Comments on: Tattoed or Not Tattoed – Nursing Students Asked The Question

By: Jamie Davis

Jamie Davis — Thu, 19 May 2011 13:05:12 +0000

Thanks for your comments. This has been one of the most discussed topics on the site and I am only certain of one thing. No one falls in the middle on this topic. I think it comes down to finding the right fit in the workplace for your personality. If a job has rules that don’t fit that personality then it is up to you to either work to change the rules from the inside or find another position elsewhere that is a better fit.

By: V

Thu, 19 May 2011 11:47:28 +0000

You know what, after giving it more thought I also have other points of why it is ridiculous for nurses, or any other respectable professionals to be frowned upon for having tattoos if they so desire. I am a human being. I have certain likes and dislikes and certain desires that I want to accomplish during my life to make me feel complete. A job is a job. It is not the only aspect of my life that defines me as a person. My soul and personality define me more as a person than a job. It is sad that in this country, everyone is obsessed with their job and image. It is like we are just robots that work our lives away. Are we allowed any enjoyment? I feel like everyone who is so obsessed with their job and self image at work are just members of a hurd of sheep that do exactly what they are told and what they can and cannot do. I am sorry but I will do whatever makes me happy in life. If it means having to cover tattoos at a job, than so be it. But a job will not take my life away from me. I am my own person and will do as I please. If I can save your life and give you a good backrub also, than I think that is a definite plus. But have respect for me and my choices as a human being. I am not just another brick in the wall so to speak, and never will be regardless of what anyone says. And there will be many more young individuals from all walks of life and professions that feel the exact same way as I do.
I will not give up my freedom and choices for any job. Never
And just for the record, tattoos do not hinder my academic performance. I am a member of the Honor Society Phi Theta Kappa and have a 3.8 gpa. I think that is pretty good…and it also defies the image of a “tattooed low life”…don’t you think?
If anything, these silly rules and regulations on tattoos are going to do nothing but draw young adults away from the nursing profession. They are not going to change how they are as a person for people who only judge them on a skin-deep level anyways….talk about shallow

By: V

Thu, 19 May 2011 02:19:40 +0000

Well, everyone better just get used to it if the hospitals want to remain fully staffed in the future. I think I read that about 30% of people in the 20′s-30′s age group are tattooed (including me) and that number will probably do nothing but increase. Everyone just needs to stop being so foolish and really consider some facts before you stereotype an entire generation possibly.
Professional tattoo parlors follow extreme care and guidelines to ensure that their practices do not result in contamination or infection in their clients. They are practicing PROFESSIONALISM also. And also, it is funny that certain individuals equate tattoos with “scumbags” considering that it is far from CHEAP to get professional and beautiful artwork from a real licensed tattoo artist. To say that ALL people who get tattoos are partaking in risky behavior is ridiculous..In my area, reputable tattoo parlors are known for being clean and sterile.
And also, would you rather have a highly intelligent nurse who graduated with a 3.9 GPA tending to you that happens to have a beautiful tattoo of delicate flowers, or a nurse who has no body art but is miserable and downright rude? Just wondering??
When I went to the hospital for an appendectomy the nurse with the tattoo on her wrist was MUCH more professional and kind than the nurse that relieved her with no visible tattoos that let my IV back up even after being notified that the bag was very low prior.

By: DeAnna Kay

DeAnna Kay — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 06:46:26 +0000

Very good article. Putting the patient and their opinions first is paramount, and while it may seem like ‘no big deal’ to have a tattoo, to some people it does convey an image of being less than professional, and perhaps even give them the idea that the tattooed worker might have been engaging in risky behaviour. Tattoo needles are a common vector for blood borne disease if the person doing the tattoo is not using proper sterile procedures. And this is the beside the fact that some people are just plain grossed out by the sight of tattoos and especially gaudy ones and other body ‘mods’ such as piercings of eyebrows or lips or tongues. The last thing you want to do is cause your patients to be put off, as this article points out.

When I put myself in the patient’s position, and my nurse walks in with a big tattoo on her arm, I have to wonder what kind of judgment she exercised in putting a permanent mark on her body that might be viewed as offensive or improper in a professional setting. It would definitely make me question her ability to make other judgments, such as those regarding my care. I think if a nurse came in ‘looking like they just got out of prison’, I would call for the charge nurse and demand a different nurse for my care. To me, that kind of appearance, just as much as wearing rumpled scrubs and having filthy hair, shows that the person doesn’t care about maintaining their appearance. Fine for a game programmer or an artist. Not so fine for a health care PROFESSIONAL.

By: ML

ML — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 06:17:54 +0000

There was a day when nurses were only women, had to wear dresses and hats, and had to stand up when the doctor walked into the room.
Times have changed very much and nursing has evolved to keep up with the times. Tattoos, piercings, and the like are quite common these days, and although our elderly of today may not prefer to see it, they are aware of it. (they all have grand-children)

I think that the nursing schools need to do what the students pay them to do. If a student pays their tuition fees, the school is obligated to educate them, regardless of what they look like. It is not the school’s responsibility to get the students a job after graduation.

For me the bigger problem is the many nurses that I have worked with that don’t have tattoos, but are just plain terrible nurses.
Just because someone has no tattoos, doesn’t mean they are good at their job.
Regardless of the patients’ initial perception of their nurse, it doesn’t usually take long for them to figure out whether they’ve got a good one or not.

By: Phil Heidari

Phil Heidari — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 22:46:46 +0000

Case in point, at my brother’s hospital there was a guy dressed all in fubu gear with earrings and just generally looking like a thug. Guess what, he’s the urologist.

By: Phil Heidari

Phil Heidari — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:38:09 +0000

I’m pretty neutral on the whole tattoo thing in the nursing area. Nowadays you really can’t judge a book by the cover. You just never know who you are dealing with until you really get to know someone. Also, what one puts on their body has no bearing on their skill as a nurse in my opinion…especially because of all the people I’ve seen and met in my nursing career.

By: Phil Heidari

Phil Heidari — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:33:14 +0000

I’m not pierced or tatted yet, I’m waiting to get a job first to see what’s acceptable for me to have before I do anything.

By: Phil Heidari

Phil Heidari — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:19:42 +0000

Me and my brother are both LPNs. I just graduated but I didn’t get pierced or tattooed due to fear of not landing a job. My brother has been a nurse for 3 years and there is another male nurse (RN) on his floor that looks like he just got out of prison. Full arm tats, piercings, bald head, the works. Apparantly he’s a really good nurse too. I’m pretty conflicted on what is acceptable nowadays.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:23:46 +0000

Ok I have to chime in on this one. and it will be inflammatory, take a Midol and get over it!
Consider the population your treating. All remember, some have a “tat”…from Auschwitz. All remember the tattooed bike gangs terrorizing towns all over the US. I know your too young to believe this, google it.
Heres an experiment for you, go to Neiman Markus and sit outside (they probably wont let your tattooed, baggie pant, jacket 5x too large posse in) and count how many tattoos go in. Now go to Walmart, Head on in! Heck wear your PJs, you’ll fit right in. And count the “tats”.
You tell me, when your babys blue, who do you want treating him?

Preconceived notions are what keep us alive. That wide black spot with the yellow line running down it is not a safe place to nap. That growling dog does not want you to pet it. The tattooed guys in the alley are not the guys to ask for directions!

I will fight to the death for your right to “express” yourself. But dont expect me to trust you with my wallet, much less my family.