tatted up and in nursing school

Nurses General Nursing

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im a dark skinned girl and i just got a rihanna type haircut. i think it is cute and so does everyone else. after cutting off my hair as short as i want it, i want something new like a tattoo or piercing. with a tattoo i would like a star, gemini sign, or heart behind my ear or my ankle. but i want to go to nursing school and i know they wont allow it.

My pain level is kind of up there so im not worried about that. But how would a small tattoo look behind the ear with a haircut that i have? if i apply my makeup on the tat, would it help for nursing school?

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

???? Since most nursing schools do not allow tattoos, it should be a mute issue...don't do it. Also, it is hard to say whether a particular style would look if we don't know what you look like.

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

DO you know for a fact that they will not let you in because of a tat? I just don't understand how they can do this. A girl that graduated a year ahead of me has almost every piercing you can think of, several of them on her face alone and that did not stop her from getting into nursing school or getting a job in the E.R. (although the hospital she got hired at is pretty laid back). Do you have to get a tat right behind your ear? Why not in a place that can be easily shown off or covered when needed? I have people in my class with tats on arms and they were not even required to cover their arms or wear long sleeves and two of the hospitals we do rotations in are Catholic.

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This isn't just an issue for nursing school. You'll possibly face this kind of stress every time you apply for a nursing job. Right or wrong, tattoos can have a certain stigma. Just be willing to deal with that if having a tatt is worth it to you.

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Why not get a tattoo in a place that will be covered up while you are on clinicals? That way everybody wins. The ankle idea sounded pretty good to me.

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not allowed because of a tat? I just got accepted for september 09 and i have got 6 tats. mine are no see unless i show but if you want one do it, just be sensible about it. death symbols and gang types are a no-no for obvious reasons but overall it is a personal decision not a social one. you do it for you not anyone else. Easily covered is a best choice (shirt etc.) and hair does grow back regardless of the tat. Personal experience.

overall use your best judgement. best of luck to you.

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I graduated with a girl that had a tat about the size of a palm on the back of her neck. She got in the program no problem. Her way around it in clinicals....cover it up with a band-aid. Tats can be covered with band-aids. They will enforce you to take out a piercing though.

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Specializes in Urology, Gyn, Family Practice, HBO.

I had 9 tats when I started and it has never been an issue. I even have one on my hand (a tribal butterfly) that I considered getting removed, but I have gotten a lot of compliments on it from both nurses and patients at clinicals. It actually is a bit of an ice breaker for me and a lot people ask if there is a story behind it. I know that it will probably keep me from getting certain jobs. I knew that before I got it. Out of my class of 15 there are 13 of us that have tats. I think as long as they are not scary, hugely offensive, or anything else along those lines then it is not as big of a deal as it used to be. That is just my :twocents:.

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I know a nurse with gang tats...

It's part of his past life that he left behind, occasionally people ask about them and he tells them the truth. I have yet to hear anything bad about him. Many of our patients like him and always talk about how good he turned out.

Of course, he also does talks at the schools and everything as part of the local anti-gang campaign.

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If nursing schools didn't allow students with tats, then they'd be empty. My school just required that tats be "covered up."

That said, I don't recommend that anyone get any tattoo that is always visible. Tattoos are forever. I've got one myself, but it's on my butt, so even I don't see it or remember I've got on those days I'd probably hate it.

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I don't think that's necessarily true...But all nursing programs are different. I have two tattoos but they are where you can't see them. I would suggest getting them somewhere where you are able to cover them up while on the job. I know several young ladies in nursing school with tattoos and piercings.

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I'd refrain for now.

Thing is, each of your instructors will be a "different kind of crazy" I don't change what I do for crazy people... but in the same vein, if I know someone is "loopy" and they have control of me getting what I want... nursing degree, I won't fan the fire.

Your gonna meet some interesting people, with interesting ideas about what is important in nursing.:rolleyes:

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