Tattoos

Re: Tattoos

WTF_dinosaur — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 00:15:46 GMT

I have a small tattoo on show on my wrist, took one of the partners at my practice 6 months to notice it! I never made any attempt to hid it or any of my other tattoos at my interview and i've not received any negative comments them. I did however joke about getting a full sleeve and that didn't go down overly well, my head nurse said i could get a bottle green arm with a white trim hehe.

I personally don't have a problem with tattoo's however i do think people need to be sensible as although we are in 2014 some people do still have issues with tattoos and rightly or wrongly its something that needs to be taken into account, i would hate for someone to worry about their beloved pet being in my care because they saw my tattoo as a sign of me being 'thugish' or 'wreckless', unfortunately we work in the public eye and the public must have trust in us :).

Thats just my two pence worth though

Re: Tattoos

Sal the 1st — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 09:31:56 GMT

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-29211526

Re: Tattoos

Kerry Brennand DipAVN (Surgical) RVN A1 MBVNA — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 16:02:13 GMT

Huge thanks for all those that have taken the time to reply to my initial post much appreciated. I see I have started a bit of a debate about whether tattoos should be accepted or not in practice.

Re: Tattoos

Sian Graham — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 14:47:16 GMT

I have a few tattoos visible on my forearms as well as several more hidden ones and I went to my interview to work as a receptionist then go on to college to finish my VN course, with them on show. My boss was happy enough for me to work without them covered, however she did suggest that I did not get any more in a quite so visible place.

I think that so long as they are not offensive or rude then there should be no problem with them, however there is still a stigma attached to people with tattoos and that is a long way off changing but we are heading in the right direction!

Facial piercings were another matter however, which is completely understandble as they are a hazard if any animal catches them or if they fall out.
I hate seeing people in the food industry with a lot of piercings as it is just unhygienic, and I was would feel extremely uncomfortable if any animal was getting operated on with someone who had them. (This is coming from someone who had 30 piercings at one point!)

Re: Tattoos

kelly - marie wood — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 17:58:54 GMT

Sound like im lucky to be employed then tattoos on wrists tongue piercings a load of earrings in and Bright red dyed hair!!

Re: Tattoos

Caro Laithwaite VN — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 08:49:02 GMT

l do not like tattoos on women or men and when asked what l think l am honest that l don't like it if it is well done l will say that but if it is badly done l will also state that, l tolerate it because l have no say but it doesn't mean l like them. I know some are amazing works of art and have watched fascinated at times programmes like miami ink for the skill but still do not like them.

I do not think people are thugs for having them just do not like seeing the markings. l feel the same about piercings, one in each ear fine after that l don't like it.

Deadlocks to me are pure lazyness and no amount of argument is going to ever change that to me.

I walk my own path in life as well and go barefoot brits have a problem with that l don't care it is my life my feet and l ask nothing of brits however it seems that my feelings on piercings and tattoos and deadlocks are not allowed.

Re: Tattoos

Shoned Hawksworth — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 09:29:51 GMT

I have quite a few tats as well and some are visible, thankfully every practice i've worked at has been fine with them as i already had them. I also at one point had a couple of facial piercings and purple and red hair.

It does not affect your ability as a nurse and thank fully all my employers saw this, although when i was locuming many were surprised. It does seem to be an individual preference from an employers perspective and if they do not want them and it is written into the contract then that is fine.

I have toned down the hair now i am older and head nurse, but mostly as i didn't think the hair was that professional for me now, but the tats are still there and although a few people comment, its usually out of interest.

I have never been discriminated for it :)

Re: Tattoos

Julie-Anne Wilson — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 21:22:13 GMT

I have multiple tattoos, the majority of which are visible. My last place of work made me wear long sleeves to cover the ones on my arms but the ones on my neck and fingers were still visible and they never asked me to cover them.

I'm currently locumming in a referral hospital and they care more about hygiene than looks so they don't want anyone wearing long sleeves.

Discrimination over tattoos will, I fear, always be a factor. My tattoos do not affect my ability to work, I still nurse to the best of my abilities and no animals suffer because I have Harley Quinn on my arm.

Re: Tattoos

elaine elder — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 21:00:15 GMT

I have tattoos one on each wrist. I have never been discriminated against in any of my jobs. However, I have read in the staff handbook that tattoos should be covered. The only negative comment I have ever had about my tattoos was from a wee old lady who told me I didn't need to spoil my looks with that rubbish! I usually find my tattoos actually make a good conversation piece with clients!

