Yes, medical assistants can have tattoos or piercings, but it depends on the situation.
Tattoos and piercings are not dealbreakers for public-facing medical jobs the way they were 30 years ago. However, that doesn’t mean every potential employer will be okay with them.
Here’s everything you need to know about how tattoos and piercings will impact your career as a medical assistant (MA).
The culture around tattoos and piercings is shifting.
The big word is inclusivity: Workplaces across the country are moving toward accepting more diverse forms of self-expression, and tattoos in healthcare are no exception. In fact, eight in ten U.S. adults say society has become more accepting of people with tattoos over the past two decades.
Many hospital networks and clinics recognize that body art doesn’t impact your clinical skill. They’ve relaxed their dress codes to attract better talent and reflect how people look in their communities.
But the fact is, appearance does matter. The medical assistant is often the first person a patient sees, so dress codes still exist.
The employer makes the rules.
No universal medical assistant dress code is dictated by organizations like the American Medical Association or the American Association of Medical Assistants. Rules about tattoos and piercings are left up to individual healthcare facilities.
The majority don’t have a problem with most tattoos or piercings.
Don’t stress if you have tattoos on your arms or a small nose stud. It’s not going to affect how you do your job, and employers know that. You might get a curious comment from a patient, but you’re probably used to that.
Some institutions do ask that you cover all tattoos.
This approach is common in private clinics and some healthcare facilities with a religious affiliation.
Offensive tattoos should always be covered.
No matter where you’re working, you should make an effort to cover tattoos featuring profanity, violent imagery, or drug references.
Think about it: A patient probably doesn’t want to see a skull and crossbones on your arm while you’re taking their vitals.
Older people often have a negative perception of tattoos.
Even though society is more accepting of tattoos than we used to be, not everyone is on board, particularly older folks. In one Pew Research Center survey, 40% of people ages 65 and older who don’t have tattoos themselves said that seeing someone with a tattoo gave them a more negative impression of that person. That impact is worth keeping in mind.
Consider where your scrubs fall.
Anything on your hands, neck, forearms, or face is going to be visible.
If you need to cover a tattoo on your forearms, you can wear a long-sleeve shirt under your scrubs or a jacket over them. If it’s on your hands, neck, or face, you may want to get a skin-colored bandage for discreet coverage.
Safety concerns drive piercing policy.
Let’s focus on piercings for a moment. As mentioned, they’re generally allowed, but they often come with a few rules to ensure safety and professionalism.
Piercings can be a snag hazard.
Medical assistants perform physical tasks throughout the day: everything from assisting patients out of wheelchairs to handling equipment and drawing blood. Big hoop earrings or a septum piercing pose a risk of getting caught, and that’s not fun for anyone.
Infection is also a risk.
Exposed piercings can trap bacteria and create pathways for infection. Workplaces that demand a completely sterile environment, like operating rooms, may require you to remove piercings or replace them with plastic retainers.
There’s a common solution for piercings.
Most facilities will allow you to maintain your piercings as long as they don’t get in the way. In practice, that means they’ll ask you to switch out anything big for simple stud earrings, small flat nose studs, or the previously mentioned retainers.
Some workplaces are more stringent.
They may ban anything visible, including earrings. As with tattoos, these tend to be private clinics and religiously affiliated facilities.
How to handle interviews if you have tattoos or piercings.
When applying for medical assistant roles, professionalism goes a long way. We recommend doing three things to keep tattoos or piercings from impacting your chances of landing a job.
- Dress modestly and keep jewelry to a minimum during your first meeting.
- Ask about their policies regarding tattoos and piercings. Don’t be pushy about it, but toward the end of the interview, politely bring up their dress code.
- Say you don’t mind wearing long sleeves or swapping out jewelry. Medical assistants need to be flexible. Here’s your chance to show it.
Start your MA career at NTX Training Institute.
Our medical assistant training program equips you with the hands-on clinical skills and administrative knowledge you need to succeed. To learn more about our training, flexible scheduling, and upcoming class start dates, contact NTX Training Institute today.
