[Vsummer1]

I had to take my acrylics off for nursing school, and never put them back on. Hospital policy here is: no acrylics, nails 1/4 inch long and only neutral polish allowed. Necklace may be worn, no bracelots but watches are allowed. Two rings maximum. Two earrings in each ear only, with no other piercings allowed. That they had to actually put the policy in writing makes me wonder about some of the "professionals" that worked here!

[Marie_LPN, RN]

Originally Posted by hoolahan

Maybe when you have actually been a nurse for 23 years, like me, you may understand the issue. I am also a licensed nail tech. After 23 years, it isn't so much the nail issue, it's the "last straw" issue. If I could afford to be strictly a nail tech, I would leave nursing in a heartbeat. I am a person/mother/family member FIRST and a nurse second. My nails are in the cruddy condition they were from years of such frequent hand-washing with harsh hibiclens soaps in ICU's.

I REALLY RESENT people ***-u-ming that because a person enjoys having thier nails look nice they don't care about their patient's. How DARE anyone here presume that I don't care for my patient's!!! And it was also ***-umed that those who have fake nails are long, mine aren't long, they are just strong, and I get less hangnails and infections from the dry nails/skin/cuticles. I do not get my nails done so I can show them off at work for Heaven's sake. Not everyone is so shallow as some of you super-nurses presume!

BTW, if you don't want me to take care of you, FINE!!! Your loss, not mine!

Years do not necessarily make a person wiser. The experience within is what counts.

[Marie_LPN, RN]

Originally Posted by fergus51

Did you read the links provided? It isn't about hygeine or handwashing or even scratching. Acrylic nails support the growth of certain pathogens to an extent that real nails don't. They can look as clean as can be, they aren't. Simple as that.

If nurses don't follow basic infection control practices, there is a real problem out there.

^--------
This state the problem i have with the fake nails, overlays, whatever people want to call any of it, the above quote outlines this perfectly.

[Brickman]

Arcrylic nails harbour pathogens. No ifs ands or buts. Arcrylic nails harbour pathogens. It has nothing to do with how well, or how often you wash your hands. It doesn't matter how short, or long they are. It is the presence of the arcrylic itself that is the problem. If anyone doesn't understand this then I can't imagine how you made it through nursing school.

[Headhurt]

Originally Posted by hoolahan

BTW, if you don't want me to take care of you, FINE!!! Your loss, not mine!

Geez, with that kind of attitude, I wouldn't want you to take care of me...regardless of what your nails look like. I agree with the previous poster...you need a break from nursing.

[Biscuit12]

Originally Posted by ERslave

Nice looking nails arent synonymous with unclean nails, either. Its not a matter of appearance over cleanliness...you are assuming that just because someone has overlays - they dont know how to wash their hands or wear gloves (?) If a nurse or healthcare worker is spreading bacteria under her nails - she probably doesnt have good handwashing tech, anyway.

]
The problem here isn't that folks with overlays don't do a good job of handwashing and glove wearing. The fact is, that even when you do a good job of these things, overlays STILL carry more bacteria, and studies have shown that this is true. It's a patient safety isssue, and not something that you can compensate for with handwashing and glove wearing.

[hypnotic_nurse]

If you really like getting your nails done, and like the look of polished nails, why not get a pedicure instead of a manicure? You can get those neat designs on your toenails and it won't interfere with anything. You can always wear fingernail polish on your days off.

[Energizer Bunny]

I had acrylic nails 8 years ago and by the time I was ready to have them filled, I had an incredibly itchy rash all over my body. They gave me steroids and they didn't work, they gave me lotions and they didn't work, heck, they even gave me some sort of toxic stuff that I had to cover so the dog wouldn't get it and that didn't work. Once I got those nails off and quit re-scratching (my entire body was affected and was bleeding from my incessant scratching) it went away. This was something I had to deal with for over a month! We don't know for sure that my rash and the pain and itching that came with it came from the nails, but I wouldn't be willing to take a chance on anyone else getting it just in case. There is no reason for fake nails in nursing... and just think of the money you are saving!

[Jamesdotter]

I've followed these threads about nails with some interest. When I took bacteriology in nsg school, we cultured our hands, before and after washing, with and without nail enamel (this was before the days of acrylic nails). Seeing the little bugs grow, especially staph aureus, was convincing enough. I don't think anyone in our class would have even considered arguing the point.

[V. Nightingale]

Originally Posted by hoolahan

Well, I choose my overlays. The day my home health agency tells me we can't have them, it will be the last clinical shift I work. I am FT now with an insurance company, and per diem HH.

We must wear what the hospital tells us (true for insur company too)
We can't wear scented hairspray, or perfume

These I can see. They are temporary, we can redo our hair after work and put on perfume and wash it off before work.

But, I am only employed 40 hours a week, the rest of the hours I am not, so, I see no reason why, if the nails are maintained, and inspected for lifting, etc..., that they should be banned. I frankly don't care what the studies say. If my nails must go, then so must I!

You must not need your job as badly as I need mine.

Seriously, it's not an issue of personal hygeine, or of employers wanting to control us. It's an issue of infection control and patient safety. I love the look of acrylic nails, but no matter how well a nurse washes her hands, the acrylics harbor more pathogens that can be passed from patient to patient. Or from patient to nurse; I don't want to bring anything home with me, either!