Excellent comment, vickielee! Wonderful summary :)

vickielee1970 said:

Wow, this really got rough. CD you know we got your back. Unfortunately some people forget this is about posting opinions and creating a dialogue. Attacking another person only closes doors it never opens any.

I do believe a lot of intelligent and thoughtful comments have been made in this post. So I say again, I try to be sensitive to those of you who have chosen to modify your bodies with living artwork. Please be sensitive to those of us who do not agree with you. We do not seek to put you down or hold you back, we just ask the same respect of you that you ask of us. Act professionally and dress professionally and you will more likely be treated professionally.

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.

It's obvious.. they're out there folks. Kinda like a heckler at a show. Who knows why they do it. Then.. they get mad when they end up embarrassed. Hmmmm. Oh well.

cdnurse.. you're obviously accepting of others' opinions. That does not mean it will change yours... and your not alone. I have tats... but they are not public unless it is summer time. And, at one point, I even had..... is everyone sitting down?...... a pony-tail. OH MY! LOL

The reality, in my opinion, is we all get to do what ever we want, legally or illegally, and we all get to pay the price. When I had my long hair, I presented very well for jobs for which I was over-qualified... and could not get them. Cut the tail.. next interview.... success. I can't control what others think or believe. So, it's up to me to determine what results I want. Simple. We all know that folks have their opinions. We can't change that.

I do know that tats can be considered intimidating by many... often for the very reasons offered by cdnurse. Certain locations on the body are even more intimidating... such as the neck, face and hands. Additionally, tats that promote hate are intimidating by nature. And, if I were a patient, laying vulnerably in a hospital bed (and possessing my own opinions and beliefs), I'm not sure what I'd think if someone what inked heavily in what, in my opinion, I considered intimidating locations (or of intimidating content).

What about the elderly? Do they not deserve to not have their belief structure challenged when they are receiving care?

So... I have tats.. I like tats... I enjoy the artistry of great ink. I have plans to cover much of my body (sorry cd) Not a big fan of jail-house styles though. But, if I'm lying in your hospital bed.. can you please do me a favor and keep them mostly private so I don't have to wrestle with or interpret my personal inner feelings and fear while laying sick and vulnerable. I'm already coping with quite a bit.... and I just want to generally trust you so I can relax and get well.

I think that is the message. There's a time and a place to make a statement.

cd.... if I were a nurse with tats and I was coming for an interview with you or anyone else, you can bet the tats would not be on display. Not because of you.. but, because of the results I want.

Thanks for listening folks.
Freedom to all... and common courtesy.
Jim

Yes. Everybody has the choice to do what they want with their own body. Personally, I am DISGUSTED by plastic surgery.... I see an obvious boob job or face lift and I feel a cross between pity and nausea. But that doesn't mean I'm using my judgement at face value to question that person's intelligence, capability, or human worth. I don't know that person's reason for modifying their appearance that drastically, and it's none of my business. I imagine a lot of people feel the same way about body art.

Hello again, I like dmazments comment about piercings. I personaly have none nor do I want any, however for those of you that do, please have it done in a proffesional and sterile setting!!!! In 1995 when I was going to school in Utah several of the girls in my dorm were into piercing themselves by using an ice cube,safety pin and a lighter. Anyway one night I came back to my room and my 3 roomates had pierced both of their nipples using the items previously listed!!!! They were not modest girls by any means either, so lets just say I got an up close personal view whether I wanted one or not. As I stood there shocked at the sight before me, my nipples were shreiking in pain and I noticed how infected one of the girls nipples were and how much pain she was in. She had her boyfriend do hers 4 days prior and still talked the other 2 into doing it, DUH!!!!!! I cleaned it as best I could and tried to get her to go to the campus hospital. The dummy refused and held out for 3 more days before she couldn't stand it and went to the hospital. Just be safe in everything you do and use a little common sense!!!! ; )

I am sleeved from my elbow up, and you can bet your sweet butt that they are covered up for an interview. They stick out of my scrubs a little, but I have not had any probs. In fact, I have found that it helps patients to be more comfortable with me. My tats are a conversation starter for most people, and they start to show and tell me about theirs. You know when we have to go to the doctor we're not felling our best, and it's nice to find someone who we have something in common with. I have had a couple of older people be a bit crabby with me, but I just chalk it up to age and cultural differences; I don't get offended. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and it's just not worth getting myself all upset because someone wants to be ignorant. I understand about looking professional, but if we're dressed professionally, who cares if we have some colorful skin? I've been a patient to a doctor who was completely covered in tats, and I was more comfortable with him then any other doctor I have ever had to see. It's a personal choice. If someone is not going to hire me just because I have tattoos, then I don't want to work for them anyway. That just means that they cannot look past stereotypes and they don't have an open mind. I'd rather be unemployed than work for someone who is going to be mean and hateful just because I have tattoos.

TCNToday said:

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.

Wow.. there's always one. Funny.. I saw others disagree respectfully. Why MuscleHeadx4 chose to come off with this is not beyond me. But, if I were to express my opinion as to what would make a person post with such disrespect for the opinion of a fellow human being... I would simply be playing the same game.

