Can I wear long press on nails if I wear gloves during my whole shift?

[Cxrleen]

I wear very long press on nails, I love them and I'm worried I'd have to get rid of them when I become a nurse-especially because it's my dream to do pediatrics and work in the NICU. Do you think I'd be allowed To keep my long nails if i wear gloves all the time while I work? Opinions? Pls?

[cyc0sys]

If long 'press on finger nails' are required to complete your professional ensemble and paramount to your emotional well being, you might want to consider becoming a Medical Aesthetician. It would give you a great opportunity to work with patients, in a medical environment, who could benefit from your keen sense of style and fashion while allowing you to maintain your jazzy appearance.

[fawnmarie, ASN]

No. Artificial nails are prohibited in almost every facility. It is difficult to maintain pretty hands and nails in general, as a nurse. Frequent handwashing dries our skin and nails. I've learned to accept my short, unpainted, un-sophisticated nails. But being a nurse is a satisfying career with a good salary, so to me, it's worth not having nice nails. You can still enjoy regular pedicures and pretty polish on your toenails!

[Jolie, BSN]

If long 'press on finger nails' are required to complete your professional ensemble and paramount to your emotional well being, you might want to consider becoming a Medical Aesthetician. It would give you a great opportunity to work with patients, in a medical environment, who could benefit from your keen sense of style and fashion while allowing you to maintain your jazzy appearance.

Frankly, I wouldn't see a medical aesthetician with long fake nails, either. The same infection control concerns apply here as in the in-patient setting.

[cyc0sys]

Frankly, I wouldn't see a medical aesthetician with long fake nails, either. The same infection control concerns apply here as in the in-patient setting.

My friend was employed as a medical aesthetician for 10 years at an out patient clinic. She rocked the fake finger nails everyday.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

No. Eww. Yuck. False nails are nothing but germ factories. I never let my staff wear any sort of fake nails when I was in management, although I did allow clear polish over short, natural nails. It was an adjustment for them, but eventually they got used to it. But this was an assisted living facility, not a NICU or PICU...it's strictly *verboten* there, or anywhere one works with immunocompromised patients. I can't even imagine working in a hospital with long fake nails, period. It's not just something the managers do for no reason. You're not there to look attractive while you're doing an assessment, anyway. And always wearing gloves throughout a shift doesn't work either; you shouldn't be in the hallway with gloves on, and it's rather off-putting to a patient because it can make them think you don't want to touch them.

My advice, if you really want to be a nurse: don't be vain, and lose the nails.

[Hygiene Queen]

Not to mention how nasty and sweaty hands get under gloves if they're worn for longer periods. Blech.

[Ben_Dover]

Ladies and Gents,

If you are an aspiring nurse and would like to work on a medical floor with hands-on experience... high heels are a big no no!!!

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

I've seen nicu nurses wear short fake nails. Not saying I agree, just stating an observation.

[chacha82, ADN, BSN]

When I was in school our teachers lined us up and inspected our nails before clinical (this was only four years ago). If they could see the nails when we turned our palms up, they were too long.

If your school doesn't permit it, I doubt your employer as a new grad will.

[SmilingBluEyes]

no, you can't!

[FurBabyMom, MSN, RN]

No, just no. No, no, no, no, and no.

I don't know why anyone working in a clinical environment would want to wear artificial nails. It's a huge risk for your patients and working in health care is not about "you". It's about other people. There's an infection risk, a skin integrity risk (some populations have incredibly fragile skin and those nails are usually really firm/rigid) and the risk you'd break them or your real nails while working.

EVERYWHERE I've worked in health care has not allowed artificial nails. Some have allowed a "clear" or "neutral" polish provided the polish has no chips but that's it. I work in the OR now, and the perioperative infection prevention policy is 50+ pages long. Then again, our policy covers attire, hand hygiene, surgical hand scrub(s), the department environment, the "room" environment, and addresses sterilization. For some reason, the policy does not disallow nail polish with no cracks/chips. Artificial nails of any kind are forbidden though.

I wouldn't want to wear artificial nails, not as an OR nurse and didn't want to when I was a floor nurse, nor when I was an assistant. My hands take enough of a beating as it is as an OR nurse. The worst in winter are opening tray cases and opening foil suture wrappers. I cannot imagine scrubbing with artificial nails. Not only would it be hard to get my nails and hands clean, I can't imagine having "extra" nail past my fingers. Extra nail plus instruments would not be a fun experience. Not only that, but it is so difficult to try to keep patients from developing an infection...I wouldn't want to potentially be why someone has a complicated (or worse) post op experience.

I sometimes get my a manicure if I haven't in a while - mostly to keep my cuticles somewhat neat. Always with no polish or clear polish. Which is what makes vacation weeks or conference weeks so much fun. I generally treat myself to a mani/pedi prior to or during any prolonged time off work. For what it's worth, there's lots of ways to be an "individual" or "stand out" without doing things that aren't super great for your patients. Work time isn't about style...its more about doing your job well and safely.

[bagladyrn, RN]

Is this really a serious question?

I figured the trolls were bored.