Tattoos and nursing

classy gal · May 5, 2007

So many job postings list "No visible tattoos or piercings (other than a single modest and appropriate ear piercing).

Your arm tattoos preclude you from even taking most food service jobs.

kimmie518 · May 6, 2007

There is a strong legal basis for discriminating against the tattooed, especially if the employers fears that having tattooed employees might hurt their professional image:
In the landmark court case
Pik-Wik Stores, Inc. v. CHRO
, the Connecticut Supreme Court established the standard for reviewing dress codes under the Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act.
In Pik-Wik, an employee complained about a grooming standard that required men to wear their hair "off the collar and above the ears." The employee argued that the policy discriminated against him on the basis of gender because women were not subject to the same standard. The court rejected the argument concluding that the grooming standard was non-discriminatory because it did not deny equal employment opportunities on the basis of an immutable characteristic, e.g., sex, race, national origin, disability or religion.

This Kentucky case verified that employers can fire employees who have exposed tattoos:
A dress code that required tucked-in shirts and covered tattoos for Kentucky State Parks employees did not violate the civil rights of three fired maintenance workers, a federal appeals court ruled.

However, regardless of the legalities and rights of people to look like a convict, many states have "at will" laws. These statutes allow you to quit at any time, for any reason, and fives allows corporations to fire employees at any time, for any reason, or no reason at all.

I am aware of working "at will" and the discrimination against people who have tattoo's. I think that employers have the right to turn away, or fire people who do not confirm to their policies.

What I disagree with are the false statements that you have made- patients concerned about contracting Hep C, and the fact that you are so adamant on believing that people with visible tattoo's will do nothing but have a low-wage, low-prestige career.

I don't care about the fact that I can never have a career in food service. I never have and never will.

justme1972 · May 6, 2007

Well...I don't want to offend anyone by this, I'm just repeating what we were told in our psychology class.

There is a very high correlation, between those with large numbers of tatoos, and people who have a high degree of various mental illnesses (be it drug addiction, alcoholism, depression, etc).

For me personally, I'm not a tatoo fan, but I have also never met a non-celebrity in my life, that was heavily tatooed, that had a high-paying executive job.

Cherish · May 6, 2007

Well...I don't want to offend anyone by this, I'm just repeating what we were told in our psychology class.
There is a very high correlation, between those with large numbers of tatoos, and people who have a high degree of various mental illnesses (be it drug addiction, alcoholism, depression, etc).
For me personally, I'm not a tatoo fan, but I have also never met a non-celebrity in my life, that was heavily tatooed, that had a high-paying executive job.

In the military there are many high ranking people with tattoos. Had a Command SGT Major with two tribal and unit patch tattoos on his calf. Even saw a full-bird colonel (in PT clothing) with a tattoo on his forearm. With that rank you can easily make over a hundred thousand a year. Most people in the military (including me) have a tattoo its very common, and you know how us military people are we MUST have some sort of mental illness :uhoh21: (sarcasm). Historically in America most tattoos were on prisoners and military folk but that is not the same situation today.

In the business world you wear suits and long sleeve shirts with ties very hard to see tattoos. I had an ex-bf (Army Vet) who had two tattoo sleeves and was the main honcho security officer for a health care system (3 hospitals). Wore suits or shirts with ties everyday. People didn't know he had tattoos till they saw him in regular clothes.

NJNursing, ASN, RN · May 6, 2007

I've seen many younger executive types in my hospital who have tribal armband tatoos (a fad, IMO). I've seen upper level state workers with them (well paying,secure jobs). Granted most of those I've seen them with were under the age of 45-ish. I think it's an older generation that puts the coorelation of tattoos with criminals or disturbed people. I think in the right situation - it's art. I've got 3 of them myself and all of them are symbolic of something in my life. They're all on top of my feet because I thought long and hard that I wanted them somewhere on my body that when I got old or lost/gained weight it wouldn't distort so feet seemed natural! I've even got RN written in a beautiful script with a small red cross (to symbolize my volunteerism) on my left foot. I can cover it with shoes, panty hose, whatever, but for the most part they're a great conversation piece and several people I work with commented nicely on them at the annual employee dinner the other night.

