band to school as it's soldered to my engagement ring. It moved around too much and I thought it would be best to just have them soldered. I absolutely hate to leave the house w/o my wedding ring. Maybe it's just because I'm a newlywed.

I hope this will not be a problem at my nursing school, wherever I go. Actually this is the first time that I've heard of a school being so harsh on wearing jewelry. I can understand gaudy jewelry (recently I had a social worker come in to my room where I was being treated overnight and she had on this HUGE elephant head necklace along with matching bangle bracelets - it was truly too much), but wedding rings? That's going a bit too far.

I currently don't have any tattoos or piercings. If I ever did it would be related to my husband or my best friend all my life, it would be very unobtrusive lest anyone be offended.

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Jul 28, 2005

. I can understand gaudy jewelry (recently I had a social worker come in to my room where I was being treated overnight and she had on this HUGE elephant head necklace along with matching bangle bracelets - it was truly too much),

Gaudy jewelry? You must have been admitted to my hospital!! :chuckle

You should see our social worker/case manager at the holidays!!

traumahawk99 · Jul 28, 2005

heh. i'm getting the staff and snake tatood on my right shoulder this week :). i guess in my heart, i'll always be a medic first!

HisTreasure, BSN, RN · Aug 5, 2005

I did a search on this topic because I was very much interested in what the general consensus on tattoos was. :rolleyes: I am going to get my first tattoo on Saturday. Hopefully it will be the first of three...I don't know yet. I would like to get a teddy bear holding balloons with each of my children's (3) names in them. At first I was joking when I suggested it to my husband and mother, but both were very receptive and supportive. My mother even suggested I get the tattoo on my upper arm instead of my back as I originally planned. She said the arm so it could be seen. I was just curious as to what others thought about professionalism in nursing and tattoos.

BTW, the other two I plan will be two dolphins encircling my belly button (and the navel ring I'm getting on Saturday) and the other will be on my lower back with my husband and my names in Chinese lettering with the words: "LOVE, LIFE, ETERNITY." and our anniversary date underneath in the small of my back. We'll see how I tolerate the pain of this first one though!

watty · Aug 5, 2005

I have tattoos all over...too many to count. I have a sleeve, some of my back done, chest, ear, legs (one thigh and calf). And yes I am female!!! All of my, except my ear, are covered by scrubs. The only way any one finds out is when I bend just right. I have never had any problems. They are more excepted than ever!:rotfl:

ShayRN · Aug 5, 2005

I was so excited when I saw this thread. I am planning on getting my first tatoo next month sometime. I am getting a dolphin on my back:) I have to say, many of my nurses and aides have tattoos, but as long as they come to work every day and do their jobs, I could care less! Yes, we must be professional, but we also are humans first.

daisybaby, LPN · Aug 6, 2005

I'm not usually conservative, but I think tattoos should be covered while providing patient care. Visible piercings other than ears should be removed as well. That was the rule when I was in school (recently), and I think it made sense. Most other professions have similar policies, so I think it's appropriate.

(I took my cartilage piercing out when I started school, but the navel ring stays since no one can see it)