Tattoos?

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Hi guys im planning to cross of my bucketlist and its having a tattoo. Thinking of getting a sleeve one(whole arm). Wondering if I get fired or maybe have a hard time getting a job for this? I know the responsibility of it by covering during work hours, maybe wearing sleeves or wearing thermal and stuff to cover it. Any insights and opinions? Thanks!

People who think that ink under the skin says anything about your education or character are so small-minded. Sorry, I don't think suburban white middle-class 1960's is the only acceptable look.

I have chosen to get tats where they are covered by a regular shirt and pants (or scrubs). Many jobs require you to cover body art at work, so be aware that while prejudice against body art is ridiculous, it's still pervasive among hiring managers, coworkers, and patients. It may impact your job choices if you have a difficult time covering it up.

A tattoo artist called it a "corporate sleeve" when people get sleeves from the elbow up. Easily covered, even when you roll up your sleeves to keep them clean or give your forearms a good scrub. You'd still need to wear an undershirt or sleeve of some kind, but you'd get more choice in how and when you reveal the tattoo.

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Sleeves or any cover up doesnt matter to me. i'm used wearing thermal under my scrubs anyway haha

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Specializes in Private Duty Pediatrics.
Sleeves or any cover up doesnt matter to me. i'm used wearing thermal under my scrubs anyway haha

I take that to mean that you work where it is cool, or even cold. But will you always work there?

I wore long johns under my uniform when I worked in X-Ray. Now I do home care, where air conditioning is not always available ...

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Specializes in Ambulatory Care-Family Medicine.

I don't have any tattoos, but most of my coworkers do. I'm one of those people that wants one but can never decide on what I want and am scared once I get it I wouldn't like it. Our facility policy is as long as it is not offensive it doesn't have to be covered, but it is at managers discretion so if you have a super strict manager you could have problems. My manager is laid back so none of my coworkers have to cover their wrist ones (no one has full sleeves).

I'll give you the advice my coworkers give me. If you get a tattoo put it somewhere that is covered with shorts and a tshirt, especially your first one in case you decide you're not as fond of it as you thought you would be. Don't start out with a full sleeve, get something on your shoulder/deltoid area so it covered in scrubs anyway and you can decide later on if you want to keep extending down to full sleeves.

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

I don't have anything on my arms. yet. (well, a small semi-colon on the inside of mt wrist). but I wear long sleeve t-shirts all the time. I don't like just a scrub shirt anymore. I have 5 tats and planning for more. Part of my midlife crisis :p Got my first one at 50. Almost everyone I work with has at least one. from 25 to 65. Age and education and tattoos have no correlation. Most of the pts have them too!

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Specializes in ICU, trauma.

I absolutely love tats! But i would say don't get a sleeve past the wrist/sleeve line, so you can hide them if needed. My specific hospital has a very lax policy on them, just can't be anything offensive or inappropriate. Lots and lots of nurses here have them, have probably seen 10+ with sleeves

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Since most young patients have them, they will appreciate a nurse who also has them.

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Specializes in Allergy/ENT, Occ Health, LTC/Skilled.

I have half a sleep and forearm tattoos. Long sleeves for interview, long sleeves for work, no one knows unless I see them outside of work. So its never a prob for me.

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Specializes in ICU, trauma.
Might be but from previous posts, he's not a nurse.

in another post, he also stated that getting your ADN, is "just a little bit harder than highschool"

Dont feed the troll lol :sniff:

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Tatoos on professionals makes me cringe, to each his own though.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Tatoos on professionals makes me cringe, to each his own though.

I don't get this. If you like art, you put it up in your house. Your skin is the same thing, why not decorate the walls?

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I like tattoos and actually have one. I chose to get it on my back where it is only seen by people I want to see it. I wouldn't be completely comfortable having one where it could be seen by anyone.

I work with great nurses that have tattoos and also some that aren't so great. Same to be said for nurses without tattoos. So I guess what I'm saying is that like everything else in life a tattoo doesn't define your skill as a nurse anymore than having red/black/blonde hair does.

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