Re: Tattoos

azlana — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 16:15:00 GMT

As a nurse with no tattoos I personally don't care if some one is inked or not. I do see from the practice point of view that you may need to comver uo. a few friends of mine as students had tattoos and it was interesting how different practices approch this subject. I feel more and more people are getting Tattos in visible places these days Arms,hands ect so there is less and elss descrimination. I know when i now see some one with alot of tatto's my firs thought isnt Thug but Ohhh i like you art work what is it? Ive actually foind i have built a better rapor with some clients through discussuion of their art work.

I see from both sides of the coin but hope it will be come a thing of the past. we are aprogressive profession :D

Re: Tattoos

Lauren Innes Bsc(hons) , RVN — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 13:25:06 GMT

I have a few tattoo's and most are easily hidden except for one that is very small, inoffensive and hidden behind my ear. When I worked in hosptality in event management at an international hotel, I was made to cover it with a blue hygiene plaster, which led to many, many queries as to how I had injured my head, so eventually upper management agreed to leave me untouched by plasters. It is only noticed by people in close proximity to my ear, if a customer is that close then really there is a problem.

Since joining the VN profession I have had no requests to cover it up and no clients being put off by it (to my knowledge). I thought long and hard about each and every one of my tattoo's, they all have a very personal meaning, and they mark milestones for me, but I chose to have them in places that would not harm my future employability.

I agree that tattoo's do not alter my abilities as a nurse, but neither did my facial piercings or my multi-coloured dreadlocks, I made the decision a few years back to get rid of my beloved dreadlocks, and remove my facial piercings, but I still love my tattoo's, and I love that they are a little bit of my personality that I dont share with everyone all of the time.

I work in a teaching hospital, and i work with many brilliant nurses, interns, residents, clinicians and students who are brilliant not because of their decisions regarding body modification, but because they are just brilliant.

Re: Tattoos

therainyj — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 11:06:00 GMT

I also agree that some potential emplyers may not want to see tattoos/piercings. This is why I've made sure all of mine can be easily hidden. However, I would hope that most practices now are moving with the times and are a little more open minded, especially if your artwork cannot be covered up so easily.

Re: Tattoos

Sal the 1st — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 10:20:59 GMT

[quote user="therainyj"]

The fact that you got inked is no reflection on your ability to work, or learn, or perform well within a practice.

[/quote]

agreed absolutely - but if it affects your ability to get a job in the first place because a potential employer doesnt want to see it then it becomes a problem.

Re: Tattoos

therainyj — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 10:01:35 GMT

Hi Kerry,

Though my tattoos are not visible in uniform, I know a veterinary oncologist with a PHD who has written textbooks and is world renowned, who is absolutely covered in them. Some practices I've worked in ask staff to cover up ie wrist tattoos by wearing long sleeves, or trousers instead of dresses. Depends on the mindframe of the individual practice I guess. Your head nurse / potential employer should be prepared to openly discuss their uniform policy which you will have to comply with - be prepared to cover up if necessary.

However, the stigma that is attached to people who have tattoos I think (I hope) is slowly fading as so many people have them these days. The fact that you got inked is no reflection on your ability to work, or learn, or perform well within a practice. My non-visible tattoo has never hindered my nursing ability, anyway, so I'm not sure why a visible one would

Re: Tattoos

Steph Worsley — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 22:55:39 GMT

I agree with Gillian as well, I have got tattoos but all are covered at work, when I had my first tattoo I had been nursing about 8 months and I personally chose to have it on my upper arm so it wouldn't show below my uniform sleeve. My last tattoo is a big piece on my lower leg, I thought long and hard about it but figured I won't be wearing dresses in work any more so had it done (I can show it off when I wear skirts out side work when I want to)

Unfortunately people do judge on appearances and if you have a lot of artwork on your arms/etc it can (wrongly in my opinion) affect the way clients perceive the way you may be able to deal with their pets.

Re: Tattoos

Ems — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 15:12:25 GMT

I agree with Gillian, I have tattoo's myself but totally understand why my bosses don't like them on show. Luckily all mine are hidden out of choice, but a receptionist I used to work with had LOADS and she was told at the interview she had to have them covered up at all times. This usually meant wearing a cardigan - even in the summer! I'm not sure how that works with your rights etc. but she never once moaned.

I think tattoos are always a bit of a touchy subject, unfortunately most people do tend to judge at a glance - especially clients who may not know you as well as your colleagues.

Re: Tattoos

Gillian Mostyn — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 13:13:37 GMT

Reasonable tattoos aren't any problem to me - a fair few of my staff have then on forearms and they are fine. Don't like them myself but each to their own - it doesn't affect their ability as a nurse. In the same way one of my receptionists (who is brill) has dyed bright red hair!

