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Tattoos on Therapy Professionals

Last Updated Oct 2012


By: Kim Holland

therapy professionalsTattoos are growing in popularity and social acceptance. In all walks of life people – therapy professionals included – are using their bodies as ink canvases. If you are precepting a professional in their 20s, it is likely that they have one or more tattoos. With a wide gap of generations in the healthcare field, we must be willing to objectively discuss our thoughts on tattoos.

Basic Reasons: For and Against Tattoos

 

There are positive reasons for getting tattoos in healthcare:

  • Commemorating a past event or a deceased loved one
     
  • Paying tribute to a loved one who is still living
     
  • Expressing (as my 17 year-old son reminded me) your identity or passions*

*Choosing artwork that accurately expresses individual identity or a life passion can be difficult because people change. On the other hand, if your identity or life passion changes significantly, the tattoo can also serve to commemorate the past.
 

There are also negative reasons for getting a tattoo:

  • Documenting a “non-permanent" relationship or favorite vice (favorite beer)
     
  • Because “all my friends are getting them”
     
  • Just because you like the design 

Even according to tattoo artists, these reasons are not based on common sense.

 

Considerations for Therapy Professionals

 

Beyond the basic reasons to get or not get a tattoo, there are several other points to consider. The anthropology argument conveys the idea that humans have always decorated themselves for attention. Reasons might include: (Kuwahara, 2005)career in therapy

  • Showing status
     
  • Declaring power
     
  • Expressing insecurity
     
  • Simply for decoration

The bottom line is the need to be noticed. Prior to permanently broadcasting these things on your body, you might first do some soul searching. For example, you definitely won't be happy with a tattoo you got just to annoy your parents.

 

For those who have a career in therapy and healthcare field, the arguments become broader. Many healthcare organizations have appearance policies that restrict tattoos from being visible or “excessive". Leadership defines “excessive” and they may not be interested in why someone chose to tattoo themselves. They will be interested in protecting the professional image of their organization, which is well within their right.

 

We must be aware that many of our patients are of a generation that sees tattooing as taboo and an uneducated practice. This may make them initially question the therapy professional’s competence and judgment.

 

Finally, there is the argument that the professional image of the healthcare industry is at stake. Although healthcare is changing and becoming more open to this societal trend, a heavily tattooed individual will have difficulty being considered for a management position in most organizations. The definition of “professional image” does not appear to be changing anytime soon.

 

Tips for Therapy Professionals

 

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind if you are in a healthcare field:healthcare industry

  • If you are working with younger employees who have tattoos, be supportive and realize there are many reasons for getting tattoos.
     
  • If you choose to get a tattoo, consider placement and size carefully so that your art does not violate an appearance standard where you work or is unpractical to cover if you are on duty. Consider the professional image you are portraying to the public and your current or future employers. Tattoos are forever. If you do get one, make sure it is not one you will regret.

Ten years from now our resumes will have improved and become more marketable. Whatever our individual thoughts on tattoos, we all can agree that we want our appearance as therapy professionals to keep up with our success.

 

Reference

 

Kuwahara, M. (2005). Tattoo: An anthropology. Berg Publishers

 

What are your thoughts on tattoos being visible on the body in the workplace?  Please leave a comment below. 

 

Click here for more information on Kim Holland.

