The Appearance Factor - Tattooed Professionals?

[smanderson123]

Hello again,

After parsing many topics on this board, I failed to find any that addressed the issue of visible tattoos. Piercings, depending on their placement, are a no-no, this clearly is a health safety issue.

I understand that often our patients will not share opinions/lifestyle priorities with us, and that their care is paramount - however, will my tattooed hands be the deciding factor between whether or not I am employable?

I have 2 roses on the top-sides of my mitts, and the words "give" and "take" tattooed across my knuckles - if that helps anyone visualize.

My tattoos are not offensive, are well done, and really besides the fact that they are present, are visually appealing to anyone - at least - anyone who is open-minded enough to accept that in today's world a tattoo does not necessarily mean that the wearer worships satan/does heavy drugs/commits random acts of violence or crime at will.

I'm figuring that this question is a pretty case by case thing, that in some places my tattoos could be a liability, and in others an asset - I'm just wondering if any of you are heavily modded, and if you are, what your experiences have been.

Thanks!

[Jules A, MSN]

In most areas of health care I doubt this would be a plus but not necessarily a career killer either. FWIW I work in a large inner city hospital with much diversity but don't work with any one right now that has visible tats. As you must suspect I think there are places that will not be as open to your work but I wouldn't let that stop me from being a nurse if that is what you want to do.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

There are actually are previous threads on this issue.

I personally do not care for them, myself. Most places prefer that tattoos stay covered if possible, and limit jewelry on the floor.

While they may not be a minus, in most cases they are not a plus in hiring, either.

[smanderson123]

Thank you for your response, I was unable to find a previous thread!

[smanderson123]

I've been told by a heavily tattooed male nurse - whom I actually tattoo, that if its something I really want to do that I should chase it - guess it really does depend on where you are living.

[elkpark]

I think it's largely a matter of where you are (geographically). The "healthcare system" for which I work, which is the largest and pretty much only healthcare employer in my entire region (thanks to them gobbling up all the hospitals, NHs, and physician practices in an ever-growing area like the old Pacman game) requires that any tattoos, offensive, inoffensive, whatever, must be covered at work (and they do enforce the policy) -- which would be hard to do with tattoos on the knuckles, unless you just wore gloves all the time. Some of my coworkers come to work festooned with Bandaids like they've been rolling in barbed wire.

My particular hospital within the system (the psych hospital) seems to be hiring plenty of people with tattoos, but I don't know that that's true of all the hospitals in the system (in fact, I doubt it v. much), and I don't know how much of that is because my facility has a very difficult time getting people to work here, period. :) But this is a conservative, Southern area. I know from reading the other tattoo threads here that that's not the case everywhere.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

No one has mentioned this yet, so I thought I'd thrown it in. One of the distinct disadvantages of tattoos is the inability to work around MRI's. Many inks have a ferrous base which reacts to the magnetic field.... sometimes with disastrous results. This would pose a real problem if you work in areas that require you to transport/escort patients to MRI - such as ICU or ED.

Just saying . . .

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

Hmmm, I had no idea about the MRI thing. Wow. OT, but what about doing an MRI on a pt with tats?

Anywho, I have 3 tats and plans so many more (they are sooo addictive). All mine are easily covered while in scrubs. I think it is highly variable depending on your area and/or the particular hospital you work in. Since it sounds like you are in the early stages of this journey, why not phone up some HR departments or nurse managers at your local hospitals?

I will say that in many cases, nursing school has tougher regulations on this than you will find employers have. You might end up having to wear strategically placed band aids for clinicals while in school, but once you are in practice it might not even be an issue.

I read an article once about a nurse who had a part time gig as a tattoo artist. I have often said if I had an artistic bone in my body, I would be Kat Von D! I don't think many people are in the market for stick figure tats, though :)

[smanderson123]

That's an illuminating comment, you're absolutely correct about this. I hadn't even considered this reality, MRIs and tattoos don't mix.