Getting into Med School/ Radiology Residency with Tattoos

[SupremeApe]

Hi all. I'm a college freshman planning on getting a sleeve of tats on both or one of my arms. Would I still be accepted into medical school? Also I understand that when you wear scrubs you can't really hide your arms, but how about if I got in the Radiology residency, since they don't wear scrubs as much right?

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[Make Or Break]

I stayed with a med student at one of my interviews who had a full sleeve. Not too sure what happens when you get to residency though. Maybe some of our seasoned SDNers can give some insight.

 

[SupremeApe]

Wait, was he already in med school or just a interview?

 

[ndafife]

Schools/Programs really only see you in interviews where you will be wearing a suit. They wont notice your tattoos unless you decide to get your hand/face done

 

[SupremeApe]

Schools/Programs really only see you in interviews where you will be wearing a suit. They wont notice your tattoos unless you decide to get your hand/face done

What about in rotations and stuff? Will I get nasty looks ?

 

[DermViser]

Hi all. I'm a college freshman planning on getting a sleeve of tats on both or one of my arms. Would I still be accepted into medical school? Also I understand that when you wear scrubs you can't really hide your arms, but how about if I got in the Radiology residency, since they don't wear scrubs as much right?

No and No.

 

[DermViser]

What about in rotations and stuff? Will I get nasty looks ?

Yes.

 

[SupremeApe]

Yes.

Damn, I guess tattoo make up might have to do =/

 

[MrLogan13]

Why would you want to risk your future career for the sake of body art?

 

[Baron Samedi]

I, and many other doctors, have tats. Nobody cares. Just wear long sleeves when working with patients. Most hospitals have a policy against walking around in short sleeves anyways, I.e. you need to wear a white coat or department fleece over scrubs while walking around.

 

[Baron Samedi]

Why would you want to risk your future career for the sake of body art?

Maybe because there's more to life than fearing unsubstantiated risks?

 

[SupremeApe]

I, and many other doctors, have tats. Nobody cares. Just wear long sleeves when working with patients. Most hospitals have a policy against walking around in short sleeves anyways, I.e. you need to wear a white coat or department fleece over scrubs while walking around.

Oh cool, thanks!

 

[raiderette]

Why not do the art on your legs?
My grandmother did this. she worked in the NICU for years and is seriously tatted up, but it never shows unless she wears shorts. My mom had to wear pants or boots when she worked in banking. Both love their tattoos but neither would have risked their jobs to show them off.

 

[SupremeApe]

Why not do the art on your legs?
My grandmother did this. she worked in the NICU for years and is seriously tatted up, but it never shows unless she wears shorts. My mom had to wear pants or boots when she worked in banking. Both love their tattoos but neither would have risked their jobs to show them off.

I mean I don't want to show it off at work of course. And leg tats aren't my thing...(Chicken legs)

 

[paul411]

I have a classmate with sleeve tats about to go into radiology. He hasn't had any issues during med school or residency interviews. Regardless of specialty, wear long-sleeves and you'll have no issues. People are only going to see what you show them, so as long as you present yourself professionally, you'll be just fine.

 

[ZX10R]

I have a sibling that is a Radiology Resident and has a tattoo from the elbow to the shoulder area. They have not had issues after 4 years,

 

[sat0ri]

Maybe because there's more to life than fearing unsubstantiated risks?

It's not "unsubstantiated", it's just a veritable risk. Evaluating the consequences of your behavior, whether fair or not, is perfectly reasonable. Only to respond in an equally sophomoric fashion as your post, maybe there's more to life than following the current trends of what's considered rebellious and (ironically) non-conformists.

 

[Goro]

I have plenty of good students with tats all over the place, except their face, naturally. You'll be fine.

Hi all. I'm a college freshman planning on getting a sleeve of tats on both or one of my arms. Would I still be accepted into medical school? Also I understand that when you wear scrubs you can't really hide your arms, but how about if I got in the Radiology residency, since they don't wear scrubs as much right?

