Tattoos in the workplace

[MAH82]

The hospital I work at has a policy of no tattoos at work. Any tattoos that you do have must be covered up by clothing. I was wondering what other policies are out there. Are tattoos allowed? Is it enforced where you work? Do you like/hate the policy and how would you change it if you could?

[BellionRN]

Don't forget the giant gel nails.

[OwlieO.O]

They aren't allowed (must be covered if possible) but it isn't enforced. I'd rather wear short sleeves than pass along infections from patient to patient with long sleeved shirts.

[dah doh, BSN, RN]

We don't have specific policy prohibiting tattoos. It is frowned upon if they are very obvious. I think some departments are more tolerant. Some of my co-workers wear tattoo sleeves to cover their tattoos.

[aortas]

i have a 3/4 sleeve on my left arm and a visible tattoo on my R arm. i also have my ribs and my bilateral feet tattooed, but obviously those two are the only ones not visible. i have never kept my tattoos covered, no one has ever asked me to do so, and they are a part of me i really like. i have had numerous people tell me one of my best characteristics is my professional demeanor in the workplace. i do not see tattoos as unprofessional, in fact, most of the nurses and aides i work with have tattoos, the minority do not. i have never had any family members or patients comment negatively on my tattoos, only the positive :) and as an aside to give a little info on the actual place i work- the owners of my facility are orthodox jewish and the county the facility is in is on forbes list 2014 top wealthiest counties.

[Red Kryptonite]

They aren't allowed (must be covered if possible) but it isn't enforced. I'd rather wear short sleeves than pass along infections from patient to patient with long sleeved shirts.

Thank you! Every time I see someone talking about wearing long sleeves as an extra barrier, all I can think about is that now they're carrying whatever it is around with them and holding it up against their own skin for the rest of the shift! Gross! I'll keep my short sleeves and the ability to soap myself up to the shoulders if need be, thanks.

[AmyRN303, BSN, RN]

I honestly don't even really notice tattoos anymore. We have quite a few people in various positions with them. Physicians and nurses with nose rings as well, not to get into that conversation again :) it really doesn't bother me either way. One of my closest. Friends just got a tattoo of an angel on her shoulder. For her 81st birthday. I have patients with tattoos all the time who are well into their 70s and 80s. I imagine when the people in their 50s and 60s with tattoos get into their 70s and 80s, this won't be asked much anymore.

[sistrmoon, BSN, RN]

We don't have specific policy prohibiting tattoos. It is frowned upon if they are very obvious. I think some departments are more tolerant. Some of my co-workers wear tattoo sleeves to cover their tattoos.

What's a tattoo sleeve?

[sistrmoon, BSN, RN]

I have one tattoo but it's in the "tramp stamp" area of my lower back so unless I'm wearing half shirt(Daisy Duke?) scrubs, it's a non issue:) we have a nurse with a neck tattoo and nose piercing and while we have a policy against visible tattoos and facial piercings, it's apparently not enforced.

Have any studies been done on long sleeves and infection control? And I'm not talking about dr coats that rarely get washed. I live in a really cold place so yes I tend to wear long sleeves under my scrubs. I personally think we should be provided elbow high gloves especially when I'm emptying urine on chemo patients(Onc nurses have been shown to have chemo in their urine and this is one way they think they absorb it.) But that would be more money wouldn't it?

[OwlieO.O]

I have one tattoo but it's in the "tramp stamp" area of my lower back so unless I'm wearing half shirt(Daisy Duke?) scrubs, it's a non issue:) we have a nurse with a neck tattoo and nose piercing and while we have a policy against visible tattoos and facial piercings, it's apparently not enforced.

Have any studies been done on long sleeves and infection control? And I'm not talking about dr coats that rarely get washed. I live in a really cold place so yes I tend to wear long sleeves under my scrubs. I personally think we should be provided elbow high gloves especially when I'm emptying urine on chemo patients(Onc nurses have been shown to have chemo in their urine and this is one way they think they absorb it.) But that would be more money wouldn't it?

I would indeed like to see a study. You would think long sleeves would be an issue. I work in a NICU and if I put my arms through the wholes, my sleeves will always touch something. I could roll them up, but not far enough. I don't even wear a watch of a ring for this reason. Our kids are just too fragile. If some were to get an infection, they'd be toast.

[heron, ASN, RN]

Personally, I don't care about someone else's tatoos nor do I care whether they are against facility policy or not. It isn't an issue over which I'd go to the mat, to tell you the truth. If tatoos are against your facility policy and you disagree with it, you're welcome to fight it. But if they are, and you're disciplined for it, you're gonna have to deal with the consequences.

Says a 64 year old white lady who had dreadlocks for years while working as a bedside nurse.

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

Why do people say, "get with the times?" Tattoos aren't new; they have been around a long time. My father got them in the Korean Conflict. Maybe they are just more common because people saw a way to make money by opening tattoo parlors. Anyway, I don't like them. They make arms look unclean. I think they are ugly. It doesn't matter, though, because nobody asks me my opinion about them, anyway. I have known so many people who regret getting them.

[Tenebrae, BSN, RN]

I'm a tattoo and piercing freak. My only visible tats are on my ankles which are usually covered with scrubs and i have a tiny stud in my nose.

I choose to have the majority of my tatts and piercings in places that are not visible at work. I dont really care what people think of tatts I do however feel that some people may be intimidated by visible tattoos and at the end of the day its about providing the best possible nursing care for my patients, not being a walking piece of art because I think its cool