Many institutions have dress codes regarding tattoos in the work place. I am required to wrap my arm with coban or where a lab coat. Its not like I went out last week and got it, I got it 30 years ago. Its on my forearm. The recent dress code changes included tattoos. Should not tattoos be addressed when hired to a position. If you don't like it don't hire me!
I agree with you. What about men wearing earrings. Are we to be judged like the cover of a book. What if you are crossed-eyed. That would make me, as a patient, sick to see you looking at me. OMG.. I just found out that my local hospital has banned artificial nails.. All on ONE erroneous faulty research article. Galls me to no end to see other nurses biting their fingernails.. Don't tell me that those ragged fingernails don't harbor as much,if not more, bacteria than my smooth artifical nails. And can't they scratch worse than mine do.. And mine are not long nor are they sharp. BTW there was a study where nurses hands were put in baggies with medium in them and the nurses were shown what was on their hands and they were told the exact time and date when the researchers would return and guess what there was MORE bacteria on their hands than before..
Also, most dialysis nurses who have been in the field for any length of time harbor the staph bacterium in our noses . We were all cultured years ago along with our patients. So I try to wash my hands after I pick my nose.. Just a precaution..LOLLL....
I totally agree with you .. I bet they don't make the medics, or the PA's or the docs cover them.. Unless it says FU I don't see the need.
JMFHO again... Sounds like a good case for the ACLU...
The name's changed but I will always be WindingRoad
A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and sings it back to you when you have forgotten how it goes.
no artificial nails and only clear/pale polish but if you go in OR (I do) no polish at all
makeup has to be "modest" one persons modest is anothers clown face
Hair pulled back if long enough...no extreme styles...again what's extreme...I just got my colored yesterday with several color highlights hope it's not too extreme but nobody on my unit has it like mine LOL
2 sets of earrings no other visible piercing, not dangling necklaces, no bracelets, 3 rings total so a wedding set and one other if married.
white lab coats for nursing, white pants can wear a colored top peds can wear more colorful coats. I wear beautiful hospital supplied scrubs in machine tool gray/green. The white nurse pants can't be crops, elastic bottoms, thin all kinds of things
they address underware too as to not be visible ...do you have to be told that?
I think that covers the majority of the dress code. I think they want to change us to wearing nice clothing when coming into work too even though we change into scrubs when we get there. I usually wear in shorts and t-shirt or jeans/sweats and sweatshirt in winter. And I might wear the same one a couple of days cause I put them on drive to work, change then after work change back and drive home then change to pajamas when I get home so I only wear the things a couple of hours and I'm not washing them for 2 hours of wear I'll wear them again the next day..I do change underware LOL
I feel as professionals we should dress to impress our customers. Even if we come in for staff meetings we should dress nice. But that has always been the case. This tattoo thing is sprang on us. We have a dress code for facial piercings in place. This one old boy, an orderly decided to come to work on day with multi rings in his ears and nose with chains from his ears to his nose rings. He could not understand the problem. Well DUHHHHHHH!!!!!! I have been thinking of having it removed by laser so I can stop getting in trouble for not wearing something over it. (Long sleeves are too hot to wear and work.)
I do dress to come in for staff meetings but not going to to come into work. We have a backdoor entrance that we open with a key straight to a dressing room (I do pass nsg station and 4 rooms at 6am but then I'm changed) I do agree to look decent. I don't think one tatoo on a male forearm is bad now if you had them all up and down your arms then yea maybe time to cover up especially if you take care of little old ladies who might be scared you were going to take them out and ride them around on your Harley
I work in a nursing home. The only dress code is to be clean and wear clean scrubs (we wear whatever prints we want) , no dangling necklaces or dangling earrings, etc. There are several people with tattoos, pierced noses, tongues, etc. No one has a problem with them. Everyone always shows off a new one when they get it. I would rather see the tattoos then to see some of the CNA's thongs when they bend over...if they even wear underwear.
This is an interesting nursing site that discusses Tattoos.
Tattoos Aren't New of Course..., Coolnurse.com:"Tattooing has been around since ancient times and its presence in our mainstream society is not going to fade away anytime soon. In three percent of American households today, at least one of their members has one or more tattoos. At least twelve million Americans have one tattoo. This decorative artform continues to be a growing attraction to teenagers. Teens as young as 13 and 14 are getting their first tattoos. It isn't just guys who are getting them, over the past twenty years the number of women getting tattoos has quadrupled." http://www.coolnurse.com/tattoo.htm
Amy has some great information on Health, Wellness, Sexuality and other topics also!
