Visible Tattoos

I was wondering what the general thought on visible tattoos are in the healthcare workplace? I have a rather large tattoo on the inside of my left forearm, and didn't know if this would be a hindrance in the nursing field or not? Sorry if this seems silly to some people, but I've been thinking about it a lot lately, as I plan on going back to school soon. Thanks !

I am a nurse who works in the PICU, and I am also a retired U.S. Marine Master Gunnery Sgt. who has tattoos up and both arms and everywhere else. It has been my experience that most families and patients look more at the quality of care you provide and the manner in which you treat them. I have not had a negative experience due to my tattoos.

please spare us your tattoos. people might not approach you about it but it´s likely because they feel intimidated by your looks. stay low key, and it will earn you much respect.

Although I find tattoos interesting and sexy from a personal perspective, I know people who equate tattoos with deviance. My buddy in nursing school has both arms fully inked, but is made to wear a long-sleeve shirt under his scrubs to keep 'em covered. I'd rather have a person with visible tattoos who knows what they're doing than no ink coupled with no competence.

I think in part the tattoo rule in nursing school is discrimination against men, cuz most of the visible tattoos are on guys (most women I know with tattoos have them placed more discretely, but that's just my experience). It's just like how "no ring but a wedding ring" discriminates against single people and people who are not legally allowed to marry. Also, "facial hair must be neatly trimmed" is a matter of judgment. One man's "neatly trimmed" is another man's "not worth having."

The biggest obstacle I find about being a Male nursing student with visible tatoos on my arms is that I get asked what they mean infinity times a day. Otherwise it has not helped nor hindered my experiences thus far, and I'm able to excel just fine.

I am a female student nurse 4th semester. I have tattoos on my wrists, Lt.arm (one) and back of my neck. First semester I was really freaked out because I was the only one in my class with this issue. Well first semester I wore a strategically placed watch around one wrist and a bandage aroung the other and I wore a high back white t-shirt under my uniform. I had more of an issue with the instructors about this. I was completly compliant. After they got to know me and my competence they really didnt care about my tattoos and neither do my patients. Sometimes I get teased by the charge nurses but thats it. I run into MANY tattooed healthcare workers. There is a gentleman who works in radiology that has a tattoo on his adams apple. Okay not attractive but he is not unemployed because of it. I think how you carry yourself is what gets across to people. You can be tattooless and still come across deviant. And as for the person who stated we should spare her/him our tattoos...........they are kind of permanent and I am not going to wear a long sleeve turtleneck in order to make people feel more comfortable.

Who even sees the tats anymore? The tats and piercing are so common now they are barely noticed.

Tell that to the nursing administrators. LOL I think these rules are archaic and not very useful. Professionalism is in the mind of the beholder.

I work two jobs, one at a government agency the other as the night supervisor in a Nursing home. Tats and piercing are everywhere. I do not have any ink but many coworkers (male and female) do. Facial piercing is very popular and enjoyed by many. With staffing as tight as it is management isn’t about to let a little thing like ink get in the way of hiring a qualified nurse.

I am a junior year nursing student who has tattoos (big ones) on both of my arms. Today I was told that someone at the hospital I am doing my clinical at said something about them. I love my tattoos and feel ashamed that I am supposed to cover them up. My professor told me that hospitals are getting more strict about this. Is that true? If it is I think that is crazy--keep even more people out of nursing while there is a shortage?! Ridiculous. I came home and cried about it but then I found this thread and I feel a bit better. Does anyone have any words of wisdom for me?

Thank you,

Margaret

Checkers, don't worry about the tattooss. The care you deliver is much more important. I know many men in nursing who have tattoos and they are so common they are really not thought of that much. I don't have any, but it doesn't bother me if another man does. If you are considering a career in nursing, examine whether or not your motivation is to be one who helps other people when they can't help themselves. You really need that withih you to be an excellent nurse. God bless you. Dan

I felt the same way about my tattoo. I have one on my forearm so it's quite obvious. But true indeed, ultimately it's the quality of care you give. :D

I had a patient the other day and we had her set up to do an epidural. Anesthesia asked her what the tatoo on her back was and she said oh it's tribal art....I asked her so what tribe are you from LOL I know it's bad but she's a 19 yr old white girl from rural KY no alot of tribes running around :)

not only do i have a few visable tattoos, but i have a number of piercings and bright red stripes in my hair - if nothing else, i get more compliments on it than otherwise. my boss thinks my hair is great. our cticu is comprised largely of people in their twenties and its not at all uncommon for people to have nose rings, eyebrow rings... i even have my septum peirced, although i keep a retainer in it more often than not. i've never had a problem, nor have i heard of other nurses having a problem.

when i went on my first travel assignment however, i was made to re-dye my hair, take out all my piercings and cover the tattoos.... the difference being - my home unit is in a large city, teaching facility and one of the best you can find in the city, and i traveled to a rural non teaching hospital in maine!

you've got to consider the source, i suppose...

It depends really, several factors: mainly your position, your tattoo, your demeanor. Example: an older lady/gentleman PROBABLY would be impressed by an army tattoo on your arm that says something like "MOM". Even one of those faded ones I've seen of the half naked lady strikin a pinup pose carries some merit of wartime.
But the same patient might be offended by one of those dark, gothic, skull/crossbones kind of tattoo.
Finally, the same patient would probably be alarmed if you approached them with MOM tattooed across your forehead. OR across your buttcrack if you bend over to pick something up and your scrub top rides up. LOL

Bottom line is "The customer always comes first". If it's offensive in any way, it should be covered, only out of respect for the customer/patient. It is your body, but while your supplying the patient with a service, they should be happy with the service and the supplier.
There are certainly some cool tatts that can safely be done and make a statement or a cool body mod. :)

not only do i have a few visable tattoos, but i have a number of piercings and bright red stripes in my hair - if nothing else, i get more compliments on it than otherwise. my boss thinks my hair is great.


I'd probably like your hair but it wouldn't fly in my small town community hospital. We still have in our dress code about hair pulled up and modest makeup (modest to some isn't modest to others) 2 pairs of earrings (I think that is female) 1 wedding set and 1 other ring (none for some areas) no visible body piercing. We just got a new OBGYN and are looking for another the one that just came says he knows a few good ones but they probably wouldn't fit in because the first thing people ask is what church you go to or are going to...it doesn't matter if the pt themself doesn't go but they want their doctor to go :)

It is policy where I work for tattoos to be non-visible. I agree with the statement regarding the quality of the care you give, but I'm a nurse @ a peds hospital. I can see where a distraught parent would be uneasy, uncomfortable handing their sick child over to someone that has a questionable professional appearance.