The problem comes when defining 'reasonable'. I wouldn't want someone to have very visible neck or facial tattoos or 'LOVE' and 'HATE' on their knuckles! Whether we like it or not, we are all judged by our appearance and the practice is judged by the appearance of our staff! I can therefore understand why some practices may just have a blanket ban on visible tattoos - it is hard to draw the line otherwise.

Re: Tattoos

fairy — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 11:00:25 GMT

I think tattoos shouldn't be an issue. It doesn't affect how good you are at your job. Employers who choose not to employ someone purely because they have tattoos could be missing out on a fabulous nurse. Which is fairly silly

Re: Tattoos

The Pikachu_Collector — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 10:17:09 GMT

I used to work as a dog handler for the military at Melton Mowbray, my tattoos were never a problem there. As I said, my views are biased as I have tattoos. I already had them before I started my VN training, so nothing I could do about them before I started looking for a VN job.

To the initial postee

If you are in a job - ask your boss. Although they may be fine with tattoos, others will not be.

Have them so that you can cover them up if required. I would not work for a company that did not accept them though - personal choice

Re: Tattoos

Sal the 1st — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 10:10:59 GMT

well this is the MODs stance on tattoos

12. Tattoos

Tattoos that are offensive, obscene or excessive in size or number will be a bar to entry or re-entry. Tattoos

should not be visible on the head and neck and may be a bar to entry when on the hand. If you have any you

may be asked to complete a form describing your tattoos. They will be seen during your medical examination.

at least one of my bosses was ex army - his practice so his rules.

My personal opinion - people do what they need to do, if they feel the need for a tattoo I am fine with that but if people also need a job and already know that their tattoos may be a problem to those employing them......

Re: Tattoos

The Pikachu_Collector — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 09:42:58 GMT

I just feel that they should not be used as a form of decision tool for an employer.

Would you have sacked David Beckham as England Captain for having tattoos? or not sign Rihanna in to a record deal? just because of their tattoos.

I don't see why it should be a problem in vet nursing - it certainly isn't in human nursing - my mum is a midwife and many of her students/colleagues have full sleeved tattoos that they are not required to cover up.

My views are biased anyway - I have tattoos, therefore do not wish to be treated differently. However, my skills have propelled me in to managerial position within a College, they don't care about tattoos at all. Just skill sets.

Re: Tattoos

Sal the 1st — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 09:06:10 GMT

[quote user="Amy Barfield BSc (Hons) Zoology,RVN VNES"]

It is a shame that some employers do discriminate regarding tattoos. I wish they didn't. But most employers understand that in 2014 the majority of people have tattoos, and that their clients have them to.

[/quote]

I dont think its discrimination - its up to an individual if they want to get themselves inked or not and its equally up to an employer who they would like to employ or not

Re: Tattoos

The Pikachu_Collector — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 08:57:57 GMT

Have 30+ tattoos. Some of which I can cover (wrists, arms, legs etc)

Have only ever had a problem at one practice - had them clearly visible on my interview - even asked about them. Was told there would no problem. Less than 3 months in to the job - got asked to leave for breaching my contract of having them on show - Took them to small claim court for unfair dismissal.

I am always very open regarding my tattoos. Some employers don't mind, some do. My advice - always be honest with them. It is a shame that some employers do discriminate regarding tattoos. I wish they didn't. But most employers understand that in 2014 the majority of people have tattoos, and that their clients have them to.

Re: Tattoos

Sal the 1st — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 00:16:44 GMT

where I have worked previously (a couple of places not just the one) the rules have been pretty strict. No tats on view at all, and no facial piercings with metalwork ( clear plastic retainers were allowed) earrings were allowed but a single pair of studs.

Getting back to tats - if the employee already had them when they were employed (which would have been rarer than rare because they would have to be exceptional skills wise to have got through the interview with visible artwork, a trainee arriving for an interview with tats wouldnt have got further than reception) they were made aware of the practice policy re new tattoos, ie although the practice were accepting existing tattoos it did not mean that they would be accepting of any visible new ones. It became a condition of employment that tattoos would be kept covered at all times front of house. If on arms then long sleeves were to be worn to cover them or if this really wasnt possible then tats to be covered with a dressing. If on hands - and this really was a pet hate of the vet - then they should be covered with gloves. Anything on legs had to be covered by either trousers or tights sufficiently thick for them not to show through. Put simply tattoos were allowed so long as the boss couldnt see them.