Should I let this stop me?

U.S.A. Tennessee

Published

Hey Everyone,

I know this question has been issued in other areas in the forum, but all the answers seem to be 50/50 and I need a more local answer anyway. I really would like to become a nurse, but I have quite a few tattoos. The majority of them can be covered up with long sleeves, and a shirt that comes up a proper height. (Tattooed on my chest) But I have one on the side of my hand.

My question is should I let this stop me? Do any of you know more about places I would be able to work with this? I Kind of find it hard to believe that if one was an extremely competent nurse and had a small visible tattoo, that would hold back their employment. I really just do not want to go all in to this with a "maybe" your employer wont care. And honestly, I do not even where to begin to start asking people except here.

As far as getting it removed, right now I do not have the funds. And I honestly do not think it is sanitary to wear make up on it either.

And please nothing like "tattoos are tacky," "If you wanted to be a nurse you shouldn't have done that.."

It was a decision I made, and if you wish to discuss my tattoos and personal choices further, we can do that else where.

Thank you everyone for your help.

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Specializes in Med/Surg & Hospice & Dialysis.

My thought is that nursing school will be more difficult than actual employment. I work with several nurses that have tats on their lower arms, that can be covered by sleeves. I just don't know how you will be able to cover the one on your hand for school. Will you be able to cover it with a bandaid?

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Specializes in Dialysis.

Are they offensive? Political? Gang affiliation? Depends on what message you are trying to convey. Not sure how I would feel about having a nurse with the grim reaper tatooed on her arm. Again, what is the message?

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I have seen a few nurses at the hospital that I worked at with small tattoos on the hand. It was not made to be a big deal, they were not bold or eye-catching and we had so much work to do that it was not thought about much. One nurse did say that she wore scar make-up to her interview to hide her tat. DON'T LET A TATTOO STOP YOU IF YOU FEEL NURSING IS YOUR CALLING.

:twocents::nurse:

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H*** NO! Tatoo..so? I work at the hospital..people have tatoos...we have obese nurses...nurses with acne....nurses with hearing problems. GO FOR IT!!

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I agree with ms_orion wholeheartedly. I went to nursing school with a girl who had an asian character symbol tattooed on her wrist. The instructors never said a word to her. I on the other hand have a small Ghanaian symbol on my right forearm, which always was an issue with instructors. I covered it with band-aids during clinicals. With employers it has been a non-issue. Patients are a different story. To many elderly patients tattoos are still very taboo, but the most I ever get are curious questions as to what it means and why I got it. (I can tell they don't approve oftentimes, however!)

In conclusion, no, you should absolutely not let it stop you!!

Much love,

~Sara~

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