we cannot have acrylic fingernails

[jh56031]

This is my first post on allnurses, and I wasnt sure where to ask this question...Hopefully I dont make anyone mad if its in the wrong spot!

I am a student and at my school we cannot have acrylic fingernails (I feel like this is standard in nursing schools). One of my peers is taking it hard that she had to take hers off when school started. She states that once she graduates, passes the NCLEX and secures a job that she will get her nails back. I feel like getting her nails back is what is keeping her in nursing school.

I was wondering if current nurses could shed some light to me, so maybe I can pass some info along to her or I can just make her stop talking about it because I hear about it on a daily basis.

Thanks

[NCRNMDM, ASN, RN]

I've been a CNA in the emergency department for a while, I start nursing school next week, and my mom has worked in the field for 28 years. In her years, my mom has worked the emergency department, medical ICU, med/surg floor, and now, the cardiac ICU. I can tell you for a fact that acrylic fingernails are not allowed no matter what. They are long, and they harbor bacteria underneath them which poses a hazard to both patient and nurse. It isn't going to happen for her if she wants to be an RN, a CNA, a unit secretary, an LPN, or anyone with any contact with patients or staff.

[ErinRN2B]

"regarding the above article... i always keep my wedding band on during clinicals. it's just a simple gold band with some engravings, but no gemstones or settings. should i be taking it off before i go to clinical? it specifically says in our program guidebook that we are allowed to wear wedding bands without gem settings. i hardly ever take my wedding band off, and i'm terrified that i would somehow lose it."

i wear an antique ring of my great-grandmother's that i cherish, and we used my grandmother's engagement diamond when we became engaged. every day when i got dressed for hospital work i took them off and pinned them to my bra, tucking them inside the cup for extra security (all my bras had safety pins on the left strap;)). i did it mostly because it would have killed me to lose them if my house had burnt down or been burgled, but the infection control thing did cross my mind. besides.... carrying buggies home under my rings (for months, said that study?), stopping by daycare, then i had to make dinner? the idea sorta grossed me out.

that's a good idea, thanks!

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

And I cant have my mohawk anymore. We all have to sacrifice a little bit

[DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN]

Regarding the above article... I always keep my wedding band on during clinicals. It's just a simple gold band with some engravings, but no gemstones or settings. Should I be taking it off before I go to clinical? It specifically says in our program guidebook that we are allowed to wear wedding bands without gem settings. I hardly ever take my wedding band off, and I'm terrified that I would somehow lose it.

There are micro scratches in rings too.

[DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN]

I've been a CNA in the emergency department for a while, I start nursing school next week, and my mom has worked in the field for 28 years. In her years, my mom has worked the emergency department, medical ICU, med/surg floor, and now, the cardiac ICU. I can tell you for a fact that acrylic fingernails are not allowed no matter what. They are long, and they harbor bacteria underneath them which poses a hazard to both patient and nurse. It isn't going to happen for her if she wants to be an RN, a CNA, a unit secretary, an LPN, or anyone with any contact with patients or staff.

Except some of the doctors. Often they are not employed by the hospital.

[Soon2bMrsHess]

At our hospital you can't have any type of nail, gel acrylic, ect. you need to tell her its an infection control issue.

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

Out of curiosity, I looked up my health care system's policy.

Arcylics and gel nails are not allowed, nor are any nail decals. Now, is that stickers or something? I know jewels and stones are not allowed (it also states this in said policy) but I can't think of why something like airbrushing would be an issue.

Also, we are allowed to wear whatever color nail polish, as long as our nails are neat, 1/4 inch or shorter, and no chipped polish. I know of a hospital that disallows "non-conservative" nail polish colors.

[ErinRN2B]

Just remembered that my mother in law always has gel nails... She's an RN at a large children's hospital in Indianapolis. She is a case manager though, so it must not be an issue for her since she does not provide direct care. Maybe some hospitals don't let any employees wear fake nails, but her's obviously isn't one of them. She's a huge germ-o-phobe, so I'm kind of surprised she has the in the first place.

[PghRN30]

I where I am at for clinical they are not allowed for anyone providing patient care. Many unit secretaries, case managers and such do wear them and they are allowed since they do not provide patient care

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

And I cant have my mohawk anymore. We all have to sacrifice a little bit

Where are the pics of this??

[CrazierThanYou]

We aren't allowed to have acrylic nails at clinical and we have been lectured at length on the dangers of bacteria that can grow under those hideous things. Seems there was a string of infant deaths at an area hospital that was finally linked to the nasties growing under a nurse's nails.

However, I'm in my second year of nursing school and I have been to 5 or 6 facilities and in all but one, I've seen nurses with acrylics. I also know someone who got a raging bacterial infection under hers and now has permanently deformed nails as a result!

I think they should be banned from care facilities everywhere!

As an aside, there is a woman who works at a local McD's. She has these really long, frosty white fake nails and every time I see them, I get grossed out.

Also, I am a CNA/MED TECH at an assisted living memory care facility. The CNAs have the acrylics on all the time. Nasty!

[DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN]

Where are the pics of this??

Yes please I haven't seen a properly maintained mohawk since England in the 80s. They used superglue to maintain the points.