This has been a sensitive area for me ever since I got out of the Marines. While in, I picked up 6 tattoos, and half of the ink is on my right arm. It goes from the back of the hand to the shoulder, and wraps around the arm (not a complete sleeve, but lots of ink). Even in a suit, a snake head sticks out from under the cuff, and I have regretted getting it so many times. I am now working toward getting into the nursing program, and again, my doubts and self consciousness arise because of poor judgement calls over a decade ago. I've looked into having at least the most overt one removed, but it is cost prohibitive. I was given an estimate of over $3000 to remove one tattoo that cost a mere 30 bucks in Subic Bay.
I have decided to not worry about my tattoo. If management does not like it they should not have hired me 13 years ago. It is not nice to change the rules of the game in the middle of the game.
Fashion trends change continually, and the dress code should change accordingly. I see nothing wrong with exposing tattoos that are on the arms or legs, or anywhere decent. I would rather see the tattoo than worry what horrible infection is under that dressing, if I were a patient.
Well, I don't believe long nails are appropraite in the healthcare setting, but that's just my opinion.
As far as tattoos go, I don't have any, and never will, but all of my friends do. Sadly, people judge others because of tattoos and other things. Things that they might have done like you said 30 years ago.
It doesn't matter if it was 30 years ago, or 30 minutes ago, your decision to get permanent ink on your body, while inappropriate in the eyes of some, has ZERO bearing on your job performance. Sure, you may have doctors, coworkers, or patients who look down upon you for having a tattoo, but if they are around you very long, and you are good at what you do, your tattoo won't matter one damn bit.
The thing about tattoos and professional appearance is that you CAN'T JUST TAKE THEM OFF. Once you get a tattoo, it becomes a part of your body, and I think the administration needs to address it that way.
I once worked with a surgical resident who had an eye tattooed on the back of her neck.... called it her evil eye. Poor taste, maybe, but it didn't prevent her from being a good surgeon.
I agree. I have had a tattoo on my hand (of a rose & vine) for some time. The first of this month we have a new dress code which states "all visable tattoos must be covered". If a wear a glove at all times it would prevent hand washing (or at least glove washing) and exam gloves are to only be worn at the bedside. My tattoo has never prevented me from provding care to my pts. I feel there should have to be a grandfather clause to the new policy. Also several nurses have their makeup tattooed on..is this not a visable tattoo and should it not also have to follow the same policy. Don't know how one can work with their eyes covered. I guess pt care is no longer a top priority.
Yes, shouldn't patient care be the first priority? By making people who have tattoos feel uncomfortable about working in the healthcare setting it is only making the nursing shortage worse. Many smart, caring and competent people will look at nursing as too conservative. ****o, it is 2005! Why are people so freaked out about a picture on someone's body? It has no bearing on how I/you/we take care of our patients. Once it is permanent it is part of one's body. Nursing is supposed to be a non-judgemental profession yet people are being judged for this. Ridiculous.
If we start looking down on nurses with tattoos, what will we do with nurses with tribal marks, head dresses, braids, e.t.c. I can go on and on. Institutions need to recognize that the generation-Xers are now in the healthcare workforce. Tattoos are the least of our problems. We should be worried about poor pay, discrimination, nurse abuse e.t.c...................
Why deal with the real issues that would improve patient care, working conditions and quality outcomes?
Let's keep dwelling on the minor issues as distractions to keep any real progress from happening. Administrations and powerplayers in healthcare have been doing it for years to keep us bickering among ourselves.
Administrators love stuff like this. If there weren't any issues like this to deal with, the Administrators might have a harder time justifying why they make so much money. Nursing? pfffft, that's not a priority in a hospital.
What is best for the nurses and their patients is really secondary to having contstant drama for the admins to take care of.
If nurses would all join together, it would be a whole lot easier to get things done the way we want them done!
