Tattoo You: Right Arm for Hire to Fund Nursing School Dreams
The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Ill.
July 31, 2009
BLOOMINGTON — Offering to tattoo advertising on his arm to finance nursing school is probably the craziest thing Douglas Hall has ever done.
But, since it’s for his 3-year-old daughter, Mya, he doesn’t care what anyone thinks.
Hall, a certified nursing assistant at the McLean County Nursing Home, wants to become a licensed practical nurse and eventually a registered nurse so he can earn more and give Mya a better life. However, the 23-year-old Bloomington resident needs to raise money for living expenses such as rent, food and daycare while he’s training.
He’s gotten some financial aid, but not enough, and family and friends are in no position to fill in the gaps, he said.
The result is that Hall has turned to eBay, offering to sell his right arm to any firm that wants him to ink its logo.
Hall hopes to make at least $2,000 and perhaps as much as $20,000.
“It is nuts. It’s insane,” Hall said. “I’m just tying to give my kid a better life.”
Mya lives with Hall’s ex-girlfriend in the Chicago area but visits regularly.
“I don’t want her to have to struggle and worry about what we can afford,” said Hall, adding that he can’t make a good life for Mya on his current wages of about $10 an hour.
He expects to make about double that as an LPN and more if he becomes a registered nurse.
Hall is scheduled to begin nursing school in Springfield in mid-August and hopes not to have to work full-time.
He hopes firms providing health care products might see him as a good opportunity to advertise their product. But so far he doesn’t have any takers on his eBay offer, which expires Saturday. He will relist it if there are no bids.
Sound Off! Do Tattoos Belong in the Nursing Workplace?
It can be found by searching for “Tatoo (sic) advertising for single father.”
The idea of a tattoo surfaced after Hall heard of several well-publicized cases of people selling tattoos on their bodies to raise money.
John Rowe, owner of Psychopathic Ink in Bloomington, said a tattoo is permanent unless covered with another tattoo or removed by laser.
“I will do whatever it takes for her (Mya),” Hall said.
© YellowBrix 2009 
hgray07
over 3 years ago
50 comments
I believe that u gotta do what you gotta do! However Id NEVER sell my body for money! tats sure lets go
blackmon44
almost 4 years ago
54 comments
Well at least he's not prostiuting, God bless him.
Angelface19
almost 4 years ago
2 comments
They have GREAT makeup to cover those too...I work in a hospital..and have seen wonderful Doc's and staff (nurses, etc) who HAVE tatoo's and some pt's think immediately "DON'T TOUCH ME!! They think tat's automatically make them criminals/ex-gang mambers/or just NOT RIGHT in the work place. So, some who are fab at their jobs just cover with heavy duty makeup! Whatever it takes for a person to make his moeny for the beter good is OK with me. It's nice to know that someone wants to work in medicine for healing...and doing what it takes to get there!
humboldtnurse
almost 4 years ago
4 comments
cool i want to race some money for a vacation.......
ojackieo69
almost 4 years ago
20 comments
I agree, now a days a lot of people are have tattoo's and most of it has meaning to the person who has the tattoo. Having a tattoo doesn't mean the person isn't smart or caring or a good nurse or a bad nurse.
dreaminofthetropics
almost 4 years ago
6 comments
I don't see why tattoos should matter as long as they're healed and pose no threat to patients and aren't derogatory in any way. I personally have four but all are covered by scrubs... I think if we can do our job who cares if we're tattooed or not!!
Account Removed
almost 4 years ago
Interesting article