Tattoos/Piercings in the workplace?

edmia, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2013

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?

There are many threads on this topic. Get ready, strong opinions on this one...

Yes. In 2013, people still equate professionalism to physical appearance.

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RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 6, 2013

Strong opinions, indeed! So here's mine:

I am in my forties. To some of you, that's near-dead. However, I live a 'young' life, with children at home, and am anything but a dinosaur!

Why do I mention all that? Because the fact that I find visible tattoos and facial piercings to be unprofessional in appearance should not be a reflection of being "of an age" but rather, "of a mindset". It is very common for people my age to have tattoos and more piercings than I care to know about strewn about their bodies. I find it tacky, for the most part.

Someone mentioned conservative versus liberal parts of the country making the difference; I submit that since nursing and medicine are conservative professions, THAT is what matters. Double standards may be decried by some, but I am not surprised when I see menial laborers, lower-rung employees with piercings and tattoos. More expected. But the bazillion medical professionals I work with/around? Rare to find anything visible. I couldn't care less if they have Mickey Mouse stamped on their buttocks, but they sure aren't having it inked on their forearms. I have come to expect it from the many MAs, PCTs having ink and piercings clearly visible, and haven't yet seen one of the doctors look like that. The housekeepers yes, the administration no.

I wonder when was the last time someone had a surgeon she was about to consult with for the first time walk into the room wearing assorted pieces of metal sticking out of his face....or ink scribbled up the sides of his neck? I suppose it'd be alright with some to hire an attorney with giant black discs stretching out his earlobes, or tattoos of who-knows-what climbing up her legs. And now doesn't the very image strike you as ridiculous? Why is that? Because it IS unprofessional.

It seems some nurses claim they want to be taken seriously, and want to be respected as much as that surgeon, yet go to some lengths to LOOK appalling, hiding behind "but it's acceptable now" and "looks shouldn't matter".

Well, have to tell some people because for some reason they don't know it....but looks DO matter, impressions DO matter, and as shallow as it may seem to some, trust may never be attained because of the "professional's" choice to look a certain way. Everyone has choices when it comes to tattoos and piercings. Just don't be chagrined by another's choice to cross you off the list because of them.

MrChicagoRN, RN · Jul 6, 2013

If you choose a tattoo, make sure it's not jailhouse quality, and don't ever get a tattoo on your face or visible part of your neck. Probably not on the hands either.

MiGab · Jul 6, 2013

I have three tattoos. Two are l

MiGab · Jul 6, 2013

I have three tattoos. Two are large and on my arms. When I worked as an aide in a LTC facility I didn't cover them and there was no policy saying I had to. When I became a nurse and started working in the hospital I covered them per the policy. None of my coworkers knew I had tattoos and I think they would be surprised to see that I had them. I don't really look like the kind of person to have tattoos (that is what I have been told). I think I come off more as a quiet librarian type.

I HAD to have them covered in nursing school. I remember when I rotated in the OR and wore hospital scrubs they made a big deal about it. I lived in two different parts of the state. In the rural part it wasn't a big deal to have tattoos and most people had them. In the suburbs I get strange looks.

The worst part of having to keep them covered is when your work is hot.

klangelo · Jul 6, 2013

My tattoos do not effect the way in which I care for my patients or my work ethic. I don't understand why it matters so much?!

Amnesty · Jul 6, 2013

I wonder when was the last time someone had a surgeon she was about to consult with for the first time walk into the room wearing assorted pieces of metal sticking out of his face....or ink scribbled up the sides of his neck? I suppose it'd be alright with some to hire an attorney with giant black discs stretching out his earlobes, or tattoos of who-knows-what climbing up her legs. And now doesn't the very image strike you as ridiculous? Why is that? Because it IS unprofessional.
It seems some nurses claim they want to be taken seriously, and want to be respected as much as that surgeon, yet go to some lengths to LOOK appalling, hiding behind "but it's acceptable now" and "looks shouldn't matter".

To answer the bolded question, no, not at all. I personally don't find stretched ears aesthetically pleasing. I don't assume a person is less professional because of them. It really is a mindset and not just an age thing. I'm in the conservative South, and at age 24, many of my classmates felt the same way you do about piercings and tats, and many just didn't care or had piercings/tats themselves.

Personally, I don't think there are very many things that "normal" people get pierced or tattooed that come across as offensively strange. I think it's extremely hypocritical that there is a social definition of what's "normal" and thus allowable.