 

[JPA178]

I know that the times are a-changin', but I'm personally not a fan of tattoos. My opinion aside, I don't think it's a wise choice to get them somewhere that you couldn't easily cover them up. I personally know some (older) doctors who believe that tattoos are an outward demonstration of poor impulse control, which isn't something you want in a physician. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Baron Samedi]

It's not "unsubstantiated", it's just a veritable risk. Evaluating the consequences of your behavior, whether fair or not, is perfectly reasonable. Only to respond in an equally sophomoric fashion as your post, maybe there's more to life than following the current trends of what's considered rebellious and (ironically) non-conformists.

No it actually is completely unsubstantiated.

 

[SupremeApe]

Do Radiology Residents ever have to wear scrubs? Not including IR

 

[paul411]

Do Radiology Residents ever have to wear scrubs? Not including IR

All radiology residents at my institution wear scrubs when they are at the hospital.

 

[sat0ri]

No it actually is completely unsubstantiated.

Get a face or even hand tattoo and apply to a typical job. My mom works at walmart in personnel, she tells me she turns people away like this. This will happen. Therefore, not unsubstantiated. No matter how slight or how unfair, it happens.

 

[SupremeApe]

All radiology residents at my institution wear scrubs when they are at the hospital.

And are they aloud to wear long-sleeves under the scrubs too?

 

[JPA178]

And are they aloud to wear long-sleeves under the scrubs too?

Nobody wears long sleeves under scrubs. As far as I know, it's not allowed and probably goes against sterile technique. In fact, many newbies don't know this, but you're supposed to tuck in your scrub top, too (particularly in the OR).

 

[Baron Samedi]

Get a face or even hand tattoo and apply to a typical job. My mom works at walmart in personnel, she tells me she turns people away like this. This will happen. Therefore, not unsubstantiated. No matter how slight or how unfair, it happens.

Nobody here said that getting a face or hand tattoo was okay, bro.

 

[Mad Jack]

I, and many other doctors, have tats. Nobody cares. Just wear long sleeves when working with patients. Most hospitals have a policy against walking around in short sleeves anyways, I.e. you need to wear a white coat or department fleece over scrubs while walking around.

Interesting. I've seen many hospitals recommending against or outright banning white coats and fleeces for infection control reasons since they're not washed nearly as often as they should be and the sleeves are prone to touching patients.

 

[bjb305]

And are they aloud to wear long-sleeves under the scrubs too?

i'm a first year rads resident.. i have a tat on my leg so it's always covered.. you actually will end up wearing scrubs most rotations. some programs will have certain regulations and make you cover up any tattoos.. including med school rotation stuff (had a female friend with a tat on her foot and she had to wear a bandage on her foot anytime she wore certain shoes that would expose it).

so basically, do what you want... but be expected to cover up any/all tattoos for the sake of your job.. at this point in life, you need to be mature about your decisions and realize that your future career comes before a tattoo in your desired location (hence why i got mine on my leg)

 

[superpom_7]

Just wear long sleeves.

 

[Mad Jack]

Nobody here said that getting a face or hand tattoo was okay, bro.

I used to work with an ED resident that had UCB tattooed on the back of his hand.

 

[JPA178]

i'm a first year rads resident.. i have a tat on my leg so it's always covered.. you actually will end up wearing scrubs most rotations. some programs will have certain regulations and make you cover up any tattoos.. including med school rotation stuff (had a female friend with a tat on her foot and she had to wear a bandage on her foot anytime she wore certain shoes that would expose it).

so basically, do what you want... but be expected to cover up any/all tattoos for the sake of your job.. at this point in life, you need to be mature about your decisions and realize that your future career comes before a tattoo in your desired location (hence why i got mine on my leg)

I understand that people get tattoos for a lot of different reasons, but I'm inclined to believe that full sleeves are a fad that will go away. If OP wants tattoos, s/he would be wise to get them where they can be covered easily. In life, you often have to impress people who hold opinions different from your own in order to reach your goals. Maybe they're "close-minded," but like it or not, they're the ones holding the keys to the doors you want opened. I agree with you and feel that the mature thing to do is put your career before being tattooed.

 

[Baron Samedi]

How would anybody know that he had a sleeve before being accepted? They'd only ever know after the fact.

 

[Hospitalized]

Nobody wears long sleeves under scrubs. As far as I know, it's not allowed and probably goes against sterile technique. In fact, many newbies don't know this, but you're supposed to tuck in your scrub top, too (particularly in the OR).

