Tattoos/Piercings in the workplace?

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I haven't seen a thread like this so I thought it would be interesting to see everybody's opinion.

What do you guys think about tattoos and/or piercings in the work place? I know it's deemed "unprofessional", but let's be honest, everyone has different thoughts about it.

Do you have any policies for it at your job?

I'm just curious. I have a tiny lip ring that can't even be noticed unless someone is dead in front of my face. I know I'll most likely have to take it out before I start nursing school-which is fine with me. As for tattoos, I only have one which can be easily covered so I'm not worried about that at all.

Do any of you have any tattoos/piercings? If so, where are they?

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My opinion... Tattoos and piercing are not my favorite by any means but as long as they are not offensive and don't cover your whole body it shouldn't effect your work.

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I'm assuming there is a dress code that you need to follow that prohibits visible body jewelry and tattoos.

Just cover them. And don't get any in conspicuous places.

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As a patient ive never ever cared about tattoos. I am really torn on getting a totally visible tattoo while in nursing school.... I havent had a firm yes or no on this from directors and any literature they suggest I read does not support an answer either way. So ill probably just remain safer than sorry and get the huge back piece ive been wanting ;) I am curious to see all these answers.

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Specializes in LTC.

I have a huge visible tattoo on my forearm that cannot be hidden. It's a medic alert. Tell me that's unprofessional... Go ahead... I spent 14 years tugging at a bracelet before I made a choice and said to myself... " they are not curing Type 1 Diabetes in my lifetime, I'm not wearing this darn thing anymore" When I worked in LTC, I had several elderly residents tell me how they would love to have one too!

Otherwise all of my tattoos are easily hidden in a typical short sleeve top and slacks.

That being said, I worked HR in another industry for a lot of years, I always overlooked tattoos, but tbh, I made judgements about people who had facial jewelry. Not an Indian with a nose ring jewelry, but eyebrow, Marilyn's, lip, spacers, and that type of thing. I always felt a tattoo is stuck on you, but facial piercings should come out at work.

Maybe that's not fair, but I always felt (and dress codes supported me) that work is a time for WORK, not self expression. There is no reason to be wearing a tongue ring on the job. It's not about offending anyone IMHO, it's about being a professional person when you are being paid, and expressing ones self on your off time.

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Specializes in CCM, PHN.

This topic has been discussed to death on AN, a simple search should turn up the many threads where it has been beaten into the ground.......

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All tattoos need to be covered up and piercings taken out. Now, I know some people who have tattoos and do not cover them up like a few male nurses unless we have visitors. I no longer have the industrial bar in my ear I used to wear back when I was younger. The school is more strict about it. I think we have a few female nurses with wrist tattoos too. We have a doctor that has his covered from his short scrub top sleeves. He used to a police officer. He cracks me up when he says he's a better doctor than a police officer.

At my old ER, we had a female with sleeves that always wore long sleeves to work.

I am thinking about getting a tattoo on my shoulder after I graduate. I may get my industrial put back in but hide it with my hair covering my ears. I used to have a lifeline bar but it was too big for my ears so if I get it again, I'll bring it in and ask them to position it so I can get that lifeline bar in.

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This topic has been discussed to death on AN a simple search should turn up the many threads where it has been beaten into the ground.......[/quote']

Why do people always say this on here? Not everyone has been around forever and realizes the forum topics tend to be cyclical. ... maybe some new people will share their experiences. I looked at the linked search results for a few minuted and ive didnt notice anyone say they were fired over a visible tattoo. But I didnt spend hours searching through the posts.

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Why do people always say this on here? Not everyone has been around forever and realizes the forum topics tend to be cyclical. ... maybe some new people will share their experiences. I looked at the linked search results for a few minuted and ive didnt notice anyone say they were fired over a visible tattoo. But I didnt spend hours searching through the posts.

Thank you. I was going to address that comment but decided not to. Out of almost 730k members on this site I'm 100% sure at LEAST one person never shared their experience on any of the previous posts. There are plenty of people on here just as curious as I am that didn't bother searching previous posts about it.

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Specializes in L&D.

I have a tattoo on my inner wrist(it's a butterfly and flower combo) and on my ankle. During nursing school I had to cover it with a bandage. I know many local hospitals have gone to where they want you to cover it(long sleeves or a bandage). My hospital, there's not a problem with it thankfully.

I don't have any piercings but probably wouldn't want to see piercings in the hosp. To me, anything other than simple studs are tasteless and unprofessional.

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Just started nursing school. They have a strict policy but some of it has to do with all of the clinical sites we go to. Every site may have different rules so the school goes more conservative so there aren't any "issues". Here is the policy.

-No visible body piercings except one post-style earring in each ear.

-No visible tattoos period. They must be covered with a bandage.

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