Artificial Fingernails and Direct Care Staff

[pumpkin92356]

Recently my facility hired some new aides to work the floor and they had those artificial fingernails that you have put on at the salon. Well my boss told them that they needed to remove them because of infection issues and potential harm to the residents. They protested saying that it was their right to wear their fingernails long as they kept them at a decent length and that at their previous place of employment they were allowed to wear them. We have a couple of patients who have MS and are scared to death of those nails scratching them as they are unable to move themselves and would have to have the aides bath them etc. This issue to me is totally ridiculous because I know personally that if I was unable to move and a nurse approached me with "CLAWS"! I would certainly be ready to scream Help!!!! What kind of facility would ever let aides wear those stupid fingernails and lord if I ever have the misfortune to be a resident in such a place. Any feedback?

Thanks Pumpkin92356

[pumpkin92356]

How sick!!! An artificial nail found on a patients bottom!! I think that would have made me get sick and I usually have a strong stomach being a nurse and everything! That is just sick!!!

[akanini, MSN, RN]

That is horrible! That poor patient. Long nails are just disgusting to me. I cut mine every 2 days and I haven't even started working yet.lol

[sistasoul]

I have just started at a LTC facility and 2 of the nurses I have worked with have fake nails. One of the nurses are not that long but the others' nails are definitely longer than a quarter of an inch (though they are blunted tips). I was surprised when I saw this. One of the nurses is a long time employee and I think this may be overlooked with her as they don't want to lose her.

[DSkippy2]

I keep my nails between 1/4" -1/2".. I do wear polish and my patients get a kick out of the designs.. However when I am giving direct care to my residents I wear gloves. Can't imagine doing a treatment without them.

[aspire2inspire]

I'm not a nurse yet but I totally agree with the fingernail policy. In the health setting, doctors, nurses, and others with direct patient care should keep their "natural" nails manicured and no longer than the fingertips for infection control. I've personally worn artificial nails for aesthethic appeal and I hate them. No matter how many times I would wash my hands and take care to keep them clean, I would always find a stray particle under there anyway. For this reason alone, I wouldn't dare allow myself to be touched by a nurse who wears them. Thankfully most health settings have policies in place addressing this issue. If wearing acrylic or gel nails is that important to a nurse, then maybe she should consider another profession :)

[indigonurse]

If the facility has a policy against this then they should have noticed their finger nails when they interviewed for the position or took their pre employment physical. The employer should have made sure the nails were removed before any offer of employment was made. In most states employees are on probation for 3 months and the employer can fire them for no reason. If they injure a res. with their nails they can be held liable for res. abuse.

[Finallydidit]

As we all know HANDWASHING is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection...

If given the choice, I would choose the caregiver with fake nails that washes her hands each time/everytime over the caregiver with real nails that doesn't wash after each/every patient hands down!!

[Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN]

As we all know HANDWASHING is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection...

If given the choice, I would choose the caregiver with fake nails that washes her hands each time/everytime over the caregiver with real nails that doesn't wash after each/every patient hands down!!

I agree with you and I'm going to be completely honest here.

I had acrylic nails (less than 1/4 inch above the fingertip) put on for my goddaughters christening in a clean pink color. Since I have gotten them put on I wear gloves every time I touch a patient. And of course wash my hands vigorously afterward.