Tattooed nurses

[CaptainCabinets]

Would you be put off by a tattooed nurse? At the moment I’ve only got them in places a patient would never see but I do plan to add some to my upper arm in the near future.

Just want to hear your thoughts and reasons!

I think there is a certain element of if you choose to have tattoos which are visible you are sticking 2 fingers up at respectability and it is that tebellion which is judged rather than the tattoo-expresses a certain attitude.
Not my belief but a common one in certain circles.
I dislike tattoos but they aren't 'common', which they definitely were seen as 20 years ago. And some people look cool and edgy.

I haven't RTWT however I was recently treated by a nurse on admission to A&E and as she was taking my blood pressure, doing an ECG I found her sleeve tattoo so soothing. It was a beautiful fruits of the forest if you like, blackberries, red berries, blue berries - I loved it and told her so!

nursy1 - did you mean to sound so callous and uncaring?

After one of my operations (I've had a few, but this was an 8-hour operation and a week's stay in hospital), the v senior nurse I had for the first 48-hours (when it was pretty much 1-1) was covered in fantastic body art. It was at a major teaching hospital that prides itself on its (quite old-fashioned uniform). My only reaction was that I thought she'd really understand pain. She was a brilliant nurse.

have no idea what you mean about some cultural groups having negative associations ??

Japanese Yakuza and Russian Bratva tattoos.

I’m a nurse with tattoos, one of which is visible just below my elbow. I know many tattooed nurses and doctors, including a couple with hand or face tattoos.

I can’t imagine any trust refusing a qualified nurse on the back of having a (inoffensive) visible tattoo, in the current climate.

(although apparently they should just “get over themselves “ sad

Being “older” doesn’t preclude you from being a decent, non-judgemental and accepting human. My grandad died when he was 90, (about 8 years ago), but one of his close friends was a woman who he met through art class, who had green dreadlocks, A LOT of face piercings and tattoos. He didn’t freak the fuck out and cower in the corner just because he was “older” and she looked different. It would be a massive disservice to people to suggest they would all be judgemental or terrified if they saw someone with tattoos. So age demographic isn’t an excuse tbh. Obviously if there are MH issues, like dementia, that’s different.

What if an otherwise perfectly reasonable older person decides they don’t like foreigners and won’t be looked after by a non-British nurse because they’re the wrong sort for their tastes? Am I allowed to tell THEM to get the fuck over themselves ?

I have no idea what you mean about some cultural groups having negative associations ??

In many areas of China they're still associated with gang members.

depends what the tattoo is LOL 1 nurse had a devil tattoo and completely put me off!!

No but you may get comments from patients/colleagues if a full sleeve or similar as it will always be on show. I know a doctor who got it when younger and he always looked uncomfortable with it and trying to cover it when he could, he ended up getting it removed. I have no strong feelings but worth considering how much you want it versus another tattoo

Shaved head, weird facial hair, holes in his nose and eyebrows where piercings had been taken out, small neck tattoo but that gave the impression it was much bigger, just covered by clothing. And really inarticulate

I imagine that if the latter point hadn't been so - if he'd been warm and articulate, had a soothing voice, good interpersonal skills etc that the physical bits wouldn't have been nearly so terrifying.

I'm sorry your parent had a scary experience at such an awful time

I'd find it off-putting on a health care professional or on someone serving food because they look grubby to me. In a clinic or hospital I have little choice so would put up and shut up. In a cafe or restaurant I'd leave

did you mean to sound so callous and uncaring?

I have no idea what you mean so, no, obviously I didn’t.

Wouldn't bother me at all. I don't mind them at all!

I would understand that you had had some issues in your life and that you had poor judgement

That pretty much sums me up to be fair. So I would have no problem being cared for by someone who had not had a straightforward life - they may well have learned open mindedness and empathy along their bumpy road. It is the super-respectable types that make me more nervous

A nurse I dealt with had an upside down crucifix which would piss if not only Christians but also the large non- Christian population in our area who would think it was a symbol of Christianity.
I think tattoos look shit but I am in the minority so I have to sufficiently get over myself on that one.

Tattoos on a nurse, if anything, would make them seem more personable to me.

Quite a few of my student nurse colleagues have visible tattoos and haven't had any issues. However we have been told we can't have purple/green/pink/blue hair. The mental health nurses get easier time with that.
Piercings are different obviously as they can be dangerous.

dailymail. I didn’t know that tattoos were associated with gang membership. I did know that some criminals have jail tattoos but I think your average patient would know the difference between some one who is trying to take care of them and a criminal gang member, even if they do have skin Art.

Honestly op. To return to your original question. I don’t think the vast majority of people would be in the least bit offended by your slightly visible tattoo.
As I said, some older people might be initially because for that generation they were considered something to be looked down on but if you are doing a good job for them, they would pretty soon get over it if, as steviebuns said, they are decent people.

whiteroseredrose but if you go to a restaurant chances are you won't see the chef. He could have tattoo's all over his body whikst he's making your food and then the waiter could have them under his clothes.
Or none of them could have them but they both might pick their nose!

I simply dontcan't have eniugh energy to carebe hoe other people's bodies are decorated

I remember accompanying a person to hospital and a worker there had a short sleeved t-shirt on, with a naked lady with quite prominent boobs tattooed on his forearm so very visible to the public. I was far too worried about the person I was with to concern myself with the tattoo but some people would find that extremely inappropriate especially in a place with a large volume of public (A&E).

I think it’s one of those things where checking your contract and asking opinions from senior nursing staff would help - some wards would be fine, others such as paediatrics may have more rules.

Yeah, in many (most?) areas of the world tattoos have massive associations with gangs, prison etc. They certainly aren’t something that your ‘ordinary Jo(e)’ would consider it acceptable to have.

Still, if an elderly person who has lived in the UK all their life can be expected to adapt to changing notions of normal (and quite often in the midst of feeling quite vulnerable), people who have chosen to live here certainly can.

Yes, I would mind as I hate any type of clearly false bodily aesthetic.

So, no make up, nail varnish, bra or heels for you, then?

Did you mean to be such a judgy numpty?

Ha ha! No I can't see if a chef has tattoos nor if a nurse washes her hands after going for a poo! What I was saying was if I have a choice I'd exercise it. I'll in hospital I'd have no choice.

I’m at people who say you can’t tell if a person has clean skin or not if they have tattoos. What about people with dark skin? Would you say the same of them?

Also intrigued to know if the nay-sayers would actually comment negatively on the nurse’s tattoos or just grumble about it online?