DDETROLA said:

I don't think you shouldn't Judge the book by it's cover but what is inside that book. now that's the book of art.

DaMomb said:

I myself have tattoos, and want more in the future. I see nothing wrong with them at all. To me they are an art, and a form of expression. With that being said I have to admit, that I also agree with cd, when she says that appearance is important. Especially in specific professions. Nursing has always been viewed as being a very "wholesome" form of employment. Caring for the sick and ailing has been thought to be able to be done only by the "purest" of people. Tattoos are viewed more as being the "bad" side of people...associated with risk takers, and those who are rebellious. I know personally that you can't judge a book by its cover, and that art on your body can in no way determine the purity of your heart, but it is vital to this profession that one expresses him/herself in a way that is fitting to the position they choose.

And I hate to tell you, but my opinion is @_NOT_@ just an age thing...I barely past 30...that makes me pretty young, I think!

Many of the girls that I work with have tattoos on their arms and neck even though the policy at work is none of our tats can be visable and if they are they have to be covered up with something, I personally put mine in places that I can show them if wanted and hide them if Im at work

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Where I work, you must have your tats covered. I think most places will ask you to cover them. I don't have a problem with mine, one is on my lower stomach and the other is on my lower back, so they are covered regardless. I work for a Physician office...we just recently had a policy change to allow nose rings (ouch...won't be doing that) and piercings. I have 7 ear ring piercings, so I am allowed to wear my bottom two and a small one in my upper ear. I can't wear all 7. They also don't want clothes to reveal if your belly is pierced.

Yeah, actually at the clinicals I'll be starting this summer, I can just wear a long-sleeved shirt and my director had no problem. I do, however, have to take out my tragus piercings (the center of the ears), and that kind of surprised me. I've had them for ten years now and didn't even think of them!

margaritka, I think it's less of dress code than your safety. Someone grabs your ears and it does happen, they can hurt you even more if they rip out a piercing

I myself am a tattooed nursing student...I have a three quarter sleeve on my right arm that extends down the front of my chest and down my back which covers my right shoulder blade. I designed my tattoo to be able to be covered by my scrub tops...both in school and in my clinic work as a medical assistant. About 90% of my tops cover my sleeve and its not a problem and for those that dont I wear another top under my scrubs. I also have a large peice on my right leg. Here's the thing....Regardless of judging someone, tattoos are a personal thing, many people get tattoos for reasons that can only make them stronger. For example, my sleeve is of gerber daisies. They are my favorite flower, and they are the only flower in the world that grows naturally in a rainbow of colors...To me they symbolize growth, change, and beauty. They remind me of everything I've been through and they remind me that my strength for the future is endless. My leg peice consists of two tattoos. One is Japanese kanji for love...I got the tattoo with my dad and sister on fathers day. And the second is a tribute tatto to my aunt who died of breast cancer. She was a Cancer and had a crab tattoo, I have her crab with wings tattooed on my leg so that she is always with me. Looking at me with my scrubs on, you would never know that I have tattoos. And thats how I like it. I have never had a bad reaction from any of my patients who find out that I have tattoos. Even my elderly patients tell me that they have never seen a more beautiful tattoo. I can see where the taboo lies with tattoos, but in our society and in this day and age of living life with a second career many people enter the workforce with tattoos. Now I do have to say that I agree with CD, in that I think that some people havent thought about their tattoos. I think there are alot of 18, 19, and 20 year olds that get flash put on them and then ten years later they regret it. I dont agree with "tramp stamps" or tattoos demeaning any group... In all, I think tattoos are beautiful...And Margaritka...remember this...you just have to play along with the rules concerning your tattoos and peircings for nursing school... Many hospitals do not have strict rules for tattoos anymore, as long as they are not violent or demeaning, or offensive.

Hope...Think about it for a while...come up with your idea and design it first..A GOOD tattoo artist will express your tattoo exactly how you want it...And it really isnt super painful unless you are going over bone for a long time...or towards the under part of your arm... otherwise it just goes numb after a while...make sure you eat before you get it done, and take snacks with you...You'll get hungry...

I have two and I love them. My husband even got one! Just know what you want and how you want it. Place it where you want it, not where someone else tells you too. Once it is done....it is no big deal. I didn't really think it hurt too much, but I have had worse things happen to me as far as pain (I broke my entire leg and shattered my knee cap). If you get it on your back, it tickles when they get close to your spine.....you can feel the vibration....lol Good luck!

Thanks for the encouragement and advice. I also get nauseous and light-headed when I know that the needle is for me. You'd think that after all the hormone shots I gave myself to get pg would have cured me of the fear but it didn't! lol
I already know what I want but I would like your guys imput: I want a purple pansy (my favorite flower) and a rose (not sure what color but it's my mom's and grandma's favorite flower) and the stems will be intertwined but they will be my mom's and grandma's initials. I was thinking of getting that placed on my lower back.
I told my mom I wanted that tat and of course she freaked but I told her listen you and grandma were always on my a$$ about things so if I got that you guys will permanently be on my a$$, at least I got her to laugh and relax about it.

al_chamizo said:

cmckeag said:

I've thought about getting a tattoo, but need to figure out where to put it so it won't sag!. Imagine being a 90+ in the nursing home and having the staff wonder what kind of hell-raiser you were as a youngster. It loses the impact when they have to stretch the skin to read it.

You know... You got leave some things to the imagination of the nursing staff... Wild stories of wild days and wild events that will leave the CNAs mouth open... When I worked in the nursing home I would ask the guys that were in the service arout their tats... Oh, the stories you would hear...

I MYSELF HAVE TATS ONE IS A MEMORIAL TO MY MOTHER AND FATHER IN LAW IT IS ON MY RT FOREARM HOSPITAL POLICY IS TO WEAR LONG SLEEVES ITS NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER I DONT DO THINGS LIKE THIS FOR OTHER PEOPLE THINK IF YOU JUDGE A PERSON BY MARKINGS THEY PUT ON THEIR BODY WITHOUT GETTING TO KNOW THE PERSON THAT IS JUST WRONG

Well put, lunchbox! Although it's perfectly reasonable to cover up tattoos while at work, not to hire someone based on their ink would be an encroachment onto the privacy of a nurse's non-work/personal life; which seems to be all too prevalent across many different industries.

PS I'm getting a new tattoo once I get my tax rebate-- it's the state of Michigan outline in AmTrad style with robins and Michigan cherry blossoms coming out of the sides; with a banner that says "LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT." I think it'll be beautiful, but also kind of funny. A fitting memorial to a state I was heartbroken to escape.

I have a 1/2 sleeve and a tattoo on my back. The tattoo artist convinced my my sleeve would look better if it went down to the elbow, so I have to wear a long sleeve shirt but I can roll it up a little if I want too. Anyways society and people look at tattoos as differently, as........ views on religon.

So in order to give people an optimal level of care, and in order to present myself as professional AT WORK I think they should be covered.
I certainly think noone should be judged by their appearance for job qualifications but then again ask yourself.....

Are we talking about sleeves, and suits here or tattoos on any place on one's body?

Like would a full facial tattoo, be a nono, or are we just saying body tattoos?