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Mental Health Nursing uniform for placement (female)?? Will a tattoo affect patients?

Hi there, I am due to commence my nursing training this September and would like to know what current nurse students are wearing as uniform? Must placement uniform be bare from the elbow down? Also I have a large tattoo on my forearm (which is tasteful and feminine) and was wondering if any patients have commented on others with visible tattoos and whether this impinged on their relationships/trust/professionalism with patients? I'm aware that there will be an elderly placement and I imagine there will be a strict policy of 'bare below the elbow' due to cross-contaminiation; is there a risk that a tattoo may upset them?

Is there a way to cover it up if there is a risk that it may upset others? The last thing I want to be viewed as is unprofessional and I will ensure I maintain a very suitable and respectful attire.


Many thanks in advance for any advice!!
Reply 1
Avatar for Ghotay
Ghotay
13
Uniform is bare below the elbow, yes. Usually student nurses will be given a uniform to wear though, so you shouldn't need to buy any extra clothes if you're worrying about that

I have seen lots of nurses with forearm and sleeve tattoos (and even neck tattoos), and have never seen any negative feedback. This is not to say that they never receive any comments, but more that it is generally accepted for nurses to have this kind of tattoo.

I wouldn't worry about upsetting patients. Let your manner and behaviour speak for your professionalism. The tattoo is just a bit of ink

That said, to fully answer your question, yes it would be possible to cover your forearms if you wanted. I have seen a number of nurses wearing plastic disposable 'sleeves', usually for religious/modesty reasons. That's something you would have to discuss with your trust though. But as I said, I really wouldn't worry about it


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Reply 2
Avatar for imcka
imcka
OP
Thanks for your response. Mental health nurses aren't required to wear a uniform per se; as far as I'm aware they just wear their own clothes so I was wondering what other girls wear ( I would like to look professional). Hopefully as you say I won't have any problems! I think I may be overthinking things haha- thanks again!


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Reply 3
Avatar for Ghotay
Ghotay
13
Original post by imcka
Thanks for your response. Mental health nurses aren't required to wear a uniform per se; as far as I'm aware they just wear their own clothes so I was wondering what other girls wear ( I would like to look professional). Hopefully as you say I won't have any problems! I think I may be overthinking things haha- thanks again!


I imagine you will have a variety of community and hospital placements, and all mental health nurses in hospitals that I have seen wear a standard nursing uniform, same as other hospital nurses. So you will definitely be wearing a uniform at least sometimes. There may be some variability with specialist inpatient units and other community settings, but I wouldn't know about that. You might get better responses if you post in the nursing/midwifery forum

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