[NRSKarenRN]

AJN March 2001 Editoral pg 7 re fingernails handwashing.

Here is link to AJN article :
Original Research: Improved Rates of Compliance with Hand Antisepsis Guidelines: A Three-Phase Study http://www.nursingcenter.com/journal...2D0002A513AF96

[st4304]

I tried the fake nails several years ago when I worked on a med-surg unit. I felt I was apologizing all night to the patients for stabbing or scratching them. Then, I helped move a patient up in bed with the bed pad and all the fingernails popped off!!! Then I found myself apologizing again, "Excuse me, sir, I have to find my fingernails in your bed." How embarrassing! Never again.

[nurse-lou]

The hospital where I am employed allows us to wear whatever type of scrub outfits that we want, any print any color as long as they're professional looking. The facility that I used to work at allowed us to wear only all white, all ceil-blue, all purple or all burgundy, we weren't allowed to mix or match and prints were off limits. I've only had a few patients ever complain that they can't distinguish an RN from a housekeeper. Our credentials are proudly displayed on our name badges. About the acrylic nail issue, I recently ran into a nursing school classmate who is an OR nurse and has been for 30 years and asked her about it. Incidentally, I ran into her at a nail salon. Anyway, she told me that the Association of Operating Room Nurses does not ban acrylic nails as long as they aren't too long. I was surprised by her response. I would think that there wouldn't be much difference between a persons natural nails and acrylic nails if they were the same length. Besides we are all supposed to be practicing standard precautions and washing our hands religiously.

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[DebsNRN]

I am a relatively new nurse and this is one of my favorite subjects. I wear all white all the time. Why? B/C I feel that after surviving nursing school, I've earned the right to wear white! Here's one of the more ridiculous things I've noticed about co-workers: Scrub tops with Looney Tunes characters on them. I don't even work in peds! How the hell is a pt supposed to take you seriously with Bugs Bunny on your clothes? Please, pts don't want to be entertained by our outfits, they want to be taken care of by professionals. Nurses, we need to look the part. Another pet peve? Nurses who wear too much perfume. One of the gals I work with always looks like she just rolled out of bed. Scraggly hair everywhere, dirty shoes, stains on her shirts and she must put an entire bottle of perfume on before she comes to work! Disgusting. Pts DO notice when nurses look professional. I get compliments all the time

[sWolfie]

I work in a nursing home as a N.A. and we had a meeting today about uniforms. Most of the homes in this area let the nurses wear casual clothes, as long as it looks neat. We are probably the only one who doesn't yet. They let us wear color tops and all. Wouldn't you think it would make the residents feel more at home if they saw us in casual clothes. Every once in awhile we have "dress down days". Seems like those days the residents are more happier. I can understand being in a hospital, uniforms should be worn. As for the long finger nails, now come on there....aren't they afraid of poking the resident or giving them a skin tear, which I have seen done and the nurse had to cut her nails. Also we have some who come in with a face full of makeup...if I saw that coming towards me, I would run the other way. Maybe it's just my way of thinking....but the elderly aren't use to the "new wave". Of course I don't have much room to talk because I am a female nurse who shaves her head, not totally bald tho. The residents just love it, they like rubbing my head....which I don't mind...keeps them active, plus puts a smile on their face.

[mustangsheba]

My two cents. I think nurses should be at the very least as hygienic as waitresses. That means hair tied back. Call me a Nazi, but if I were in charge there would be NO acrylic nails in the hospital. We have so many nosocomials sources that we subject patients to, why add another?

[Sunshine55]

Always makes me cringe, whenever I see a nurse with "dagger nails" going to administer a suppository. Seems this would make an uncomfortable procedure worse. And, I've always wondered about the possibility of a long nail poking through the end of a glove.

[newtress]

I'm real curious about this one. Do you know of any nurses who wear a wig while on shift?

[SICU Queen]

Originally Posted by newtress

I'm real curious about this one. Do you know of any nurses who wear a wig while on shift?

I've known only one... well, that I could tell anyway...oh my, lol... she was something else! She looked like a country/western singer from the 70's with that big teased up hair... but she was also a damned good nurse.

I would think that if someone needed to wear a wig due to hair loss from alopecia, chemo, etc... that it wouldn't make a difference from an infection control or general patient care standpoint any more than natural hair does... I'd just make sure it was securely attached to my head so that a patient couldn't easily pull it off!

[AngelfireRN]

Just my 2 cents here, the day after I graduated nursing school, I burned my white scrubs, and never again will I wear all white to work. It may be traditional, but it is classically impractical. I know the point is to look clean, but, really, how clean can you look covered in Betadine, poo, and who knows what else? With jewelry, I agree, keep it simple. My hair is waist-length, and if I am at work, it is in a bun, a braid, or a ponytail. I do not want my hair in some stuff I have to put my hands in!