tatted up and in nursing school

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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?

Specializes in Ortho, Case Management, blabla.

Get a tattoo somewhere else.

I have some tattoos on both arms, my back, my feet and behind my ears. The ears and wrist ones are really the only ones visible and not a single person cares at all.

speak for yourself. I work with an RN that has similar tattoos and I think it looks unprofessional. I've never mentioned it (out loud).

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Specializes in DOU.

Yeah, fair or not, I think there are a lot of people who find them unprofessional - not only for nurses, but for many professionals. My husband teaches courtroom testimony classes, and he always advises people with tats and unusual piercings to save it for their private life because they negatively affect credibility with the jurors.

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Get a tattoo somewhere else.

speak for yourself. I work with an RN that has similar tattoos and I think it looks unprofessional. I've never mentioned it (out loud).

If you've never mentioned it, then it is a non-issue for me. Your private fears about my appearance do not affect me. If your behaviour towards me professionally is...well, unprofessional, then I will take appropriate action as necessary. If you just wouldn't like me as a person, then I'm not going to care about that either. I don't make friends with people who care about such things, so either way I'm good to go.

Again, I have worked a vast array of jobs and done many things in my life, and lack of respect from others has been an extremely rare occurrence. It's all in how you handle yourself as a person, and the attitude you project.

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Specializes in LTC, Med-Surg, IMCU/Tele, HH/CM.

I know many nurses with tattoos. I am planning on getting some myself (concealed by clothing). I also have multiple piercings hidden by clothing. Although many nurses that I work with have visible tattoos and piercings, and I work at a catholic hospital. I really think that in this day and age tattoos and piercings are fine as long as you aren't too extreme with the visible parts.

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thanks everyone with your replies. im still thinking about getting one maybe on my ankle or back. therefore no one will see it. as for the one behind my ear, i might have to hold out on that until i get really into nursing and see what the environment is like (instructors, clinicals).

Thanks again.

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Specializes in TELE/MICU/SICU/CCU.

i would hold off on the tat til youre done with school and have secured a job. my rn school didnt allow but one set of earrings, no facial/ear jewelry for males, and if you had tats they had to be covered up. at work if you have visible tats they have to be covered up. they say something like it is attention seeking and the focus should be on the patient not on yourself.

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.
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.
That's my recommendation as well.

cheers,

Roy (has one big tattoo, looking forward to at least 3 more :))

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I'm married to a professional tattoo artist, so you can imagine I've lost count of my tattoos at this point. ;) However, all of my tattoos can be covered by clothing (and by wearing long sleeves under scrubs), and I've made that choice on purpose. I love my tattoos and I'm not ashamed of them, but in a professional setting, I choose to cover them. I don't need MY lifestyle choices to complicate my interaction with patients, family members, or even coworkers. (My coworkers love my tattoos, but understand why I cover them.)

My advice, as a heavily tattooed woman and nurse: make sure you can cover your ink.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

The best plan of action is to get them in areas that they can be hidden, as many others have said. Keep in mind that a small wrist tattoo can be easily hidden by a watch with a wide wrist band, so you are not limited to ankles/upper arms/legs only. You just have to be a little more creative! :)

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As others have said, just make sure the tattoo can be hidden and it shouldn't be a problem. I don't have any tattoos, but I do have a few piercings. I can easily hide them by wearing my hair down and putting a clear retainer in my nose piercing if I have to. When I went to advising for nursing school a few weeks ago, I didn't hide any of them and nothing was said about it, but I'm sure I'll have to hide them for clinicals.

I've never understood why so many people think it's unprofessional to have visible tattoos and piercings. I've always felt that appearance is not an indicator of your ability to do your job.

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Not every school has a problem with tattoos. Just about every girl in my class has one. During clinicals we are told to cover them up somehow but one on your ankle can be covered by socks which most every program requires anyways. Not sure about the piercings though. We can only wear studs in our ears and no other jewelry on other body parts or piercings except a wedding ring and watch.

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