artifical nails off..angry nurse

Nurses Safety

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Hi Everyone..i found this site looking for information on artifical nails and nurses.So,iam a brand new member.

I do home health and have had artifical nails on for 18yrs .Dec.30th i was told i was to take them off...so i contacted a nail tech and told her my situation and she (as well as one other salon) told me they were putting a gel(like a hard nail polish) over many of the nurses who had to take their nails off....so this is what i did.

On Jan.11th while talking to one of my supervisors about some paperwork,,i was reminded i had to take my nails off,,i said these are my own nails with a gel hardner over my nails..she said she would have to check that out...i tried to also with infection control but they never called me back.

When i returned to work 2 days later,,instead of telling me what they found out,i was written up,and told i could not work that day and was sent home.Iam very angry :angryfire

I took the gel off,and now my nails are sore ,hands look ugly,i cant peel an orange,scratch..nothing.Iam feeling very helpless and down.

Has anyone else experienced this when taking off their nails and how did you handle it? Are we not able to even have a gel temporarily over our thin weakened nails,,till the new stronger nails appears?

Please help as iam writing a rebuttal to this written warning.Thanks

Lady Sapphire

I got my belly button peirced because I think it's cute. I like to change out the rings to go with whatever outfit I may wear when I go out ( when I wear a shirt that shows my belly) I had mine done for the same reason I had my ears pierced for decoration. I've heard people get their tounge and other "hidden parts" pierced for sexual reasons some do it for attention and I guess depending on what you do, for decorative perposes. Some people make a career out of showing thier bodies or maybe their partner finds it attractive...whatever...some just do things for the pure shock value of it to. Belly ring is as far as I will ever go personally though...tatoos and piercings may be cute/cool when your 19 years old but I'm trying to think of when I'm 80...not so much then

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I just have to know, what is the purpose of tongue piercing?

And what is the purpose of splitting the tongue to resemble that of a serpent?

Aside from it being culturally reprehensible in the US, what is the motivator to do this?

attention. and it works.

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

Attention wasn't the reason i heard it was for.:stone:

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

well attention is what they get, either privately or in public. other than that, I do not want to go there, TMI.

remember, I do OB. I have seen it all. (well almost)

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I had my tongue pierced until my peds rotation in nursing school. I took it out after the 3rd child asked me what I had in my mouth "you got candy??" It was really hard to explain to a child who was going through all of these painful procedures and needle pokes that I had intentionally put a needle through my tongue!! To each her/his own I say!

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Just a reminder to everyone: it's not the colour of the polish that leads to infection control problems, it's the polish itself. Clear is no better than bright red, pale pink, etc.

How does the polish lead to infection?

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
remember, I do OB. I have seen it all. (well almost)

The OR is a good place to find out what people do to their bodies as well.

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I think it's rediculous that any workplace would demand that you change any aspect of the way you groom yourself. Whats next? Get your hair cut? No make-up allowed? I'm sick of hearing that fake nails harbor bacteria! If my fingers are harboring bacteria, shame on me! For goodness sakes! I pride myself on being a clean, well manicured and professional woman. I would NEVER put my patients at risk. I ALWAYS protect my patients by wearing gloves, good handwashing, etc. I think it's time that people focus on something else other than well manicured hands. (Whose hands are probably more well cared for and cleaner than those who do not care about what their hands look like I might add). I'd rather have someone with well manicured nails take care of my family than a nurse with bitten up stubs! Do you think they're clean??? Funny how no one tells nurses who bite their nails that they can't do THAT anymore.

I'm serious when I say that if my place of work demanded that I remove my nails, which I consider to be a personal preference (same as what color I chose my hair to be, etc), I'd have to quit. I'm not in the military, I'm a nurse for goodness sake.

AND, as a "nurse for goodness sake", you have a responsibility to be professional, if you feel that you can't do the job that is required, and can't follow the dress code most hospitals, and medical facilities have, then my thought for you is GET OUT......... You have a terrible attitude for someone in the medical profession......... And, give those of us that are truely here to be professional and caring a bad name, and I'd rather work short staffed than have someone that can't follow the rules be there with me, where I have to rely on them in a code situation, or any other situation......... Good luck...........

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
I'm sick of hearing that fake nails harbor bacteria!

The proven truth must be nauseating.

I'm serious when I say that if my place of work demanded that I remove my nails, which I consider to be a personal preference (same as what color I chose my hair to be, etc), I'd have to quit. I'm not in the military, I'm a nurse for goodness sake.

