Fake Nails on Nurses, Yay or Nay?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in General Medicine.

I was just wondering what everyone thought about nurses having gel or acrylic fake nails. There are a few girls on my unit that have them. I wanted to know what people's opinions were or if your unit or place of work has a policy about them.

~Jes~

(sorry all i don't know how to make a poll on here.)

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Specializes in pedi, pedi psych,dd, school ,home health.

depends on where you work.. i do not work in a hospital and wear gloves for all direct care so i have em and love em.. clean with etoh daily if not more so i do not harbor germies any more than natural nails

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Artificial nails are not permitted where I work.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Not allowed where I work, and Infection Control makes sure that is enforced. I thought they weren't allowed by JCAHO because of the increase harboring of bacteria. Not sure the ETOH is enough? Might be good to check with your infection control guru.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

check out these threads about this topic:

artificial nails?

artificial nails anyone

artificial nails vs bloody bitten nails

are fake nails o.k. for nurses?

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Not allowed at all where I work. Too much risk and I remember reading reports of babies dying at other hospitals from the germs under nurse's nails.

Even when new moms have the nails, I ask them if they might take them off and if not, I tell them to scrub under the tips with antibacterial soap and toothbrush.

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Specializes in ER/AMS/OPD/UC.

I say dont do it, even having long natural nails is an issue. Our hospital policy is no more than 1/4" natural nails and no fingernail polish is allowed.

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Specializes in Medical.

I don't think my hospital has a specific policy, but nobody on my ward has nails of any significant length, let alone fake ones.

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Specializes in midwifery, NICU.
:nono: Oh no, how can you nurse someone without hurting them if you have talons at the end of your fingers? i keep my nails really short for work, no polish allowed! BUT, when I'm off for a stretch I can stick on long falsies and paint them however I want (and i do!) You can still have nice buffed short nails, which are clean-- the dirt and germs under fingernails are horrendous!:uhoh21:
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Nay.

My nails are cut very short - can't stand the feeling of nails that are grown out very far at all.

steph

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Specializes in Brain injury,vent,peds ,geriatrics,home.

I think thats gross.I suppose theres a place and time for them,but working in the medical field is not one of themPlus they just seem to get in the way.

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Specializes in SICU.

No false nails allowed in my hospital for anyone that has patient contact. I can't recall the name of the study but I do remember that MRSA can live for 8 weeks under fake nails. :trout:

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