Do hospitals care if doctors have tattoos?

Author: Greyson Hauck  |  Last update: Saturday, June 28, 2025

Many hospitals try to control another aspect of a caregiver's visual presentation: visible body art or piercings. However, a new study published in the Emergency Medicine Journal suggests that whether a doctor has visible tattoos or piercings doesn't seem to matter much to the patients they're treating.

Do hospitals hire doctors with tattoos?

Yes, individuals with tattoos can work as nurses or physicians. Most healthcare facilities do not have strict policies against visible tattoos, but acceptance varies by institution and culture.

Can I be a doctor with a tattoo?

Yes, someone can be a doctor even if they have a tattoo. While some medical institutions may have dress codes that require tattoos to be covered during work hours, having a tattoo does not disqualify someone from becoming a doctor.

Are hospitals strict on tattoos?

Some healthcare facilities, especially hospitals and clinics with more conservative dress codes, may have policies requiring nurses to cover visible tattoos, especially those on the hands, neck, or face. They usually do this to maintain a professional appearance and avoid distractions and potential patient discomfort.

Can ER doctors have tattoos?

You can have tattoos for sure but it is something your patients may frown on. You do have to think about how you present yourself to patients even if there isn't a specific restriction.

Tattoo Ink: Is it Safe or Dangerous?

Do doctors advise against tattoos?

Researchers have been testing whether tattoo dye causes melanoma and other skin cancers, and conclusions thus far indicate the ink is relatively safe. Reports of allergic reactions and infections have been cited, but there's been no link found between tattoo pigments and skin cancer.

Can I be a lawyer with tattoos?

Lawyers are not, say, lifeguards. They don't expose a lot of skin. And just about all of the advice we saw on the internet said lawyers can definitely rock a tat — just make sure it's not exposed.

Can you have tattoos as a RN?

Realistically, can nurses have tattoos in the workplace? 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. Healthcare institutions have diverse tattoo policies.

Are tattoos unprofessional in medical field?

As a general rule of thumb, tattoos in the medical field are allowed, but some exceptions exist. For example, most medical facilities will prohibit a visible nurse tattoo that portrays any type of offensive imagery.

Can you be denied a job for tattoos?

Yes, California employers can ask employees to cover tattoos and piercings. Employers can even refuse to hire potential employees with tattoos or piercings.

Do surgeons try to avoid tattoos?

Tattoos can interfere with surgical planning in many ways, so surgeons need to be adaptable. According to a 2009 study, 79% of surgeons encountered tattoos at proposed incision sites with 61% preferring to relocate the incision site in order to preserve the tattoo.

Does Mayo Clinic allow tattoos?

"Tattoos may be visible if the images or words do not convey violence, discrimination, profanity or sexually explicit content. Tattoos containing such messages must be covered with bandages, clothing, or cosmetics.

Are doctors allowed to have long nails?

"Fingernails should be trimmed short, and no false fingernails or nail polish should be permitted."

Are medical tattoos legal?

First, tattoos serving as a medical directive have no legal precedent, regardless of how clear they may be. Moreover, a tattooed DNR is not a physician's order, so certainly paramedics would not be able to follow it without an order from a base station physician.

What type of tattoo is always permitted in healthcare?

Tattoos that are decorative, non-offensive, and placed in less visible areas are generally always permitted.

Can teachers have tattoos?

There is no law forbidding teachers from having tattoos. However, there is also no legislation protecting inked educators from discrimination. Each school district or private institution has the right to set its own dress code policies. Tattoos fall within that code of conduct.

Can I be a doctor with visible tattoos?

Most hospitals and clinics do have policies in place about tattoos, and those policies vary greatly from facility to facility. Most say they are okay, although some say they should be covered at all times.

What profession does not allow tattoos?

Workplaces Tattoo Policies
  • Military.
  • Airlines.
  • Medical Professionals.
  • Actors.
  • Teachers/Educators.
  • Law Enforcement.
  • Corporate.
  • Legal.

Do hospitals care if you have tattoos?

Thus, policies on tattoos and piercings vary by health institution. Most hospitals allow inoffensive tattoos to be exposed, but others require tattoos to be covered. Policies on appearance, note the CMAJ authors, also address jewelry, hair color, facial hair, and so forth.

Do tattoos affect medical jobs?

Research has shown individuals with a tattoo are no more or less likely to be hired than someone without a tattoo. In the medical field, showing you have a passion for helping people and the skills to be helpful is much more important to an employer than the ink you got when you were 18.

Can RN remove tattoos?

In California, besides doctors, only physician assistants and registered nurses can perform laser tattoo removal - as long as they're under a doctor's supervision. Cosmetologists, electrologists and estheticians cannot perform it at all.

Can you have tattoos as a paramedic?

If you have trouble obtaining any of the items, contact the EMT Coordinator. Visible tattoos (arms, hands, legs, neck, etc.) must be covered at all times while wearing the EMT uniform.

Do tattoos hurt your acting career?

The decision of whether or not actors should have tattoos is a subjective one. It depends on personal and professional preferences. Some industry professionals believe that tattoos enhance characters, bringing a unique edge. While others see them as a distraction that can limit an actor's career opportunities.

Are jobs still strict about tattoos?

Are workplace tattoos acceptable? Tattoos are generally accepted in the workplace as long as they're not offensive, unprofessional or distracting.

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