I think in the right taste, it's ok and it's all about location, location, location. I could see if you've got a large black panther on your lower arm - well I could see an employer not wanting that to look badly on them, but at the same time a nurse could wear long sleeves to an interview and at work. I think it's a little closed minded and as the older generation gets out of upper echelon positions and people of a more open minded nature startes to matriculate in, the acceptance of tattoos will change as the stigma behind them already is.

muffie, RN · May 6, 2007

2 cm ladybug R ankle, 2 cm butterfly L ankle

never been to prison

don't ride a harley

Cherish · May 6, 2007

2 cm ladybug R ankle, 2 cm butterfly L ankle
never been to prison
don't ride a harley

:lol2: I've got a half sleeve fom my upper shoulder to my elbow. Its water that comes up to clouds, with tropical flowers, butterflies (surrounding the clouds), my capricorn sign and the OM symbol. I get a lot of people (usually older) that say its really pretty and beautiful. It's not at all a trashy tattoo (if you like naked ladies and all good for you just would never get something like that on my body).

justme1972 · May 8, 2007

In the military there are many high ranking people with tattoos. Had a Command SGT Major with two tribal and unit patch tattoos on his calf. Even saw a full-bird colonel (in PT clothing) with a tattoo on his forearm. With that rank you can easily make over a hundred thousand a year. Most people in the military (including me) have a tattoo its very common, and you know how us military people are we MUST have some sort of mental illness :uhoh21: (sarcasm). Historically in America most tattoos were on prisoners and military folk but that is not the same situation today.
In the business world you wear suits and long sleeve shirts with ties very hard to see tattoos. I had an ex-bf (Army Vet) who had two tattoo sleeves and was the main honcho security officer for a health care system (3 hospitals). Wore suits or shirts with ties everyday. People didn't know he had tattoos till they saw him in regular clothes.

Just a note...

My Psychology professor isn't "old" or was quoting historical references to tats, he was just stating a current statistical fact.

He never said that people with tatoos have mental illnesses, he said that there is a high correlation with people that are heavily tatooed and mental ilnesses. That isn't the same thing.

I would disagree that "most" people in the military have tatoos, especially with the recent crackdown on tatoos by the military and "most" would refer to over 50%. That alone, shows that the military is having a major shift in attitude toward tatoos.

As far as never meeting a high-ranking business executive that was heavily tatooed, I was speaking from personal experience, and was not making a general reference that there were no exceptions.

For religious reasons, I don't believe in tatoos.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · May 14, 2007

I personally don't want one and don't foresee changing my mind.

HOWEVER, there is a NICU nurse at the hospital where I am that has a very large visible tat on his L wrist. And I can assure you that if I had a sick baby, he would be first on my list of requested nurses. He is the consummate professional, a great nurse, and one of the nicest people you will ever meet!

Tattoos (or lack thereof) do not the person make.

southernatheart · May 14, 2007

I have pink highlights in my hair...got them for graduation, and my manager at work didn't bat an eye:)

southernatheart · May 14, 2007

As an experienced professional I want to give a warning against getting or showing any tattoos.
It is 100% legal to discriminate against people with tattoos. Currently there are lawsuits in the works in the area of religious tattoos but so far the courts have not overruled previous decisions.
For first responders, your employer can require you to list ALL scars or tattoos. It is a felony to lie. Often times for fire fighters they use a polygraph during the interview. In the extreme case of some city fire fighters they have a "swim test" where the point is not to test your swimming ability but to see if you have a disqualifying tattoo.
Having a tattoo is more than a form of self expression, their meanings go back much longer. The word "stigma" has the Latin base of tattoo or to permanently stain. Only slaves or known criminals had tattoos and where given tattoos against their will. In todays society a majority of people do associate tattoos with criminal behavior and social deviance. It is a legitimate fear of a patient of contracting hep C from a worker.
Having a visible tattoo can and will probably preclude you from achieving your potential as far as you career goes. So to all you in the lower echelons of nursing with visible arm/neck tattoos who dream of achieving more:trout:.
My advice is to not get any. If you all ready have them, hide them and lie about them.

So lying is a felony...but as a 'professional' you're advising us to lie. Hm.

HisHands, ASN, RN · May 15, 2007

wow classy, you seem really disqualifying here. "So to all you in the lower echelons of nursing with visible arm/neck tattoos who dream of achieving more:trout:." What the heck is that? I could TOTALLY see my employer saying, "Yes Crystal. You are the most qualified candidate for that promotion, but we are giving it to Joe because he doesn't have that tatoo/extra set of earrings, etc." Riiiiight.

BTW, I have a tat that I LOOOOVE. I had always wanted to get a fish directly in the arch of my left foot, but when my hubby and I went in to get it, I changed my mind. I decided to get a hot pink, glows under blacklight Playboy bunny on my left lower back right above my bum.

But hey, that's just me.

Blessings!

~Crystal