Believe it or not, quite a few people in the ER wear long sleeves under their scrubs. Also, the hospital I work at has scrub jacket things that many people wear. Tucking is just more fashionable. Anyone who doesn't looks like a walking box.

 

[JPA178]

Believe it or not, quite a few people in the ER wear long sleeves under their scrubs. Also, the hospital I work at has scrub jacket things that many people wear. Tucking is just more fashionable. Anyone who doesn't looks like a walking box.

Most of my experience is in the operating room, so I can imagine an environment like the ER that by nature is not sterile could be a little more lenient. Now that you mention it, I have seen the jackets you're talking about, but it's mostly nurses who wear them at my hospital. Long sleeves would never fly in the OR for anybody who needs to be sterile (i.e., anybody except the anesthesiologist or circ nurse).

 

[SupremeApe]

Thanks for all the responses guys. I think I'm going to pass on getting any tats, too much risk. I only considered it cause I was feeling sort of rebellious. I blame these bad spirits lol. Thanks tho guys. 🙂

 

[Omppu27]

Thanks for all the responses guys. I think I'm going to pass on getting any tats, too much risk. I only considered it cause I was feeling sort of rebellious. I blame these bad spirits lol. Thanks tho guys. 🙂

What about a quarter sleeve?

 

[PlaqueBuster]

can someone please explain to me what is attractive about getting a tattoo? Why do people feel the need to get one? I feel like I will get a lot of individuality and freedom of expression answers.

My 2 cents is "If you are concerned about it, don't do it. If you don't care, go ahead."

 

[DermViser]

Do Radiology Residents ever have to wear scrubs? Not including IR

That's all they ever wear.

 

[DermViser]

can someone please explain to me what is attractive about getting a tattoo? Why do people feel the need to get one? I feel like I will get a lot of individuality and freedom of expression answers.

My 2 cents is "If you are concerned about it, don't do it. If you don't care, go ahead."

It helps nerds feel like rebels.

 

[Baron Samedi]

can someone please explain to me what is attractive about getting a tattoo? Why do people feel the need to get one? I feel like I will get a lot of individuality and freedom of expression answers.

My 2 cents is "If you are concerned about it, don't do it. If you don't care, go ahead."

I got mine because they make my arms look bigger.

 

[Zelda840]

can someone please explain to me what is attractive about getting a tattoo? Why do people feel the need to get one?

I don't have any myself (don't want it enough to go through the pain), but my girlfriend and my roommate both have them. The roommate got hers as a form of closure after her grandpa died and my girlfriend has lots of them and has her lips pierced too. Why? Because she can. She's not trying to be a doctor. I guess I don't really get the question. What do you mean "what is attractive?" about them? What is attractive about any art? Very subjective, IMO.

 

[PlaqueBuster]

I don't know much about tattoo's hence why my questions are very naive. What I meant was If people know that tattoo's have a stigma, then why get them?

 

[ridethecliche]

Thanks for all the responses guys. I think I'm going to pass on getting any tats, too much risk. I only considered it cause I was feeling sort of rebellious. I blame these bad spirits lol. Thanks tho guys. 🙂

Tattoos are too trendy to be rebellious...

What about a quarter sleeve?

Yeah, I'm definitely considering getting one of these.

 

[SupremeApe]

Tattoos are too trendy to be rebellious...

A police officer would consider other wise

 

[IL Pre Med]

I mean I don't want to show it off at work of course. And leg tats aren't my thing...(Chicken legs)

Squat more

 

[SupremeApe]

Squat more

In the process...What do you think about body weight squats? Think I could build a significant amount of muscle? I even got a weighted vest..

 

[MrLogan13]

In the process...What do you think about body weight squats? Think I could build a significant amount of muscle? I even got a weighted vest..

Some, but you won't get yolked with purely body weight exercises.

 

[IL Pre Med]

In the process...What do you think about body weight squats? Think I could build a significant amount of muscle? I even got a weighted vest..

You better hit a squat rack and add some weight

 

[SupremeApe]

Some, but you won't get yolked with purely body weight exercises.

Not even with a 40 pound weight vest?

 

[godawg300]

X2 body weight squats and you will have some massive tree trunks.