Tattoos in the OR

Thanks for your reply! You've given me hope at least! And if it was a matter of choice, I definitely would go with 1/2 or 1/4 sleeves. Alas, I have full sleeves already that are a decade old I got them before I had even decided on nursing, back when I was young and free and didn't think further ahead than the weekend haha!

I'd love to hear from any others that may have experiences with OR and scrubs and tattoos :)

Hello,

I don't see any problem with them and have worked with many health care staff who have sleeves.

Jen

p.s. edit to add: no doubt a full sleeve took a much greater committment than just a weekend and that was only 'one' of them. :)

Pfffft, no one would care where I work, and I think most of the staff have tatts somewhere :) But yeah, a warming jacket could be worn. And maybe a long sleeved shirt for the interview.

I circulated in an outpatient plastic surgery OR and wore long sleeve warm up jacket all the time, because it was always FREEZING. So did the other circulators. They were more concerned about hair being pulled back under the OR cap, mask, and shoe covers. It probably depends on the facility whether they allow long sleeve shirts underneath or jackets (unless we were out of compliance which I would hope not).

i work with a guy with full sleeves. its not such a big deal for a scrub tech, because they are usually in a gown, the patients cant even see them, etc. But as a circulator, you will always have a jacke to wear. dont worry.

And if that doesn't work, I've only seen ONE hospital whose ER staff weren't allowed to show tattoos! You can always go there! As a matter of fact, as a STUDENT during preceptor I was told not to worry about wearing long sleeves because no one there cares about tattoos! (my fore arms have tattoos on them) One of the ER "lifers" had a HUGE sleeve on her arm and never wore a sweater!

Tattoos have become mainstream these days but the policy will still vary between facilities. I have chosen to cover up my tattooed arms with Ink Armor sleeves: Cover Tattoo | Tattoo Cover Up | Tattoo Cover | Free Shipping U.S - TAT2X I don't work in an OR but I do work for a major hospital that does not allow visible tattoos. I also prefer to cover up at work because it seems to make my patients more comfortable. The cover sleeves work well for my purposes but I'm not sure what the policy would be regarding wearing them in the OR. They are a nylon spandex blend and fit snug on my arms.

Where I work you can't have visible tattoos and no where in the hospital are we permitted to wear long sleeves in a patient care area. We do have a nurse on our floor that uses some sort of water proof cover up on her arm tats. Each place is different and it will depend on their dress code.

Hello. I have a full sleeve tattoo on my left arm and a chest piece that covers my entire chest. I also got these tattoos before I became a nurse. I am a perioperative nurse and before I was a nursing assistant and sterile processing tech for surgical services. I cover my tattoos with a surgical jacket because outside linen is not permitted in the surgery dept. I have to button the jacket all the way to my neck (which is not convienent but it's better than not having a job). It shouldn't be a problem for you, just make sure to cover up tattoos for any interview and when you come into work grab a surgical jacket. I am a new grad and got hired right into surgery. Please message me if you need anything.

Lol, yeah we wear long sleeves, jackets/sweaters in the O.R. & the occasional skirt or shawl (blanket from the warmer wrapped around your waist or shoulders).

If you're a scrub tech or will be scrubbing otherwise, then you might run into problems...which just means you take the "undershirt" off & don't worry about it because you'll be scrubbed in.

If anything, I imagine the main objection would probably be if any of your tats would be considered offensive (nudity, etc.) otherwise, again wouldn't worry about it. I have tattoos myself...not to mention ongoing discussions with colleagues, planning our next tattoos.