Dry Hands..Just starting clinicals?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in na.

I am going into my third week of clinical and my hands have become extremely dry from the washing and gloving all day. What is the best lotion to use while working?

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I'm sure you'll get lots of recommendations here as everyone has their favorite products. My personal favorite for regular use is the orignal formula Neutragena hand lotion. It's kind'a thick and sticky to apply, but a little bit goes a long way and does a nice job.

I also like the new Vasoline body butter for any dry areas (including my hands).

When my hands get real bad, nothing feels better than to smear them with plain old Vasoline petroleum jelly and wear white cotton gloves to bed. It's old-fashioned, but it works ... and it feels real good and soothing.

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Specializes in Surgery, Tele, OB, Peds,ED-True Float RN.

Avagard makes a really great lotion (not the hand sanitizer but an actually lotion). It has not scent and it does not have any ingredients that can cause breakdown of gloves. My hospital now supplies it to staff. Also, when washing your hands wet them first and then apply soap. Finally, there are several types of gloves that are supplied to staff with skin problems for their own personal use. The kind I use are called Esteem Synthetic with Neu-Thera. You can usually get this stuff at employee health or the Occupational Health Nurse. My hands were dry and I didn't address the problems and before I knew it they were cracked and bleeding. Take care of you hands, there are the nurses most important tool! Hope this helps...

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Specializes in na.

Ok, thanks, Outside of hospital my hands are ok and I have my regular products I use, but that same stuff doesnt really seem to do the trick while on my clinical, with the constant hand washing. I am gonna find a travel size of the nivea to see how that works. Thanks a bunch!

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Specializes in na.
Avagard makes a really great lotion (not the hand sanitizer but an actually lotion). It has not scent and it does not have any ingredients that can cause breakdown of gloves. My hospital now supplies it to staff. Also, when washing your hands wet them first and then apply soap. Finally, there are several types of gloves that are supplied to staff with skin problems for their own personal use. The kind I use are called Esteem Synthetic with Neu-Thera. You can usually get this stuff at employee health or the Occupational Health Nurse. My hands were dry and I didn't address the problems and before I knew it they were cracked and bleeding. Take care of you hands, there are the nurses most important tool! Hope this helps...

Thanks miss81 I am actually gonna try to find it, do they carry the lotion at Walmart?

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Specializes in Surg/ortho.

I love, love, love the goldbond ultimate healing with aloe. It's awesome stuff. It keeps your hands soft even after washing and it's not at all greasy. They have coupons you can print out on their website. The curel intensive lotion is good stuff too. You don't need much of either of them so the bottle lasts a long time. It makes up for their slightly high cost

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Specializes in critical care.

During my clinicals I used Gold Bond Ultimate Healing Skin Therapy hand cream it is amazing.... low scent, not oily and they sell small sizes u can keep in your pocket or clinical bag :redbeathe

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Specializes in Surgery, Tele, OB, Peds,ED-True Float RN.

http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?66666UuZjcFSLXTt4X&_O8T2EV76EbHSHVs6EVs6E666666--

I'm not sure what chain stores carry it, but many medical supply stores carry it. Our hospital supplies it to all the floors upon request. It looks totally cheapo and I was reluctant to use it, but it was great!

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Specializes in Surg/ortho.

Great minds think a like pinkypie :wink2:

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Specializes in Surgery, Tele, OB, Peds,ED-True Float RN.

BTW, that link is a picture of what it looks like...sorry:p

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Specializes in CICU.

For me, the most important thing is to dry my hands COMPLETELY every time I wash them (which gets tedious, but it also saves frustration when I put on gloves =)). I also use Eucerin's original moisturizing cream at night (the thick kind in the white tub.

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I had to go to my Dermatologist for this same problem my 2nd semester of Nursing School....He recommended CETAPHIL....Best stuff ever. This will fix your problem. Its OTC

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