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!

I just graduated from a BSN program in August and we had a no visible tattoos policy. I got my first ever tattoo 9 months before graduation and just spent the rest of the time wearing a long sleeve shirt.

This was only horrible during summer since I live in Las Vegas.

The Hospital I worked at during nursing school had a no visible tattoo policy but enforcement was based on when you worked (days vs nights) and which unit.

Now the hospital I work at as a RN doesn't have a policy at all and I rarely wear a long sleeve shirt to work. I have had a few patients ask about my tattoo since it's very visible on my forearm but it's never negative because it has a good little story and patients usually like it. I work in the ED so people are more concerned about themselves (understandably) than about their nurses' tattoos.

As as long as you provide safe and effective care then it really shouldn't matter what is on your body.

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Specializes in Sexual and Reproductive NP.

I feel like this has changed since I started my RN career in 2013 I worked in the ICU in IL and they made me cover them. My next job was in Chicago in 2014 and my colleges and boss thought they were lovely. Patients, especially older ones, seem to love them. The only thing I don't like about it is people always think its OK to reach out and touch them. I'm an NP student now and I never gave a second thought to covering them and nobody has ever said anything, program directors or clinical preceptors. I have one full sleeve and wrist and forearm on the other arm.

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Some tasteful tats don't personally bother me, but if I were a patient and someone came in with their whole face covered in MS13 tats I would not want them near me. Our school and local hospitals have a no visible policy.

I would never get a tat because I can't think of anything that is that important to me that I need to be labeled with it.

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I go to school in Texas, my school has a strict no tattoos in uniform policy too but the hospitals don't care. I have a forearm tattoo and two finger tats that I cover with Band-Aids during clinicals and checkoffs, the most judgement I received was from my study group because I got them between semesters. And also my nurse mother and retired nurse grandma but that's different.

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Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.

Think ahead to the future, if you can. One of my tats is where only my sweetie or another person in the locker room could see it on my L breast, not visible even in a bathing suit (besides, the woman who did it told me to keep it out of the sun or it would fade). 
The other is a necklace that shows with most of my bedside-type, casual, and beach clothes, but is completely covered by my professional clothes (business suit jacket, silk shell or turtleneck) since I have to deal c courts, clients, and attorneys, pretty conservative bunch at least at work. 
Now that I’m retiring I’m planning an ivy vine with the grands’ initials on the leaves to curl around to my back. And maybe a Red Sox B. If I can afford it! 

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Never cared for tats. Harbored a sometimes 'secret, maybe if' thought re getting one. But then I just think about the TV show 'Say Yes to the Dress'. Such attractive brides-to-be trying on those gorgeous wedding gowns, and all you see is those big ole' tats. Can't hide 'em!  No thank you!

 

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