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Recent Comments (there are 14 comments)
Tattoos ARE becoming more accepted in society and serve as an expression of individuality and a persons passion or such. If a person wants to cover their body with tattoos, I certainly encourage that person follow their own conscious desire and fulfill that need. If that person works for me, they should consider that we have a policy about visible body art (tattoos, piercings, etc.) and if they wish to continue their employment that should be taken into account. As healthcare workers, were are currently faced with the task of providing care for a markedly elderly population as the baby boomer generation reaches retirement age. All opinions differ, but its pretty safe to presume that the older the clientele, the less tolerant of such body art. Eventually these biases will pass with time, but it is relatively safe to say that this will happen beyond the current generation. Just my opinion, but I am responsible for the hiring in my departments, so this is a factor that WILL be considered. I have seen many beautiful tattoos and the precision and detail are phenomenal. Just be able to conceal it during working hours, and we can share a beer and discuss it on our own time. - Steve Brabbin (via LinkedIn)
Posted By: PMBT
While I'm studying for my OT career to begin, I'm a recruiter for a home health agency. Keeping in mind that 99% of our clientele are from the generation that sees tattoos (and excessive piercing) as coarse and uneducated, we have a "no visible tattoos" policy, no non-ear piercings whatsoever, and limit ear piercings to ONE pair of studs or small hoops when on duty. That is the professional image that my company wishes to convey. However, it crossed my mind just this week that as my generation becomes the generation requiring care, that attitudes may change in much the same way that attitudes toward racism have begun to change in my generation.
Posted By: KarenR
I think you have to judge healthcare professionals by how they act rather than how they look. - zealousidler (via twitter)
Posted By: PMBT
I pretty much agree with David A., yet I understand and agree with the right for one to freely express themself. I myself have 3 tatoos, which are only visible if I want them to be, or if I am wearing a swimsuit. My boss and Area VP are on the conservative side, and I believe that if mine were visible,I would possibly be asked to cover them. I also had a boss many years ago within the public school system who was extremely critical regarding ALL staff appearing professional. You only get one chance to make a first impression. Just to clarify, I am not against tatoos, but do not think it would "appear" professional to have any obviously visible while working. As I am typing this, it occured to me that in the 14 years that I have been an SLP,I have not once seen a visible tattoo on any co-worker....
Posted By: SLPRachel
I have a few tattoos and they are neither offensive nor gaudy. As a RT I do have to wear a lab coat continuously, and be aware that older patients may see me in a different light because I have them. It has no bearing on my professionalism, nor work ethic. All in moderation, I say.
Posted By: MikeN
I am a person who has tattoos and works in the healthcare industry. I am also a person that considered where I placed these tattoos before getting them with thought to my future. I am HEAVILY tattooed, we're talking what some would consider 60-70% of my body, but unless I want you to, you would never know. Should tattoos be more acceptable? Of course, but it's going to take time. If people aren't willing to take their future career into consideration when getting a tattoo, why should anyone take their tattoo into consideration when hiring them?
Posted By: Katie M
Over 40% of people between the ages of 26 and 40 have at least 1 tattoo (http://www.vanishingtattoo.com/tattoo_facts.htm). Even though I belong to the 60% that don't, we undoubtedly have to adjust to this fact of life. I'll choose great treatment and bed-side manners by a tattooed therapist than a sub-par treatment by a clean-cut preppy.
Posted By: Ben L
I don't have any tattoos on my body and am not a fan of having a lot of tattoos, such as a sleeve. But I have always thought the bandaid looked incredibly tacky. Not to mention in a food or healthcare industry, I have always seen the bandaid as dirty, or unsanitary. As I've gotten older, naturally I have met many people with just a couple to what I would consider an excessive amount of tattoos. For the most part they have all been really good people. Not having a tattoo does not make you any more professional than having tattoos. It's something people usually get in their teens and early twenties and there isn't much they can do about it. I don't think people should be punished for mistakes of their youth. Imagine how many great minds have been lost over a tattoo.
Posted By: Em D
I think this subject trweads on thin ice regarding a persons capability being judged by the fact they have a tattoo. Seems like the powers that be are trying to bring their own personal value and beliefs into the work place. I agree a limit needs to be drawn for the sake of establishing a therapist/pt. rapport but that holds true with language and clothing.You dont expect one to come to work in a bathing suit or to use foul language with a pt. nor would it be appropriate to have your whole face tattoo. So where does one draw the line for being inappropriate to infringng on ones right to expression?
Posted By: Richard C
As an educator in Physical Therapy, we have traditionally had the policy of "no visible tattoos". Students have had to resort to long sleeved shirts in every season, or bandaids to cover up tattoos. I recently polled our many clinical sites and have found less stringent policies: many now say "no excessive tattoos" or "no offensive tatoos". As we all know, "excessive" is in the eyes of the beholder. Are 2 tattoos excessive? Hmmmm... how to best advise?
Posted By: Laurie C
I'm glad to see this topic addressed in a non-judgemental manner. What you're saying is we all make choices about our professional appearance. If you believe strongly about having a visible tatoo, it's good to know there will be consequences- both positive & negative. Be prepared to deal with it!
Posted By: Susan S
Why is "just because you like the design" a negative reason to get a tattoo? If you really want a tattoo, and you see a beautiful design, why shouldn't you get that design? Most likely, you are going to be drawn to it because it represents something you enjoy such as Celtic or African designs, a certain artist, flowers, butterflies...whatever. It goes along with "Expressing your identity or passions"; you probably are drawn to that design for a reason, and if it's a good design and you've thought it over, why not?
Posted By: Jen K
Completely unacceptable in any professional environment, especially a medical setting. Our clinic policy requires that no tattoo (or excessive piercings, for that matter) be visible.
Posted By: David A
Completely unacceptable in any professional environment, especially a medical setting. Our clinic policy requires that no tattoo (or excessive piercings, for that matter) be visible.
Posted By: David A


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