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| No. 10 | 
Jun 08, 2000, 01:06 PM
I think if you follow the direction to right washing and desinfection of the hands there is little chance for you to give pts a n infection . If you like to wear your nails a little longer(real or not) make sure you keep them clean and scrub them. If you wear artificial nails make sure to check them regulary and get them done and filled on a weekly basis to avoid germs getting under the nail.I personally prefer to keep my nails short when I work because they are easier to keep clean(I like my nails longer when i am on leave)but if you go the extramile of cleaning the nails it shouldn't be a problem.
 | | Advertisement Sponsored Links | | | | No. 11 |
Jun 11, 2000, 03:59 PM
Our facility has indeed changed its policy to prohibit long and artificial nails. The drive was not only the potential for transfer of nosocomial infection, but also increased risk of blood borne pathogen exposure. We had a case where due to long nails the individual had difficulty manipulating IV attachments and exposed three individuals. We were ALL taught that nurses have short natural nails with at the most a coat of clear polish that was removed and replaced regularly. What happened to good practice that we now need policy to enforce what amounts to good patient care?
| | No. 12 |
Jun 30, 2000, 07:34 PM
How would you like to be on the other end of the suppository when the nurse coming at you has supper long cultured nails!!!!AHHHHH!!!!  | | No. 13 |
Jul 05, 2000, 09:19 AM
I think we must delineate between artificial nails, such as Lee Press-ons, and acrylics, when we discuss this topic. In this state, nail technicians thoroughly inspect your nails each time you get a fill, apply an antifungal agent prior to doing the fill, and IF there's a problem with infection or ingrown nail, will not perform the procedure! Personally, I find that I am more inclined to take care of my nails with the acrylic than I ever was before, just because I know they won't do them if I don't do my part.
I work with several nurses who keep their nails moderate length, but nicely done with acrylics, so hangnails, infections. Then I also work with some nurses who have nails that are bitten so far down all the time, it makes me cringe everytime I see them.
| | No. 14 |
Jul 05, 2000, 09:21 AM
I think we must delineate between artificial nails, such as Lee Press-ons, and acrylics, when we discuss this topic. In this state, nail technicians thoroughly inspect your nails each time you get a fill, apply an antifungal agent prior to doing the fill, and IF there's a problem with infection or ingrown nail, will not perform the procedure! Personally, I find that I am more inclined to take care of my nails with the acrylic than I ever was before, just because I know they won't do them if I don't do my part.
I work with several nurses who keep their nails moderate length, but nicely done with acrylics, so hangnails, infections. Then I also work with some nurses who have nails that are bitten so far down all the time, it makes me cringe everytime I see them. I can't imagine these nurses being less likely to have some kind of infection than I do, handwashing all being equal, of course.
| | No. 15 |
Jul 05, 2000, 01:48 PM
In my nursing school we are not allowed to have long nails, be them real or artificial, nor are we allowed to wear even a coat of clear nailpolish. I have no problem with this as I took Microbiology only a year ago and remember all too well the higher incidence of nosocomial infections related to hospital staff having long nails, specifically artificial nails! Personally, it is not worth it to risk my own health or one of my patients in order for me to have long pretty nails. I cringe when I see nurses wear them at the hospitals where I do my clinicals. I plan to adhere to this after I graduate from nursing school in a year. I feel that this goes along with basic good practices such as keeping long hair up, etc. There is an article from a children's hospital in Arkansas which is posted on the bulletin board at my nursing school which cites long nails as being the reason for cross contamination in as many as 28 different cases of Staph infections. That is ridiculous. Those children did not have to be infected so that those women could wear long fingernails. I agree that first and foremost good handwashing is a MUST, however obviously all germs cannot be retrieved from under lengthy fingernails. This is just my $0.02 on the subject.
Shannon
| | No. 16 |
Jul 05, 2000, 01:49 PM
In my nursing school we are not allowed to have long nails, be them real or artificial, nor are we allowed to wear even a coat of clear nailpolish. I have no problem with this as I took Microbiology only a year ago and remember all too well the higher incidence of nosocomial infections related to hospital staff having long nails, specifically artificial nails! Personally, it is not worth it to risk my own health or one of my patients in order for me to have long pretty nails. I cringe when I see nurses wear them at the hospitals where I do my clinicals. I plan to adhere to this after I graduate from nursing school in a year. I feel that this goes along with basic good practices such as keeping long hair up, etc. There is an article from a children's hospital in Arkansas which is posted on the bulletin board at my nursing school which cites long nails as being the reason for cross contamination in as many as 28 different cases of Staph infections. That is ridiculous. Those children did not have to be infected so that those women could wear long fingernails. I agree that first and foremost good handwashing is a MUST, however obviously all germs cannot be retrieved from under lengthy fingernails. This is just my $0.02 on the subject.
Shannon
| | No. 17 |
Jul 05, 2000, 03:48 PM
Originally posted by ShannonB25:
In my nursing school we are not allowed to have long nails, be them real or artificial, nor are we allowed to wear even a coat of clear nailpolish. I have no problem with this as I took Microbiology only a year ago and remember all too well the higher incidence of nosocomial infections related to hospital staff having long nails, specifically artificial nails! Personally, it is not worth it to risk my own health or one of my patients in order for me to have long pretty nails. I cringe when I see nurses wear them at the hospitals where I do my clinicals. I plan to adhere to this after I graduate from nursing school in a year. I feel that this goes along with basic good practices such as keeping long hair up, etc. There is an article from a children's hospital in Arkansas which is posted on the bulletin board at my nursing school which cites long nails as being the reason for cross contamination in as many as 28 different cases of Staph infections. That is ridiculous. Those children did not have to be infected so that those women could wear long fingernails. I agree that first and foremost good handwashing is a MUST, however obviously all germs cannot be retrieved from under lengthy fingernails. This is just my $0.02 on the subject.
Shannon
"GERMS" CAN GROW ON ANYTHING. SO FOLLOW UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS, WASH, WASH WASH. I DON'T THINK WEARING ARTIFICIAL NAILS IS GOING TO INCREASE A NURSES CHANCE OF PASSING ALONG ANYTHING AS LONG AS UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS ARE FOLLOWED. AS FOR THE RIS OFTHEM "COMING OFF" GET A GOOD MANICURIST, GO REGULARLY.
| | No. 18 |
Nov 21, 2008, 04:24 PM
 Re: Artificial fingernails
I like my nails, they are clean if somewhat flamboyant.
| | No. 19 |
Nov 21, 2008, 06:53 PM
Re: Artificial fingernails
I think stethescope wraps are nasty, nasty, nasty. It's not like you can stop mid-shift and wash them.
All of the hospitals around here have a policy against artificial nails, but not a single one of them enforces it.
I am also very, very cautious about buying into the situation in Oklahoma. You would think if the artificial nails was such a cesspool of bacteria, that any hospital having a newborn nursery or a NICU would have babies dropping dead left and right.
I think it was a case of over-reacting to some nurses in Oklahoma who probably had longer-than-necessary nails and practiced poor hygiene on top of it.
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