[nicurn3]

Our Facility Is In The Process Of Attacking Our Infection Rates.
We Are In The Process Of Making The Statement Of No False Nails, Extentions, No Chipped Polish, Natural Nails Only 1/4 Inch. It Also Said No Jewerly....but Our Administration Recieved A Lot Of Greif And They Are Now Allowing Jewerly. Evidence Based Practice Shows That Rings Habor Bacteria Just Like Nails Do.
I Think If You Are Attacking Only Part Of The Problem You Wont Find A Solution.

[sirI]

Originally Posted by nicurn3

Our Facility Is In The Process Of Attacking Our Infection Rates.
We Are In The Process Of Making The Statement Of No False Nails, Extentions, No Chipped Polish, Natural Nails Only 1/4 Inch. It Also Said No Jewerly....but Our Administration Recieved A Lot Of Greif And They Are Now Allowing Jewerly. Evidence Based Practice Shows That Rings Habor Bacteria Just Like Nails Do.
I Think If You Are Attacking Only Part Of The Problem You Wont Find A Solution.

Hello, nicurn3 and Welcome to Allnurses.com

Check out these thread about jewelry in the NICU:

http://allnurses.com/forums/f33/jewe...t=NICU+jewelry

http://allnurses.com/forums/f8/weddi...t=NICU+jewelry

http://allnurses.com/forums/f8/fun-q...t=NICU+jewelry

http://allnurses.com/forums/f8/finge...t=NICU+jewelry

[minniemiteRN]

I have two words to say about false nails in the NICU...NO WAY!!! Our staff are not allowed to wear them under any circumstance and random nail checks are done by coordinators to make sure that our nails are the correct length and that we are not wearing nail polish. At first this policy was met by a lot of those who felt that their rights were being violated but our admin stood strong on behalf of our babies safety with the backing of the infection control department. I personally believe that parents should be told that if they must keep their false nails they need to wear gloves. No, they are not going from baby to baby like staff but artificial nails are known for harboring fungus and bacteria and even causing sepsis is severe cases in wearers.
Nails need to be kept short and smooth when working with preemies delicate skin...I feel a lot of this should be common sense and something your coworker should want to do for the good of their tiny pts Same goes for diamonds and other gemed jewelry...this only provides groves for "bugs" to ride from one baby to another no matter how well you wash your hands. We were wearing one plain band until random swabs of the skin under our rings showed that this was also a good spot for germs to harbor.
I know I'm probably "preaching to the choir" because you are the one doing the research you are the one that is concerned for the health of the babies.
Good for you! Keep it up!

[nursemelani]

Besides the germ issue, I once accidently scratched a baby with my thumbnail. And I scratched my own son with my engagement ring. It is a high setting, so I don't wear it to work.

[nicurn3]

Yes I understand all of the reason why not to have long natural or any type of artifical nails and the wearing of rings...
that is how our policy was first written. no long natural nails or artifical nails or chipped polish or any rings. THIS WAS TO BE HOSPITAL WIDE.
but to many complaints to administration about wedding rings and they are now allowing jewerly. Well to me if you are trying to fix a problem you just cant fix part of it and not all of it.
Our infection rate is up and I feel we have many major issues and just attacking one part will not really address our entire issue.
BOTTOM LINE IS HOW GOOD IS OUR HAND HYGIENE, DOES EVERYONE WASH THIER HANDS APPROPRIATELY ??? NO THEY DONT

[minniemiteRN]

Originally Posted by nicurn3

BOTTOM LINE IS HOW GOOD IS OUR HAND HYGIENE, DOES EVERYONE WASH THIER HANDS APPROPRIATELY ??? NO THEY DONT

Exactly! How involved is your infectious disease dept in writing this protocol? Something tells me that if they were to get more involved and do what ours did when our "whiners" started up and break out the black light they would be able to kill two birds with one stone. Shut the whining nurses and fix the protocol once and for all. No matter how hard and long you scrub you don't get all the germs...you must eliminate the most amount of grooves and crevices "bugs" can hide and that includes jewelry. Our normal hand anatomy is perfect breading ground without setting up more places.

[suzanne4]

And how many are actually removing their rings each time that they wash their hands?

Are you just institutuing this policy now, or how long ago? It has actually been a federal requirement for the past several years. I know that some facilities have been slow to actually follow the guidelines that have been mandated. Same thing with some operating rooms.

[CSM08MMS]

Our NICU does not allow "fake" nails if you are working with the patient. It is actually hospital wide. Nurses, PT/OT/RT, docs etc. If you anytime will touch a patient, you cannot have acrylics.

As far as jewelry, as I had posted under another topic, our NICU does not allow anyone to wear hand jewelry, including visitors. Because rings do trap bugs. The only acception is if a mom who has just given birth, is still on IV and is so puffed she cannot take her ring(s) off. She just has to use Avagard around the ring, very extensively.