No EVERYONE is not getting them

I personally don't care 4 them don't like em.
Squir,wow! From butterfly to Caterpillar?LOL

I have been an RN for 18yrs and have several tats, fortunately they are not readily visible. It depends on the environment in which you chose to work. High end designer office or private hospital -probably not; county, non-profit or free clinic please apply- we need good nurses!! Appeareance does count but your skill set is what we need, as long as you are well groomed and professional in appearance those of us in community based services will not judge you. Welcome to the best job on earth.

Musclehead: not quite the name I would have picked for you. You are quite wrong in your perception. I am far from an old bat that is stuck in the mud and I love men in nursing. Too bad your instructors did not have the authority to kick you out of school. Your tone sounds like a real problem child student as well as a real problem child staff nurse. You need to go back and read my posts again and see where I am coming from with the tats. I simply stated my perception of tats and know I am not alone. Again, if two people applied for the job and one had tats, the other did not, everything else being equal, I would hire the one without the tats. Where are you coming off with the color of skin? You think because I dislike tats that I may not like a Hispanic, Black or Asian? Anger? Where did you read that tats anger me? Grow up.

I am also a nursing student trying to get my BSN. I have three tattoos so far and I am planning to get more in the very near future. I think that some people put too much emphasis on how the nurse looks, as opposed to how good of a job she/he does. After all when a nurse leaves her job at the end of the day she is still like any ordinary person with a life to live. Tattoos are an expression/ and also a fashion statement in these days and ages. Not only young nurses have them, but the older ones do too. Just be yourself and do your job to the best of your abilities, and nobody thinks about the tattoos.

All right I'll Put my 2 cents in : ) I Myself Have tattoos, however they are in places that can be covered.I agree with those of you who think that they are frowned upon, especially in the Health Care Industry. When I have had to deal with any health care professional, I think initially I would surprised. I heck! I guess when I think of the health care industry, I think of clean,sterile and on some levels pure. Don't ask I don't think I have that fully figured out yet!!! When I have encountered someone who had visible tats I was surprised and a little unsure of their services! Now don't get all upset, it's simply the first thought that popped into my head in that instance. I personaly would not get a visible tat, but there are those that will, there will be some who find it distasteful, there will be some who find it artistic. It has been my experience that visible tats can at times hinder job searches. I have to agree with theala.

muscleheadx4 said:

to cdnurse: you sound like one of the old bats I had as nursing instructors at school who told me several times a week they would never hire me and if up to them they would boot me out of the nursing program, well I've been in the job market 12 years never been told I can't work and it has never hindered my getting a job its about the job you do not the color or whats on your skin. Oh by the way I'm I guy and I also took alot of crap about that as well from those same old stuck in the mud nurses and I suspect male nurses probably anger you too.

kimbreya- You are 100% right.

margaritka said:

Hm... I've got lots! The ones on my upper body are:

+ large sparrows on my sternum
+ large gypsy with head covering
+ 4" pysanky (ukrainian easter eggs) on each shoulder
+ small light bulb with wrenches
+ keys and a keyhole
+ large sacred heart with shamrocks and heather
+ dios de los muertes sugar-skull
+ and a few more

... I currently work at an elementary school, and I just wear long sleeves and high collars. I've never mentioned them, no one's noticed, and it's not an issue in the slightest. I've also noticed that many of the RNs at the Planned Parenthood I would like to work at have full sleeve and chestpiece tattoos. I just wanted to see if anyone else had stories!!!

And, cdnurse, I believe that's just personal opinion and I understand that many people, especially the older generations, do not like them. As for me, when I was 4 years old, I used to draw "tattoo" designs all over my arms and legs with magic markers :)

OKAY NOW_ WHEW!... This is a heavily debated topic, i see. First i would like to say to MR> MUSCLEHEADX4, I think you were very rude to cd, she is an amazing woman who is intelligent and a hard worker, in the area of nursing that she is in, it is quite different from what alot of us have seen by far. I would ask you nicely, however sine you dont sound too nice or you just had a really bad day, take a gander at yourself, and your demeanor when you type or talk. You sound like a student in school that threatens with bombs, or gun attacks due to a huge amount of bullying or life problems... Just think about things before you say them. People with attitudes like yours dont get to far in life. They grow up alone and fearful of things that they shouldnt, they hurt themselves or others because they feel there is nothing better to do...And they bash others because of their own pity and sorrows. People are easily hurt by things that you or others say in a hurtful manner. Watch yourself. Here you are wanting to talk about how someone is "batty" like one of your instructors, I wonder if you were the only one who seen that instructor as so. You should calm down and be nicer, nurses are good kind people, obviously or they would not be in a profession that would call for such high standards and dependace from the public for their health and lives. I know i try to care for every individaul. I have a tat, people have tats, I agree with most- professionally they should be out of sight from co workers and patients, I think of them as an expresison of who they are. That is why I got my sons foot, it means something special to me, and no one else will know how much it means. and in what ways. I had it on my shouldier blade, to where it woule be easily covered. However, I think if you have one and expose it during an interview = it shows you have not put too much thought into the job or the professionalism.And Mr. MUSCLE HEAD-- if you are going to talk smak to anyone you sure need to back up your reasons for saying what you said.cause it was flat out rude. opinions are like butt holes- everyone has one. its our rights as humans to initiate an opinion- but its how you present it when you wan tot voice it.....You just made alot of us think that you are abnoxious,juvenile, and petty, and furthermore.. I think that should not be tolerated- You might want to take back what you have said to cd, and be nice and hey mayber even apologize like a grown up should. you can do it....yes you can..

things that this world sets out for us to talk about huh..lol....amazing....

Yes, ideally I would like to work at a Planned Parenthood or a free clinic... I would frequently see RNs with full sleeves working there. Again, I have no problem covering them up; and if this is not possible, I can certainly find somewhere other than a large hospital to work (college campus...?). I understand where cdnurse is coming from by working in a prison, but mind you that a lot of people in prisons are affiliated with gangs and hateful ideologies. This is not the representation that most inky people are thinking of when they get tattoos to commemorate family, religion, hobbies/interests, culture, or anything else worth caring about, and it makes me happy that many people in society are starting to realize that :) Tattoos are simply an outside manifestation of what was always on the inside! My artist told me that he has worked on surgeons, nurses, attorneys, hedge fund managers, ministers, and many other "respectable" types.

cdnurse said:

Has nothing to do with how good or poor a nurse they are. Has everything to do with a professional appearance. Pretty much the same as who will be waited on first in a department store. The poor slob in sweats or the one dressed in clean pressed shirt and khakis. Appearance does make a big difference.

This is a instinction, to my comment, A WOMEN'S BEAUTY SPEAKS FOR ITSELF!!!!

I am old fashion, my grandmother raised me, a woman has to really take care her skin. My grandmother nevered had a wrinkle in her face, she really took care of her skin. I really believe in good skin care, for both men and women.