I find most of the latest fashion trends abhorrent. Bright fluorescent colors, half-jackets, leggings as pants, very short shorts -- HORRID, all of them, and I'd never wear any of them and I hate them. At the same time, I'm not going to judge anybody else for wearing them. Why is it okay that you can come to work with a funky-colored stethoscope for "fun", but I can't decorate my face with an eyebrow piercing for the same reason? You can wear hideous floral prints on your scrub tops because you think it looks cute and festive, but if I get a lip ring for the same reason, I'm unprofessional? It's a huge double standard, and I honestly think it's the biggest load of BS I've ever heard.

It is not immature or rebellious to get piercings or tattoos, at least in most cases. People need to stop making judgments about others who decide to be pierced or get tattooed. With that said, I understand why employers would keep it very conservative and want these things covered. It would get very tedious to explain to somebody that John's tattoo is fine but hers isn't, so she has to cover it up, and people could very easily complain about discrimination. All facial piercings have to have clear plastic unnoticeable studs, all tattoos have to be covered. I'm fine with that policy. I'm not fine with the draconian attitudes that often accompany it, and I think they should go the way of the dinosaur. Keeping them around and validating them as legitimate because "it's just how society works" or "that's how I was raised" is, in my opinion, an excuse to be closed-minded and judge others.

Editorial Team / Admin · Jul 6, 2013

I don't get how appearance correlates with professionalism either. I have many tattooed/pierced coworkers that if I had to have surgery would be the ones I want taking care of me. Then again, there are those who look perfectly "normal" (who gets to decide what normal is anyway?) that I don't want near me. As long as one is clean, doesn't smell bad, and is competent, who cares about tattoos and piercings?

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 6, 2013

... I personally don't find stretched ears aesthetically pleasing. I don't assume a person is less professional because of them. ....

I don't get how appearance correlates with professionalism either. I have many tattooed/pierced coworkers that if I had to have surgery would be the ones I want taking care of me.

In the course of discussion I think most people are using two different words (and meanings) interchangeably. "Professional" appearance is what was posed in the original questions, but it seems you're referring to "competent". As in "I don't like the look of stretchy earlobes, but I don't assume the person is less competent because of them". And I absolutely agree. Difference is, I DO see that person with the stretched-out earlobes, eyebrow hardware and ink on the neck as less professional, because well....in my opinion (and so many others, I'd warrant) they ARE less professional. It's an appearance thing.

Competent? They may be awesome in their skills, but first you have to get people to get past the appearance issue. I imagine in Utopia, no one WOULD care, but since that's not the case....people do.

Double standards, no doubt. Life isn't fair. If I drop the f-bomb when out drinking with friends, no one bats an eye. But when at work? Ridiculously unprofessional. I am allowed to wear skinny jeans and a funky t-shirt on my time off, but when expected to be in front of patients and other professionals, it would be highly inappropriate. Therefore, I'd expect to be dressed--and looking the part--of a professional.

By the way, I think there are some hideous scrub outfits that are just as unprofessional in appearance as lip rings and neck tats. Style and sizes do matter in making a polished, professional image. But hey, just my opinion!

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Jul 7, 2013

I am the DNS of a skilled facility. Most of the residents there love my tattoo. They are curious about why I got it...did it hurt...am I going to get another. One of the women wants me to take her to get a tat for her next birthday. She'll be 98. Many of my staff have tats and it's no big deal.

bagface · Jul 7, 2013

I love seeing ink on people. Personally I would never get one because I don't have anything artistically interesting that I want on me for the rest of my life. However I do enjoy seeing and hearing why people have the tats they do have. I've had nurses that have tattoos and my surgeon also had ink on both his arms.. it was interesting and neat to see that they have a personal side other than being what their titles are.

I do have my tongue pierced, it is against policy to have any facial piercings at our school/hospital, however mine is far in the back and when I talk you can't even see it. If someone ever says something to me I would switch it out to the clear pink kind so nobody would notice it. I got it at the same time my friend (who I grew up with and was my best support) had cancer and he wanted to get his nipples pierced. It's a symbolical thing for me at this point.

edmia, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2013

I don't get how appearance correlates with professionalism either. I have many tattooed/pierced coworkers that if I had to have surgery would be the ones I want taking care of me. Then again there are those who look perfectly "normal" (who gets to decide what normal is anyway?) that I don't want near me. As long as one is clean, doesn't smell bad, and is competent, who cares about tattoos and piercings?[/quote']
Absolutely! I rely on the competence of people I work with, not what they look like.
And, I love good ink
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