Fake Nails on Nurses, Yay or Nay?

[Patience]

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.)

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Absolutely not allowed where i work. It's grounds for termination if you wear them.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Oh, ick. Just - ick.

[chibear55]

No nails!

[AfloydRN, BSN, RN]

I know what the ID nurses say, however I have hypothyroidism to the extent that my nails are paper thin and tear and bleed. I do have a coat of gel on top of my nails so I can function. I can't open meds or do pretty much anything w/ out them. I have tried.

[adrienurse, LPN]

Ewww Gros is all I can say. Personally I also think they look trashy, but that's another thread. I might be old-school but for work I keep them short and filed.

[SmilingBluEyes]

they have no place in clinical care.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

According to the education department and infection control, no one with direct care contact is allowed to wear any artificial coating on their nails (except, I guess, polish but no one really asked about that).

However, it isn't enforced, as I see it from time to time, and have never once seen a bulletin on it. Personally, I loved my acrylic nails before nursing; now, I can't imagine how I'd ever function with them or get them clean enough. Never again!

[jong518]

Yap, depends on where you're working, but if you're directly handling patients, I think those fake fingernails should only be on during days off from work. It also bothers the patients . . . we have one patient commenting about them, fearing he might get a scratch or skin tear by those long fingernails.

[AuntieRN]

Fake nails not allowed where I work either. Grounds for termination.

[shellek]

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.)

All JACHO hospitals I have worked in say NO! I myself am a nail bitter and acrylics keep my cuticles and nails without sores, I don't see a difference in natural and fake nails as long as they are kept clean underneath and all around. I even have worked were NO polish can be worn! Due to possible flaking off of the polish contaminating care.?? well eyelashes can fall out, hair can fall out, breathing out, etc. can all be considered contamination. By the way I do not work in a burn unit or a unit were exeptional exposure to open wounds.

[rn/writer, RN]

My hospital limits nail length to 1/4 inch and does not allow fake nails at all. Even if long nails were acceptable, I wouldn't wear them. I HATE how long nails click on computer keys. But far more important, I work with newborns and would not ever want to scratch a delicate wee one.

[bluetack, RN]

Don't think my workplace has a specific policy about fake nails, but I would presume they are not desirable. I have had them for a special occasion only, but I wouldn't be able to tolerate them doing patient care. I like my nails as they are, short and non-fussy!