It's obvious.. they're out there folks. Kinda like a heckler at a show. Who knows why they do it. Then.. they get mad when they end up embarrassed. Hmmmm. Oh well.

cdnurse.. you're obviously accepting of others' opinions. That does not mean it will change yours... and your not alone. I have tats... but they are not public unless it is summer time. And, at one point, I even had..... is everyone sitting down?...... a pony-tail. OH MY! LOL

The reality, in my opinion, is we all get to do what ever we want, legally or illegally, and we all get to pay the price. When I had my long hair, I presented very well for jobs for which I was over-qualified... and could not get them. Cut the tail.. next interview.... success. I can't control what others think or believe. So, it's up to me to determine what results I want. Simple. We all know that folks have their opinions. We can't change that.

I do know that tats can be considered intimidating by many... often for the very reasons offered by cdnurse. Certain locations on the body are even more intimidating... such as the neck, face and hands. Additionally, tats that promote hate are intimidating by nature. And, if I were a patient, laying vulnerably in a hospital bed (and possessing my own opinions and beliefs), I'm not sure what I'd think if someone what inked heavily in what, in my opinion, I considered intimidating locations (or of intimidating content).

What about the elderly? Do they not deserve to not have their belief structure challenged when they are receiving care?

So... I have tats.. I like tats... I enjoy the artistry of great ink. I have plans to cover much of my body (sorry cd) Not a big fan of jail-house styles though. But, if I'm lying in your hospital bed.. can you please do me a favor and keep them mostly private so I don't have to wrestle with or interpret my personal inner feelings and fear while laying sick and vulnerable. I'm already coping with quite a bit.... and I just want to generally trust you so I can relax and get well.

I think that is the message. There's a time and a place to make a statement.

cd.... if I were a nurse with tats and I was coming for an interview with you or anyone else, you can bet the tats would not be on display. Not because of you.. but, because of the results I want.

Thanks for listening folks.
Freedom to all... and common courtesy.
Jim

JonZ said:

Do any of you have tattoos? What are the regulations at your facility?

Just be prepared to wear long sleeves for most jobs...
Tattoos are a personal prefrerence and personally i would not recognize me without any tattoos. I have seven good sized tattoos on my back, arms and legs. Before choosing the medical field I was in sales in which you also need to be cautious of "Professional Image," and by design I only have one tattoo visable outside of scrubs, the name of my love on my L wrist which hides (when needed) under my watch. Honestly I have never had an issue with getting a job due to my body art, and my job allows my wrist tattoo to show.

Hi everyone well I have several tattos and piercings (including my tongue) I dont think it matters how you you look what is on your body. its how you care for your patients that really matters

I think it is a personal thing and I personally do not mind tatts, have my own and will have more, piercings are not a problem for me if they are tasteful.
I think that everyone should remember that nurses have not always been upstanding society, their origins go back to the less wanted of society. I have been a nurse over 20 years and when I told my family I wanted to be a nurse they were appalled that I wanted to but I changed their opinion.
I think it is good manners to cover them at work so long as the way you cover it does not draw attention to it, long sleeve are great but sweat bands to cover wrist tatt to me just draw attention to it when otherwise it would not be noticed. I think society as a whole is slowly coming around to acceptance of tattoos.
We all need to be open minded about it, just because a patient has tattoos or piercings would you not take care of them??

Wyonurse101 said:

I am a soon to be nursing student and have full sleeves. So I have to agree with Charlita on it not making a difference as long as it is not offensive or demeaning to anyone. I hope that I dont have to run into cdnurse or people who are close minded like her. It is a shame that some people can only see a persons skin.

Please, also understand, I personally do NOT believe that tatts makes anyone less of a nurse. Your abilities as a care giver are one thing. The psychology of your "bedside manner" is another. I think bedside manner includes your personal presentation as well. We're all being judged every day by those around us. We have to choose what response we want. We can wish it was different. But, it's not. It is... what it is.

I have a question for everyone who reads this;

If your patient told you that your tattoos scared them and they asked you, politely, to cover them up, what would you do... and why? (can't wait to read the answers)

I see everyone's point on professionalism and what is appropriate and what is not. I do have all of mine that are coverable. However, I am thinking of getting a pink ribbon in honor of my aunt passing on the back of my neck. Because I am professional and like to be professional looking I am battling with this. My mom freaked out on me because I got my first tattoo at 18. Next thing I know she had three of them. I feel like they are becoming more and more tolerable. Notice I say tolerable and not accepted. cdnurse has an opinion as many do as to what tattoo's mean and how she comes to her opinion on why they are distasteful and I completely respect that. I also do not think it is right for anyone to attack someone or be rude just because someone stated what they feel inside. Who are we to judge anyone else? But cdnurse can you really quote the Old Testiment? Due to most of those sins have been changed to fit into society rules such as working on Sunday and burning cattle to offer up sacrafice. However, I understand that there are some religions out there that do believe that our bodies are our temples and should not be desicrated (sp?). I choose to decorate my temple but that is just me. Once I get into nursing school (still doing prerequists) I plan on getting a pin up nurse tattooed on my ribs. I want to remember things in my life. Some people scrapbook I get tattoos.

Well put TCN and WandaD!

Of course I would respect my patient's wishes and cover them. I don't think that anyone has the right to "force' anyone else to deal with their lifestyle. If my patient has any problem with my caring for them, I would do my best to accomidate their request for change on my part. The patient should always come first.