Visible tattoos appropriate for RN's?

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I'm curious as to what my fellow RN's and RN nursing students doing clinical hours think of RN's showing visible tattoos during clinical time. I am an RN student in my last semester before graduation in May, and I have 12 tattoos, with a few of them visible while in my uniform. None of my tattoos are even remotely "inappropriate" or riske'. With that being said, do you think location of the tattoos are most important when determining a policy for covering them up or not covering them up, quantity of visible tattoos, or what the tattoos actually are? I know some facilities don't really have a tattoo policy while other facilities have very strict tattoo rules. What are you opinions and what is your facility's policy on visible tattoos? Thanks!

If you do chose to show them and you're my nurse I'll feel much more confident if you have this one...

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as opposed to this one...

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Most of my colleagues have visible tattoos. However, nurses are not the same as nursing students. I think it is inappropriate for a nursing student to have visible tattoos. When you are on my unit as a student, you are at a job interview. You need to be professional and putting your best foot forward. Just because the staff is drinking coffee at the station does not mean it is appropriate for you to do so. Cover up your tattoos, keep your hair up, show me that you can respect your school's dress code.

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Being that your a nursing student, you should want to put your best foot forward. People judge and until you make it...cover all bases. Of course we will see nurses with full sleeves tats, neck tats, etc. However, I bet at their interview it was not displayed. Learn how to play the game.. not just in nursing but in any field.

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I currently work as a pediatric nurse. I have an appropriate half sleeve tattoo that I have decided to keep covered while at work. I love my tattoo but feel it is not professional to have it exposed at work. Every person is different and you don't know how people will react. I would rather keep it covered then have someone judge me by my appearance.

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I love my tattoo but feel it is not professional to have it exposed at work. Every person is different and you don't know how people will react. I would rather keep it covered then have someone judge me by my appearance.

This is the truth. well said

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

I have a full sleeve & tattoos on my fingers. But like a poster mentioned, you are a student & have to abide by the school's rules.

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My school's policy for clinical is no visible tattoos or piercings, although ears can have small stud piercings. If the tattoos are on the arm then a full length undershirt must be worn.

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When I was in nursing school we could not have visible tattoos during clinicals. Most instructors did not care, but some did. That was the school's policy. Now I work at the same facility where I did clinicals and there is no policy on tattoos.

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I'm in South Carolina, where the majority of the population is conservative. My nursing program enforces a strict policy prohibiting tattoos, piercings, hair up, no nail polish, no wrinkles in scrubs, the whole 9 yards. However at the hospital where I'm employed none of these rules apply. It's the main level 1 trauma center in the upstate and plenty of staff openly display tattoos, nose piercings, hair worn down, nail polish, and whatever color undershirt they like. I'm really surprised they're as progressive as they are. I'm pretty sure we all signed paperwork in orientation stating we wouldn't display any sort of the aforementioned self expressions. Probably so management can have leverage on anyone taking it too far or displaying a scary body modification. Can you imagine a little kid waking up from anesthesia and the first thing they see is a flaming demon tat? ;)

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Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).

Tattoo policies vary by school and facility. My nursing school was very strict - no visible tattoos and no facial piercing jewelry during clinicals. One of my classmates now works in the San Francisco Bay Area and her facility is ok with visible tattoos as long as they are not offensive. It shouldn't be an issue if you have tattoos as long as you follow your institution's policy.

Here's my advice:

1. Don't have visible tattoos at job interview.

2. Don't get a facial tattoo.

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Specializes in Med-Tele; ED; ICU.
Well said!

My one and only tat commemorates the Cubs' 2016 World Series win.

Now that's offensive... says the guy from San Francisco

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