Like your acrylic nails??.......

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Step down, ICU, ER, PACU, Amb. Surg.

Just went through my annual hospital training yesterday and here is the latest buzz on long and/or acrylic/wrapped nails and nail jewelry.......

As per the latest in infection control (at least at our hospital) artificial nails and nail jewelry of any kind (danglely or decals/apliques(sp) )as well as long, natural nails are no longer allowed. The new ruling states that nails may not be any longer than 1/4 inch past the tip of the finger.

This is directly related to the incidents of 8 neonatal deaths that were traced back to 2 nurses caring for the babies in a NICU. I know that there was a post a while back discussing this very thing so I thought that this might be of interst to some. As soon as our new infection control manuals hit the shelf in the unit.....I will be able to report back on who's backing this change was based on. Not that it is a problem for me as I do not keep my nails longer than that anyway, unless I am on vacation.

Life in the every changing world of health care......ain't it grand!!??! :)

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As of 1/1/2004 ,in the facility I work in, acryilc tips, silk wraps, or any type of nail overlay are all banned for people providing direct pateint care. There are no restricitons on natural nails or nail polish on natural nails.

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No fake nails, no tips, no wraps where I work. Real nails 1/4 inch long and clear to light pink polish only. Some of the newer nurses are not following this p/p. Nothing is being done to them at this time. One of the biggest offenders is our charge nurse. She has real nails and wears them Very long. Polish is any color she wants too. Guess she is exempt from the rules.

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As of October of last year, my facility has had the same rules in effect, no false nails or any sort and natural nails must be kept short, neat etc.

However, it amazes me working in the MCH unit how many of my coworkers have false nails and it drives me crazy! I have had them myself in the past, and I KNOW how much gunk gets back there that you really can't clean out as well as you could if you didn't have the false nails. And especially since we all deal with babies, it just doesn't make sense, and no one seems to concerned about telling them to lose the nails.

*sigh* Sorry about the mini rant.

*steps off her soapbox*

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

no falsies where i work either.

i am more than happy about it.

not only is it nasty germ-wise. but so many look just plain tacky. talons belong on eagles, not NURSES.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Besides, i'd rather not be a pt. that's very constipated and having to say "that fingernail is going WHERE????"

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Specializes in Med-surg; OB/Well baby; pulmonology; RTS.
Originally posted by UntamedSpirit

As per the latest in infection control (at least at our hospital) artificial nails and nail jewelry of any kind (danglely or decals/apliques(sp) )as well as long, natural nails are no longer allowed. The new ruling states that nails may not be any longer than 1/4 inch past the tip of the finger.

This is the new policy at my hospital too. They will allow us to wear nail polish as long as it is conservative and in good condition (no black/blue/neon colors and no chips).

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

About 14 years ago, I took care of a patient in DIC from fungal sepsis which she got from a fungal infection underneath her artificial nails! Never even tempted to get them after that! I guess they can be a danger to you as well as to your patients!

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I can understand the artificial nails but what does nail polish has to with natural nails if they are clean? If they are going to enforce these rules I hope it covers all health care workers that have direct contact with patients not so much as nurses we arent' the only ones who gives care. I have literally seen MD'S not wash their hands between patients but you never hear of it... such bureaucratic mess.

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Specializes in Critical Care Baby!!!!!.

We just recently had a policy put into effect where I work on this very subject. There was a rash of sternal infections that broke out and epidemiology was called in. They found the culprit.....yuckky psuedamonas!!!! (However you spell it) Anyway, they traced it back to a few nurses and a respiratory therapist that had fake nails. They swabbed under their nails and the cultures came back positive for this nasty germ!!!! How scary is that!

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Specializes in Step down, ICU, ER, PACU, Amb. Surg.

EWwwwwwwwww, pseudomonas.....in a word: NASTY! Now, they have not started to enforce this with any of the nurses and I know that there are plenty of folks in the lab and on other wards that have fake claws and all the fancy stuff that they put on them, so it will be interesting to see if they really do adhere to the rule. I have never thought it very professional nor good infection control practice as I am fanatical about keeping my nails very clean and as I said in my original post, they never are allowed to go much beyond the tip of my fingers anyway unless on vacation but even then....I am obsessive about keeping them clean. It is scarey that so many infectious processes are being traced back to health care providers of various practices and their fake nails. Makes me wonder about their personal hygeine.

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our inf control dept want to say "no artificial" nails too but union is getting involved and trying to help---heard that the cdc only wants no nails for or and icu nurses

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