I agree with a lot of you, and registered at this forum simply to say Bravo. As someone that has multiple tattoos, some of which are visible, but none of which can be found offensive except by the most close minded of people, I've been discriminated against both in the hiring process, and in the workplace in general although I can't prove the reason. I absolutely agree that a tattoo, while voluntary, is a part of the body, and must be treated as such. I may not be a member of the nursing profession but I've been a patient as we all have at some time or another, and I would absolutely rather see a tattoo on my nurse's skin than her(or his) thong hanging out, or ragged chewed nails:nurse-beer:.
greetings all,
as the one before me, ltfuzzy, i too joined this site just to comment on this thread and will be doing research on this topic in hopes of figuring out how this can be changed. if anyone has any suggestions let me know. i just got my license and will be starting the job search soon and though i anticipate some obstacles i'm gonna try to stay in the positive space and not write the script. hopefully i will have an interview with someone that will look at my school record and practical life experience and know that they have a jewel in their hands. .........peace........
i agree soldiernurse, everything in moderation......like nails and jewelry, etc........i just want to see people judged on their mind and abilities. and i totally agree with dressing for the profession you are in as well, and i always dress accordingly but i have one tattoo that shows (on the wrist) and that has fluffed some feathers in the past. i have the ability to see and even understand many pov on subjects but that doesn't mean i agree with them. i just think that we need to spend more time looking at people's hearts and abilities rather than if they have tattoos or not. it just seems such a waste of time and effort to pass judgement on an individual just because they have tattoos. now if they are dirty looking and wearing crappy clothes, then yes, that says something about the person but to me, tattoos are a story, an outward story of a persons life and experiences and i for one find it fascinating to hear the stories behind tattoos. it's been my experience as well to have clients/patients ask about them and then be intrigued by the stories which in turn can help 1. them make a connection to you based on similar experiences, 2. it opens up communications and 3. it can be a distractor to the situtation at hand (taking vitals, cath insertion, etc). i can use it to my advantage and to the patients advantage. makes us both more comfortable in most cases. that's what i wish administrators would see.
*jumping off the soap box* thank you , thank you very much.............
peace............aaminah
I'm a transplant nurse at a pretty prestigious hospital here in VA, and i actually got my tattoo after I got hired....we have NO tattoo policy here, much to my suprise! Actually, my boss loves it and my patients do too (only had one negative comment in a year....from a retired marine, so I let it slide, lol). I see it this way....I'm a good nurse if I'm a good nurse, my tattoo is not offensive, and it doesn't make me any less of a good caregiver, so what does it matter? I mean, I don't think people should be allowed to put swastikas or anything on their arms, but I have a Michelangelo painting on my forearm for pete's sake....it really is art, lol.
fabred81 wrote:I'm a transplant nurse at a pretty prestigious hospital here in VA, and i actually got my tattoo after I got hired....we have NO tattoo policy here, much to my suprise! Actually, my boss loves it and my patients do too (only had one negative comment in a year....from a retired marine, so I let it slide, lol). I see it this way....I'm a good nurse if I'm a good nurse, my tattoo is not offensive, and it doesn't make me any less of a good caregiver, so what does it matter? I mean, I don't think people should be allowed to put swastikas or anything on their arms, but I have a Michelangelo painting on my forearm for pete's sake....it really is art, lol.
I actually think your tat is pretty cool. I don't care to tattoo myself but to each his own. Again if you are a good nurse then it really shouldn't matter. I just believe that if a facility has a clear policy then one should abide by it. Nursing is pretty recession proof but in this econoy anyone who has a job probably shouldn't make waves.
Quite a few at work heve 'em, and they are to be covered up. However, there are a few with ink on the neck. :rolleyes: BTW, a bandage looks kinda obvious.
I made very sure that with each of my tattoo's, specifically the ones on the arm; that I brought in a scrub top with me to ensure they are covered up. No one at work really knows I have tatts, other than a few people.
I have 3 tattoos- one each on my foot & shoulder (both of these are covered up at work), and one on the back of my neck. The one on my neck is visible when I wear my hair up, which I do at work, but it is so small, that no one has ever said anything to me about it at any of the hospitals I've worked at.
good to see so much discussion. since my last post i have been hired at a cardiac/stroke rehab unit and much to my surprise my tats have not been a topic of any discussion other than comments by co workers about them and nothing negative. the one on my neck is pretty much covered by a collared shirt i wear under my scrub top and the one on my wrist i cover with a sweat band so i think the administration is appreciating that i am at least not displaying them overtly. so far so good...........peace
Someone talked about Gen Xers and their tattoos. I am old hippie and I have mine also. Some from time in service during Viet Nam. and more since and more to come. They all represent parts of my life. None are offensive, except maybe to Republican righties. Me I always was a Demo, but the last 15 yrs or so I have gone with the Green Party and my tattoos show it.
