Dear Nurse Marge,
I’m coming to nursing as a second career. My first career, if you could call it that, was working in a body art studio. I’ve got numerous tattoos, but most of them don’t show. There’s a string of orchids down my forearm that ends above my wrists that shows if I’m in short sleeves. They’re pretty and fairly tasteful if a bit on the large side. Will this keep me from getting a nursing job?
Signed, Inked in Illinois
Dear Inked,
Tattoos have become more and more mainstream. I recently watched a show about a cardiologist who had a large demon holding an anatomically correct heart in his clawed hands done on his back, and no one told that guy he was out of a job.
Yeah, I know. Like anyone could tell a surgeon anything, anyway!
I hate to tell you “It depends”, but It Depends. In some areas, having large tattoos may make you more employable, not less. Some hospitals may want you to cover your tattoos — although I’d shy away from the ever popular “Stick a bandage on it” method — wrapping up ink that large will leave you looking like you’ve had major surgery, not a random scrape!
Many nurses have tattoos, you know. You just don’t see them. There’s the very popular “Doctors who will NEVER touch me” list that many nurses have done on their chest, along with DNR orders and “Don’t Cut This Off!”.
There are some tattoos you probably should avoid getting. “Diverting in My Favorite Diversion” would be right out, in my opinion. Square needles? “Tourniquets for All Head Wounds!” These are images that just don’t inspire confidence in your nursing skills. Try to keep that in mind when going under the needle.
Good Luck!
Nurse Marge
