I just wanted to raise awareness of alot of people that are swarming into the nursing and medical tech field with tons and i do mean tons of tattoos.  I myself have three.  They are hidden but the one on my neck shows if i dont wear a white tight T  lol...  I know a RN that looks like he just got promoted to the hells angels captain.  Hells angels is a notorious biker gang known for running the roads.  But he is one of the most intellectual and verbally sophisticated people I know.  He dresses clean and always keeps a clean hair cut.  HE IS PROFESSIONAL...  He however gets some complaints but not from the patients from the staff especially the oooollldd   nuuurrrsseeesss!!!  LOL  just kidding ladies you guys are awsome.  .     He did scare a little old lady one day when he ran in the room cause her probe came off her cardiac monitor and showed a v fibe lol.  She needed new chucks...    

But from a professional standpoint more and more nurses young and old are getting tattoos to express themselves mostly in positive ways.  So i leave this POLL for you guys to let me know what you think.   Oh yeah chat with me anytime i like talking to smart women its enlightening...

I also think tattoos are sexy-if they are tastefully done of course.  I have 2 myself and I am considering another one.

I have 2 tats that no one can see, and my husband has 3 and  just part of a very majestic american eagle pokes out from under his short sleeve.  We both work in a hospital.  He wears short sleeves and no one has ever given him a negative comment, additionally he works in a catholic hospital with Nuns in habits!  One of the docs that I work with also has a tat.

I have two tattoos that are also in places on my body that can be covered by clothing. 

I went to the Naval Hospital this past weekend...the nurse that triaged me and discharged me was a very pretty latino nurse.  She had 2 visible tattoos on her left arm. I didn't find it offensive nor did I feel as though she could not provide me with adequate medical care.  She actually took better care of me then the Doctor himself.  I complimented her on the tats, because they were very well done, and she said "Thank you, I have actually had alot of compliments about them today".  I think body art is becoming a little more acceptable in today's society.  I agree as long as they are tasteful, there is nothing wrong with them.

There are going to be people who say they don't like them and think they are inappropriate, but society is changing and so are the generations.   Most people use tattoos as a form of expression and I don't see anything wrong with that.

I love tats but mine too are able to be hidden.  I guess it is where you work and what they say.  I am more concerned about having a good nurse v/s what they look like.  I can see where it may cause problems in certain areas.

i think tats are sexy.  please do not rank me with the older generation. i am a 66 year old young rn. as a correctional nurse i see tats constantly on the bodies of young and old men and women.  the art is so beautiful and the bodies are the pallete.  i would rather see the artwork on my walls.  the artwork is phenominal.  done freehand by incarcerated artists.  they make their own ink and their own tools from things like a paperclip.  the biggest problem with prison tats is the rampant hepatitis C from contaminated ink and tools.  it is so sad to see the artwork and have to ask the inmate if they have been tested for HCV.  and sadder still when the test comes back positive.  i have seen too many deaths from HCV because it was not discovered soon enough and ESLD is not pretty. maybe if tats were legalized in the prisons perhaps it would cut down on the HCV.  so i say go for the tats but even if you think you are safe get tested!  many of the prison nurses and custody staff are tatted also. much of the tatts i have seen are ethnic related with a theme so it becomes artwork and not just a random hodge podge of unrelated pictures.  many of the tatts tell a story of their culture   tatts can be done tastefully and placed so they are concealed and under clothing.  personally i do not think they have anything to do with a persons ability to do their job and should not be allowed to be used as a reason not to hire anyone.  i think it is time to stop being so predjudicial and small minded when it comes to tats.  i personally do not have any because i do not like needles and my religion prefers i don't but my children have them disceetly placed.

 it is time to stop judging people because of the tat instead of how well they do their job.  and tats really do not scare anybody.  they have been around a long time and most everyone knows someone with a tat even us old generation.  and in some countries they are done as part of that culture.  check it out  it is nothing new. so don't let it be such a big deal.  it really isn't.

Many facilities still do not sanction body art.  If you have piercings or tattoos, piercings must be removed, unless unseen or in your ears and tattoos must be covered.  I don't make the rules, just try to follow them.  There are still older patients who see tattoos as being low class, uncouth, ugly and to many frightening. 

We are in a field, where others come first.  Individuality is discouraged, although I do see this changing somewhat, compared to when I first started over 30 years ago.  Back then, all nurses wore white, from head to foot (if you wore a cap) CNA's wore blue or another color.  The only ones who wore scrubs were in the OR or Burn unit, even ICU back then wore white. 

I happen to like tats, don't have any, but do enjoy seeing tats on others. 

I love tattoos. I think it is an art of expression and i find it very sexy, as long as it is not too many. Just like some of the famous celebreties. I don't think in the field of nursing, they're going to restrict it, as long as you're qualified and fit to work.

I'm more interested the patient care that I receive. I came across a story on this very subject. Do Tattoos Reflect Professionalism? http://www.nurseconnect.com/Resources/ArticleProfile.aspx?Id=359770