High school students with tattoos

[kegmom]

I am a high school nurse and there has been a recent increase in my students getting tattoos.

Many of these students come to me wanting A&D cream or bacitracin for their tattoos as was directed in their aftercare instructions.

Since it is obviously not a doctor's order for this skin care I tend to decline my students of the topical application. I don't want to treat them and it have an adverse reaction and I also personally feel that if they are responsible enough to get a tattoo then they should care for it themselves.

Obviously if there was an infection issue or something of that sort I would handle it per protocol but I don't think I should have to do daily tattoo care.

What do my fellow school nurses think?

[bsyrn, ASN, RN]

I usually keep A & D on hand for new tatoo's...never bacitracin

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I work at a boarding school- we have standing orders for bacitracin. The last student I had with a new tattoo just wanted vaseline.

[ChristineAdrianaRN, BSN, RN]

Not a school nurse, but I would maybe give it to them once, and then tell them they need to get their own from them on.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

I see no harm in letting a student have a little a&d for a new tattoo. Even if they do come daily, it's only for a few days. Same as i see no harm in a student wanting to come during lunch to clean a new piercing.

[mycsm]

As a school nurse with a tattoo on my wrist, I'm okay with A&D the first day, then they bring it in and apply it in my office. I want to make sure they do not get an infection.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

We can only use petroleum jelly. I'd let their parents handle it.

(Not saying I agree with this - it has been rather frustrating not to be able to use Neosporin)

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

We can only use petroleum jelly. I'd let their parents handle it.

(Not saying I agree with this - it has been rather frustrating not to be able to use Neosporin)

I'm in elementary so tattos are not an issue, but our warehouse has recently stopped stocking antibiotic first aid spray (spray version of neosporin). All I have is soap and water. Makes it difficult to thoroughly clean wounds anywhere but the hands.

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

I advise they can only come in on a non academic time....lunch, study etc and I ask them to provide their own stuff. If they do not have supplies I will give them, what they need, but only petroluem jelly.