Can RN remove tattoos?

Author: Prof. Willard Kessler  |  Last update: Friday, January 23, 2026

Physicians may use lasers or intense pulse light devices to remove hair, spider veins, and tattoos. In addition, physician assistants and registered nurses (not licensed vocational nurses) may use lasers or intense pulse light devices to perform these procedures under a physician's supervision.

Can nurses remove tattoos?

Unlicensed medical assistants, licensed vocational nurses, cosmetologists, electrologists, or estheticians may not legally perform these treatments under any circumstance, nor may registered nurses or physician assistants perform them independently, without supervision.

Who is qualified to do tattoo removal?

Here is a sampling of states that are unusual in requiring a certain background to perform laser tattoo removal: California: Only Nurses/Physician Assistants/Nurse Practitioners/Physicians can fire a laser.

Can I get tattoo removal while nursing?

It is not recommended to receive laser tattoo removal while pregnant or breast feeding. The way our bodies break down the ink is through our urine and sweat. Not enough is known about how this would affect breast milk. I would recommend waiting until you are no longer breastfeeding.

Are RNS allowed to have tattoos?

Yes, you absolutely can have tattoos if you work in the healthcare industry.

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Can you be a nurse with a lot of tattoos?

The simple answer is yes. A tattoo is unlikely to disqualify you from working as a nurse, though there are some important considerations to keep in mind. Depending on your place of work, there may be rules about the types of tattoos and visibility restrictions, but these can vary greatly from place to place.

What are RNs not allowed to do?

RNs cannot: Make medical diagnoses. Certify the death of a patient. Prescribe medication (in most states)

Can nursing moms get tattoos?

The Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health advises against pregnant or breastfeeding moms getting tattooed. And while there is no evidence to suggest a newly tattooed mom's breast milk poses a risk to her baby, the possibility of mom contracting an infection is a major area of concern.

Can tattoos be removed?

Tattoo removal is often done as an outpatient procedure with local anesthesia. Common techniques for tattoo removal include laser surgery, surgical removal and dermabrasion.

Why do I feel sick after tattoo removal?

The laser shatters the tattoo ink particles, and as the body's immune system works to flush out these fragmented pigments, it can result in nausea, dizziness, or other flu-like symptoms. Managing pain through prescribed painkillers or over-the-counter medications can help alleviate some of these symptoms.

What degree do you need to remove tattoos?

In most states, you do not need to be a medical professional in order to become a laser technician. It only takes two weeks to earn your laser tattoo removal training.

What states can estheticians do laser?

A few states, like Arizona, Colorado, and Utah, also permit licensed cosmetic professionals such as estheticians and electrologists to perform laser hair removal. These professionals are often required to complete additional training and may need a separate license.

Who is qualified to remove tattoos?

As with laser hair removal or any other cosmetic laser procedure in California, laser tattoo removal treatments can only be performed by a licensed medical doctor or under a physician's direct supervision.

Is tattoo a problem for nurses?

The short answer: It depends. While there is no law prohibiting nurses from having tattoos, some facilities' protocol forbids workers from having visible body art.

Can a nurse be an esthetician?

A nurse esthetician is a highly specialized registered nurse who supports medical and esthetic staff at medical spas and cosmetic surgery practices. They work closely with supervising physicians and cosmetic dermatologists to administer treatments like Botox®, dermal fillers, and laser hair removal.

Are tattoos 100% removable?

It's relatively common for tattoo removal to not remove a tattoo completely. But some tattoo removal procedures will completely remove the tattoo from your body. When tattoo removal isn't 100% successful, some colors of tattoo dye resist removal, and some pigment is too deep for lasers to reach, for example.

What tattoos can't be removed?

Laser tattoo removal works when the color in the ink absorbs the energy from the laser. Different colors of ink absorb color differently. Specifically, lighter colors like white, yellow, light blue, and pink are the most difficult to remove, as are green, red, and neon colors.

Can RN nurses have tattoos?

So whether you were young and got a wild wrist tattoo on a whim or made a conscious decision to get a full-sleeve tattoo, take a sigh of relief because there is no law that prohibits tattoos on nurses.

Can you get tattoos removed while breastfeeding?

It is suggested that mothers wait until weaning is completed before having any laser removal of tattoos done. There is little evidence surrounding the safety of tattoos and breastfeeding.

Can I get tattooed while pregnant?

Although the risk is small, it is recommended that you wait to get a tattoo until after your baby is born. Little information is available about the safety of skin dyes used for tattooing during pregnancy. It is possible that the chemicals in the dye may affect the development of the baby during the first 12 weeks.

Do RNs get sued?

Nurses can be named in medical malpractice lawsuits with other practitioners. The review of medical malpractice lawsuits found the top accusations against nurses were patient monitoring (45%), medication mistakes (18%), patient falls (14%), and pressure injuries (10%).

Can RNs have their nails done?

Artificial nails (including acrylics, gels, and dip powder nails) have long been discouraged in nursing due to their potential to harbor bacteria and impede proper hand hygiene.

What can an RN bill for?

What codes can an RN bill for? Insurance reimbursement coding is based on the American Medical Association CPT² coding system. Under that system, the only Evaluation and Management (E/M) code that a registered nurse can bill to is 99211.

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