I have visible tattoos, I have one of my ears pierced, I wear a pony tail, and I always wear a peace sign that I have worn since the early 70s. But no one complains, I am a good nurse and that is all that counts. The only problem I have had is with toddlers who thing they can try to pull the tats off my forearm, little ones are so funny.
Tattoos do not affect ones practice, and as long as they are not offensive, or racist or obscene in nature. No Harm, No Foul
Teeituptom wrote:Tattoos do not affect ones practice, and as long as they are not offensive, or racist or obscene in nature. No Harm, No Foul
Highly subject to interpretation. I agree, they have no bearing on ability to practice - we know that.
Our patients however come with their own host of insecurities and biases. With the "customer is always right" attitude of administration and their obsession with Press Ganeys, I can see how they'd prefer you either didn't have tattoos to start with or kept them covered.
This has been a concern of mine, since before getting into nursing, I worked for a bit in a tattoo shop. My left arm is a full sleeve, based entirely on Oriental symbolism. Not offensive in any way, but I worry that it will have an impact on my ability to find work.
91B wrote:This has been a concern of mine, since before getting into nursing, I worked for a bit in a tattoo shop. My left arm is a full sleeve, based entirely on Oriental symbolism. Not offensive in any way, but I worry that it will have an impact on my ability to find work.
Is that Oriental, or Asian symbolism? My wife hates it when I refer to things as oriental. She is Chinese-American, btw. ;)
haven't had a nursing Job yet, but during my CNA classes my tattoo on my left arm stuck out about 2-3 inches below my scrubs sleeve line. during classes the school was fine with it but asked me to cover it during clinicals. I was able to pick up a inexpensive long sleeve Underarmour shirt which wasnt too hot to work in... (granted it was a meager 5 hour class shift) but it was in sunny FL... my tattoos have no chance of being removed, done by my girlfriend/fiance and are magazine/contest winning quality... I will however be more choosy on placements of future ones. when I finally get to work the field whether it be at CNA, LPN , or clear after I finish my RN.. If they don't like it I'll wear sleeves... but the underarmour works...
Teeituptom wrote:I know Vero Beach well, from the old days when I lived in Fla, mostly, cape canaveral, and daytona, and jacksonville.
This might be a little off-topic, but I just wanted to tell you, TeeitupTom that I really enjoy reading your posts, especially the ones about work getting in the way of your golf-time.
You always give me a good chuckle.
WEll, tattos seem to be quite popular today. I don't have a problem with them,, who cares, as long as the Nurse is professional and gives great care. I've seen Doctors with them and no one tells them to cover up BECAUSE they probably wouldn't.. Hospitals need to focus on what is really important...and that is STAFFING, NURSING SUPPORT,and EDUCATION.
Kdog wrote:WEll, tattos seem to be quite popular today. I don't have a problem with them,, who cares, as long as the Nurse is professional and gives great care. I've seen Doctors with them and no one tells them to cover up BECAUSE they probably wouldn't.. Hospitals need to focus on what is really important...and that is STAFFING, NURSING SUPPORT,and EDUCATION.
You mention as long as the nurse is professional I suppose your taking appearance out of the equation? I'm just saying presentation can be a big part of the first impression a patient perceives about a nurse. Is that right or wrong? Not really my point. Just another hurdle a nurse must jump in the care of a patient.
I personally don't have a problem with tattoos on other folks. Not my style but I have seen many tats that are beautiful works of art. I also know many people with tattos who regret getting them many years later.
Way back (hard to imagine it as way back because I'll never forget it) right after 911 when everyone was trying to give blood that the Red Cross ended up throwing away a lot of blood contaminated with Hep C. Those donors had to be notified of course and it turned out that many of them (not all) had tattos with red and yellow pigments made from Asian grasses. It was not specific that the tattos themselves were the cause of the Hep C, but rather the pigments.
