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Nail care restrictions by nursing aides



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Jan 07, 2006 09:38 AM

Nail care restrictions by nursing aides

by bchapin

I am new to the LTC environment and have a lot of questions that are not getting answered at the facility. I am wondering what other facilities policies are on nursing aides doing nail care. I know I learned in nursing school that toe nail care of a diabetic resident should not be delegated to unlicensed aides. Can anyone share with me their policies on delegation of fingernail care on diabetic residents as well as fingernail and toe nail care for those residents on blood thinners?

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9 Comments
No. 1
from Marie_LPN, RN
Old Jan 07, 2006, 09:41 AM

Default Re: Nail care restrictions by nursing aides
Toenail trimming was only to be done by the nurses, diabetic or not. The diabetics saw the podiatrist. We were allowed to polish the toenails if they were fungus-free, and if the resident wanted it.

Fingernails were fine to trim. I used to do that after the rt. shower, when they were softer. I filed any rough edges after that, and cleaned underneath. And i also did polish, if they wanted it.
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No. 2
from Soon-to-be-NurseJess
Old Jan 07, 2006, 10:05 PM

Default Re: Nail care restrictions by nursing aides
At my facility we are allowed to trim all nails (as a matter of fact it was part of our job description), but if it seemed too risky to try to trim the toenails we were to inform our nurse and she would call the podiatrist to make an appt. However, at the hospital we did clinicals at we weren't to touch anyone's nails, no matter what.
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No. 3
from TinyNurse
Old Jan 07, 2006, 10:26 PM

Default Re: Nail care restrictions by nursing aides
I remember as a nursing student back in Ohio I provided nail care to a resident. I was told to do so by the RN, and my instructor.
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No. 4
from WannaBRN4
Old Jan 07, 2006, 11:49 PM

Default Re: Nail care restrictions by nursing aides
In SC, nursing aides are able to perform nail care on residents, even polish if asked. I was told in my CNA class that whether the resident was diabetic or you do not clip the nails(finger or toes). They have to see the podiatrist for the toenails. For fingernail care we are to just file the nails down.
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No. 5
from bchapin
Old Jan 09, 2006, 09:58 AM

Default Re: Nail care restrictions by nursing aides
Thanks for the input!
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No. 6
from pkeyrn
Old Jan 11, 2006, 08:17 AM

Default Re: Nail care restrictions by nursing aides
In my 23 years in LTC I have worked at 3 different nursing homes. In all 3 the policy on nailcare was the same: Licensed nursing personnel had to do all nailcare on diabetic residents. CNAs could do any other residents. However, the care of toenails was usually left to the podiatrist who visited regularly.
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No. 7
from lovingtheunloved
Old Jan 14, 2006, 10:11 AM

Default Re: Nail care restrictions by nursing aides
We do all the nail care except trimming diabetic toenails, or the really thick fungus-y ones.
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No. 8
from sharlynn
Old Jan 22, 2006, 04:34 PM

Default Re: Nail care restrictions by nursing aides
At my facility CNA's can trim nails on anyone except diabetics. Medication aides can do diabetics with an RN' approval. The bath aide does most of it because they are easier to clean after soaking. Polishing is done as an activity.
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No. 9
from Tiffanysmom
Old Jan 31, 2006, 10:34 AM

Default Re: Nail care restrictions by nursing aides
At the facility I work at we can clean under the nails and trim the nails.But if they are diabetic we can only clean under the nail.The in-house podiatrist does all toe nails
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