Then be understanding the pts.' personal preference might be to refuse you as a nurse because of your nails (especially if that pt. is a nurse as well, and is aware of the studies associaed with them). I've seen it happen before.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I think it's rediculous that any workplace would demand that you change any aspect of the way you groom yourself. Whats next? Get your hair cut? No make-up allowed? I'm sick of hearing that fake nails harbor bacteria! If my fingers are harboring bacteria, shame on me! For goodness sakes! I pride myself on being a clean, well manicured and professional woman. I would NEVER put my patients at risk. I ALWAYS protect my patients by wearing gloves, good handwashing, etc. I think it's time that people focus on something else other than well manicured hands. (Whose hands are probably more well cared for and cleaner than those who do not care about what their hands look like I might add). I'd rather have someone with well manicured nails take care of my family than a nurse with bitten up stubs! Do you think they're clean??? Funny how no one tells nurses who bite their nails that they can't do THAT anymore.

I'm serious when I say that if my place of work demanded that I remove my nails, which I consider to be a personal preference (same as what color I chose my hair to be, etc), I'd have to quit. I'm not in the military, I'm a nurse for goodness sake.

'

please educate yourself. Read some articles and studies on the subject. they are many. if you are unwilling, do us all a favor and stay out of patient care. Please, we don't want you if you are unwilling to practice safely.

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AND, as a "nurse for goodness sake", you have a responsibility to be professional, if you feel that you can't do the job that is required, and can't follow the dress code most hospitals, and medical facilities have, then my thought for you is GET OUT......... You have a terrible attitude for someone in the medical profession......... And, give those of us that are truely here to be professional and caring a bad name, and I'd rather work short staffed than have someone that can't follow the rules be there with me, where I have to rely on them in a code situation, or any other situation......... Good luck...........

Jeesh Cathie your being a little harsh arent you? Pent up hostility? IF you think that being upset because someone is yet again telling us some aspect of our personal life and choices must be changed to accomodate keeping our jobs,is the making of a bad nurse who doesnt follow the rules, then I say your the one being uncaring. People, yes even nurses have different things that make them feel better about themselves, not everyone feels the same way about the same things and that is every persons right, but to call someone non caring and then ultimately imply they must be somehow far less intellingent than you , or less capable in someway. (referring to the CODE comment.) is just mean and it is wrong.

Artificail nails or not, Im a darn good nurse, wether our opinions differ, or I challenge the system where you do not, does not even come close to making me

a bad nurse and it doesnt give you the right to imply that someone who does is.

Frankly , I find it easier to clean longer nails than short ones, which also get bacteria under them , but ultimately anything someone is doing that might bring your nail edges in contact with a pt.s skin , or body fluids should be

wearing gloves anyway. As with all of us, that is my opinion, Sorry if you feel I came down hard on you. I just think that judging someone the way you did , is not what this forum is made for.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Jeesh Cathie your being a little harsh arent you? Pent up hostility? IF you think that being upset because someone is yet again telling us some aspect of our personal life and choices must be changed to accomodate keeping our jobs,is the making of a bad nurse who doesnt follow the rules, then I say your the one being uncaring. People, yes even nurses have different things that make them feel better about themselves, not everyone feels the same way about the same things and that is every persons right, but to call someone non caring and then ultimately imply they must be somehow far less intellingent than you , or less capable in someway. (referring to the CODE comment.) is just mean and it is wrong.

Artificail nails or not, Im a darn good nurse, wether our opinions differ, or I challenge the system where you do not, does not even come close to making me

a bad nurse and it doesnt give you the right to imply that someone who does is.

Frankly , I find it easier to clean longer nails than short ones, which also get bacteria under them , but ultimately anything someone is doing that might bring your nail edges in contact with a pt.s skin , or body fluids should be

wearing gloves anyway. As with all of us, that is my opinion, Sorry if you feel I came down hard on you. I just think that judging someone the way you did , is not what this forum is made for.

You, too, could benefit from educating yourself. You know what, its not about anyone "controlling you". I think some maturity is called for her. And a reality check......for example:

A few years back, 16 infants died in an NICU due to fungi spreading and infecting them, isolated from two nurses with fake nails. It is NOT worth it just cause they are "easier" or "look nice" or you feel you should be "free to dress as you choose". It's about more than that....

. How would you feel were YOU one of those nurses? I know I would never, ever forgive myself. I also know I would refuse the care of a nurse w/artificial nails, if given the chance to, hands-down. I hope I don't sound harsh.I don't mean to. But some of you folks who insist out of rebellion or vanity really need to educate yourselves more, let the studies and evidence speak for themselves!

If feel you can't do w/o fake nails, do us all a favor; get a job in an area where no patient contact is possible. Please.

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