Tattoos

[ThatChickOmi]

Hey, everyone.

I'm starting nursing school in roughly about a month. I've already been told by advisors and read numerous times online that tattoos and body piercings are discouraged in this profession. Understandably so. I've already retired my 0g earlobes and allowed them to shrink down (at 32, I'm getting way too old for that anyhow...) and the only other visible piercing I have is a nostril piercing, which I just won't wear during clinicals.

My only worry is a tattoo I have on my wrist/lower part of forearm. I got it when I was younger....it's too big to easily cover up with regular bandaids. It's not a sleeve or anything, and it's only on the inside of arm/wrist. I don't want to give a bad first impression when school begins. What do you guys recommend as far as concealing it, and at the same time, be able to maintain sanitary conditions at school? Any particular brands of wraps or other similar products? Long sleeved shirt under scrubs? Anybody else been through similar predicaments? Do hospitals these days really take that sort of thing seriously? Nowadays, it's rare to find someone below the age of 35 WITHOUT any tattoos or piercings....Thanks for any advice.

[WVFNP, MSN, APRN]

I have forearm tattoos and I was required to cover them during nursing school clinicals. I always just wore and under armour shooter's sleeve. Worked well and I didn't get hot with an undershirt on.

[2bTraumaRN2008]

Just depends on where you work. We can have them, and they can show as long as they aren't sleeves or offensive.

[ThatChickOmi, ADN, RN]

Thanks everyone for your input. Greatly appreciated. I'm glad to hear the majority seems to be somewhat lenient with the tattoo policies so long as things are covered. I guess I'll find out how things go as far as my program. I can't really afford laser removal at this time soooo...heh.

[imhorsemackerel, LPN]

My school allowed students to wear navy blue or white cardigans with their scrubs. Definitely check with them.

[lilnursemeg]

I wear a small tat jacket sleeve to cover my wrist tattoo for clinicals. Our school rules are no visable tattoos, and no jewelry aside from a plain wedding band. The facility I work for as a floor nurse has no rules against tattoos only facial piercings.

[HeamOncRN]

I'm not sure how visible tattoos will affect your ability to be a competent care giver?

I fail to see how some ink makes you incapable of caring for the sick and dying.

Unless your body art is completely innapropriate i feel like there should be no need to cover it.

Cover them for your interview, but I don't see how they should affect your ability to hold employment.

i have visble tattoos, I also have blue and purple in my hair. it has not affected my ability to gain employment and have even found that my hair color is an ice breaker for my patients and their families.

Suggestions on long sleeves is, in my opinion, not a great option. sleeves should be above the elbow for best practice purposes as long sleeves can be portals for contamination and cross infection

[Wiggly Litchi]

@HeamOncRN - OP isn't asking about employment though; her school mandates that she covers them up.

[ThatChickOmi, ADN, RN]

I'm not sure how visible tattoos will affect your ability to be a competent care giver?

I fail to see how some ink makes you incapable of caring for the sick and dying.

Unless your body art is completely innapropriate i feel like there should be no need to cover it.

Cover them for your interview, but I don't see how they should affect your ability to hold employment.

i have visble tattoos, I also have blue and purple in my hair. it has not affected my ability to gain employment and have even found that my hair color is an ice breaker for my patients and their families.

Suggestions on long sleeves is, in my opinion, not a great option. sleeves should be above the elbow for best practice purposes as long sleeves can be portals for contamination and cross infection

Trust me, I agree with your sentiments. I don't think it should matter but unfortunately many programs discourage it and want tattoos covered up and piercings removed. I'm not exactly sure how strict my school is, but I just want to be extra careful, that is all.

[kcochrane]

@HeamOncRN - OP isn't asking about employment though; her school mandates that she covers them up.

She mentioned in her post that her advisors told her that they were discouraged in this profession. Some of us were replying to that. :)

[Bootschie]

Well, it seems to depend on the clinic you are working at and also the country you are working in. Where I am now, there's no need to cover up you tattoo or to take out your piercing. Actually the older generation is more likely to accept these than younger people. I often get told I just look like their grandchildren with all the tats and "metal in my face". I hope for you, that you won't need to hide that part of you and that you'll be accepted just the way you are.

[CoffeeScrubsQD]

I've been a CNA for 4 years, working in healthcare for 7, and hopefully will be starting nursing school next year. I have several facial piercings, 0g ears, and visible tattoos on both arms, and I don't know if I've just gotten lucky, but they've never been an issue in regards to my employment. My elderly patients/residents by and large admire my tattoos and I've had many lift the sleeve of my scrub to get a better look. I have literally never had a client/patient/resident make disparaging remarks about my tattoos or piercings, only a few old farmers jokingly compare my septum piercing to the rings put in bulls back in the old days haha.

When I was in my CNA program our student handbook stated that visible tattoos and facial piercings would be problematic, but come clinical time, no issue was raised about them. I'm wanting to do the LPN program with the same school so I'm hoping that the same nonchalantness is taken with nursing students as with CNA's.

[0.5GPA, ADN, CNA]

Sweet I'm rare 35 and no tats.

Yes most hospitals take it sersiously. Long sleeves or some kind of wrist covering (I seen wristbands to band aids) should work

Apparently there's a makeup you can buy that is for covering tattoos. Google that I don't know the names.