Still I don't see how a healed tatto on the hand would pose and infection risk, especially as almost everybody wearss gloves these days. If it was new and still healing maybe the argument for infection control could be made. I do believe that if you have tattos or piercings that are visible during an interview that the prospective employer should say something before they offer you a job, but it's also incumbant upon a job seeker who has tats to inquire about any said policy prior to accepting a job.
Happy: Hep C from Asian inks.. if there is any literature on the possibility of this I am very interested. My fiancé is a tat artist (professional in a shop and signed off by a Doctor) and if there is a possibility of certain brands containing such things it is good to know.
but as far as my tats in the workplace. I have probably 1/4 of my body covered in ink. however.... you can barely see any (just a small part that extends 2" past my scrubs on my left arm) when I am wearing scrubs. I respect that some employers may be against them and although I see people with Tattoos and don't feel anything is wrong, Culturally the some of elderly have a Stigma with them. and as Nurses and NA's are we not suppose to accommodate and respect the patients Culture and beliefs even if they are not that of our own? Thats at least what I am being taught in Nursing school. Working as a Nurse (or an assistant currently) will not stop me from getting more tattoos, however it will influence where I get them and if the establishment I work for does not allow them visible I have no problem wearing long sleeve underarmour under my scrubs, Like I have to for Nursing school Clinical.
hello everyone,
everyone has very good points and yes, how one presents themselves is always important. clean, hair pulled back if it's long, not too much makeup or jewelry and no offensive tattoos i can agree with but like so many said, let's not judge the book by it's cover. i am happy to say that i just got my 3 month eval and got a great eval, regardless of my ink. i have the respect of my peers at work as well and have made a good reputation for myself at my workplace. all in spite of my ink.......so that's given me hope for people afterall. good luck and peace to all............
I'm not sure where I read the article about Asian inks ( as I said it was several years ago) It might even have been in the New York Times. I'm sure if I googled it I could probably find something. Give me a couple of days to get over this Flu (H1N1) and I see what I can find.
Hi all! While I do not YET have a tattoo, I will be getting one where no one can see it. I'm a paramedic (wanna be a RN when I grow up...lol) and where I work, they have very strict rules for tats being covered by long sleeves or tat sleeves. I do agree with some posts that this should have been taken care of at the interview level, instead of making a big deal out of it later on. I also feel that tattoos are part of a person and their personality. Would I have to cover up a mole or birthmark? No. But yet that is a part of my skin....Hmmm....And remember, both tats and moles/birthmarks can be removed (to a point) and yet institutions are not making people go to that extreme. Why should they with tattoos? If it is within reason of good taste, by all means, show us your personality, just as you would your hairstyle or jewelry. As far as nails go...I've had acrylic nails for as long as I can remember and function better WITH them, especially advancing IV catheters in a moving vehicle. Also, I had crushed my finger in a door last year and the PA that stitched me up said had it not been for the nails, my finger would have been avulsed. Instead, he removed the nail, 2 stitches in the nailbed and 2 more to hold the nail (acrylic and all) in place for a week.
Let management find bigger, better things to worry about, not try to make people feel like second class citizens for having a tattoo.
Be safe all!
EMTGrrl,
The Army use to be strict regards to tattoos. However, the policy changed drastically a few years back d/t max troop deployments to the Middle East. Enlistments started to decline drastically and recruiters were turning young men & women away for such a petty reason as tattoos. So, even though a Soldier may have some huge ugly neck tattoo, it's allowed with a few exceptions such as profanity, gang tatts, etc.
So, my point being with the nursing shortage and increased popularity of tattoos some schools & hospitals will have to revise their tattoo policy.
cougarnurse wrote:Slightly :offtopic:----how many WW2 vets have tattoos? IMO, that is a good enough reason. Have seen many a Marine and Navy guy with 'em.
I'd bet WW2 Vets don't have tatts on their neck, or covering their entire arm. However, the lateral aspect of the upper arm or on the forearm is the older veteran norm.
cougarnurse wrote:Slightly :offtopic:----how many WW2 vets have tattoos? IMO, that is a good enough reason. Have seen many a Marine and Navy guy with 'em.
Cant trust those Marine and Navy guys at all. I just keep getting more tattoos. Most are not controversial, though some might be seen as that way. BTW I was a Corpsman, I can talk.
LOL
