Tattoos in the workplace

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Oct 17, 2018

Hey all!
There was recently an email sent out by our manager talking about dress code and how patients or other staff can ask us to cover our tattoos if they are offended by them. There's no actually hospital policy stating we aren't allowed to have tattoos or that they absolutely must be covered up, I believe the policy states that they must be covered as much as possible. I see more staff with tattoos than not these days. I have one on my arm and some days it's just too hot to wear long sleeves so it's not always covered. I personally want more but after my manager deiscovered one on my arm she told me not to go getting anymore and that if I do I won't be able to go much further in nursing if I'm covered in tattoos. Which I find ridiculous. I've never had a patient or anyone else complain about my tattoos being visible. She seems to be the only one that has a huge problem with it but tries to play it off like she doesn't. What's your take on the matter?

"Seems is the key word.

Just get them where no one else can see them if you get more. Fair? No. Is she right? Who knows? Why take a chance if you want to advance?

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Oct 17, 2018

This is a direct quote of the policy:
"Tattoos must be covered as much as possible. Employees who have a visible tattoo that could reasonably be considered degrading, offensive, or demeaning to patients, family members, co-workers, or management must have it covered at all times while on health system property. Out of respect for our patients, employees must cover a tattoo if a patient complains about a tattoo while they are being cared for. Extreme body altering and branding must not be visible"
Which is pretty vague to me, and personally want more tattoos, so I don't really think it's okay for my manager to tell me I can't get anymore or I'm not going to go any further in nursing.

How about a heart with "MOM" on it? That might offend someone who hates their mother.

You don't have to heed her advice. But why not compromise for now? You can always get more visible ones later, can't you? Again, fair? No, but such is life. Pick your battles.

guest940422 · Oct 18, 2018

I read a book by a child psychiatrist, Bruce Perry, who is expert in trauma - debriefed the Waco children. He thinks of heavy tattooing as a form of cutting which resonated with me. After many years of working with patients heavily inked, I always felt sorry for them to be spending all that money on ink instead of therapy. But that's just me and I'm not judging the quality of the person - just the quality of their happiness. I like to think that I would never hold it against the person in a hiring situation, but if all things were perfectly equal, I'm sure I'd chose the nurse without.

I was a cutter when I was a child (12 years old), it was a dark and difficult time for me and that is really all I care to share on the topic.

Now where I once had scars covering my arm, I now have a full sleeve of what even the biggest critics admit are beautiful tattoos. I live in Texas, long sleeves are not an option 10 months out of the year. I no longer have to come up with ridiculous lies about every time a stranger looks at my arm less I be judged for my pre-adolescent lack of coping skills.

I already loved tattoos before I decided to cover my scars, it was my way of coping and turning pain into beauty. While i admit some heavily tattooed individuals are sadists and enjoy pain, most enjoy art, or use tattoos as a form of expressing themselves. It is the best social filter I've ever encountered. You learn a lot about someone by how they do (or don't) respond.

I can attest after decades of therapy and self exploration my tattooing is not a form of cutting, and if anyone fits the stereotype it's me. I'm not saying this is true for everyone, but this is a very dangerous generalization to adopt.

End Soapbox:

Per my career I have been blessed to always work places where no one cared about my tattoos. Working in pediatrics I was permitted to wear short sleeves. But you should always be realistic and know people have bias. I've never shown up to a job interview with visible tattoos. I even wear makeup on my hand to cover the edge of my sleeve. I've had one boss admit they would not have hired me if they had seen it in the interview and they were glad I had it covered.

She makes me wear long sleeves to work, and the dress code backs her up so I do it. Of all the things you can fight with your boss about, dress code is just not a battle worth fighting. I recommend wonderwink undershirts. They are super thin,comfortable, durable, soft, and breath well. You can role the sleeves up when you are hot and you just don't care. I work in procedures for hours at a time with a lead apron and sterile gown over my long sleeves and they don't make me any hotter than I would have been.

TruvyNurse · Oct 21, 2018

I am pro tattoo all the way! I've never had any issues with patients (well maybe one who made a snide comment) but even in my FNP clinicals I've yet to have a problem with my visible tattoos. However, I believe there are good tattoos and trashy looking tattoos. It's one thing to have beautiful well done tattoos, another to have permanent marker looking tats.

AnnieNP, MSN, NP · Oct 21, 2018

Just a story to share, years ago while working in the CCU I was caring for an elderly gentleman for the first time. I was working nights, and when I went into the room to introduce myself he asked me to please not let the previous shift "nurse with the tattoos" care for him again. She did have a lot of tattoos (some very pretty). I told him I would speak to the Charge nurse when she arrived in the morning, and then I asked him why? He held out his arm and showed me his tattoo from the concentration camp. He had tears in his eyes and he apologized to me! He shared that he still had nightmares and tattoos always brought up the memories. There aren't many survivors left, I have only two still alive in my practice. This is why we don't allow visible tattoos in our practice.