Fake Nails

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I was talking to a friend of mine that is a LPN in LTC and she asked me if I wanted to go to get my nails done and I told her I couldn't because of school and she then sort of snickered and said that its was silly that they dont allow you to have them in school because every nurse she knows has them:icon_roll

I was just curious if you have them or the other nurses in your unit do.

TIA :)

Specializes in Cardiac, Adolescent/Child Mental Health.

Our policy is no artificial nails or gel overlays. If I remember correctly, I don't think we allow polish either. It's a policy that's rather loosely enforced, however. I still see nurses and techs with the fake nails and nail polish. But, I can't spend my time worrying about what everybody else does. All I know is that I wouldn't want to be the nurse whose cultures came back positive for (insert nasty pathogen here) after an outbreak.

I really don't see the big deal. Just don't do it. Short and buffed shiny works for me. As I say that, I'm looking at my nails and I need a manicure!

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Specializes in Neuroscience/Neuro-surgery/Med-Surgical/.

When I worked in a clinic where I did telephone triage, paperwork and patient's intake/vitals, I did wear fake nails and it wasn't a problem since I was not doing ADLs, giving medications, giving shots, etc...

In the hospital, fake nails are against policy and employees will be sent home immediately! They are considered a major reservoir for MRSA, VRE, etc....

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Specializes in Critical care.
There's another good thread. I SOO do not want my hair touching any surface or patient. I never could figure out why these girls would let their hair flop all over getting into who-knows-what. Also as a patient, I would totally get grossed out if a nurses' hair flopped in my face. It's just icky.

What is also gross about uncontrolled hair is when the person touches her hair to brush it out of the way while wearing gloves during a patient care task! Yuck! All the nasty germs from the glove are on the hair and forhead now.

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

i see them on MAs in doctor's offices but NEVER on my unit.

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What is also gross about uncontrolled hair is when the person touches her hair to brush it out of the way while wearing gloves during a patient care task! Yuck! All the nasty germs from the glove are on the hair and forhead now.

Yeah I know what you mean,the other day I saw an quite attractive nurse(tall blond hair) entering a store and she was wearing scrubs (big no no!!!) and her hair was down..I understand the women like different hairstyles and they want to look cute but nursing is not a fashion show and the hair shouls be kept out of your face!!!!

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Specializes in Operating Room.
Why not just get a pedicure? On your days off, you'll look great in a pair of sandals.

How does a nursing student afford to get a manicure anyway? When I was in school, I never had that kind of disposable income. Huh, I don't now either. Guess that's why I paint my toenails at home with a $2 bottle of avon nailpolish.

I love pedicures..we can have nail polish(not chipped) but no fake nails. I don't even bother with the nail polish most of the time. I could have afforded manicures in school because I worked full time. But, me and painted nails just don't mix..too much of a tomboy I guess.

I spend my money on jewelry instead-I love my bling!!:D

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Specializes in OR.

The one thing that gets me is nurses that do not put their hair up out of there face. It is so unprofessional when hair is just messy and hanging out everywhere.

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Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.
Fake nails = germ heaven.

I wore acrylic nails when I was in high school. I took good care of them, I washed my hands all the time and I bathed daily. One day, I noticed they were growing out so I made a mental note to get them filled when I had time. I remember itching my nose, and I smelled something foul. Turns out, it was my nails! I soaked them off when I got home, but I was able to pop a couple off before hand. I smelled the nail that came off as well as my own nail, and sure enough...

Fake nails are disgusting. I took damn good care of mine and they STILL got gnarly. No way would I have them, especially as a health care worker!

Unless the seal under the nail was broken, that odor was from the actual product.

They use both disinfectant drops and a primer for the acrylics....if you smelled your nails after they did this even before the tips are put on...the same odor would be on your nails.

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Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.

Actually, it did include physicians. It included not only physicians, but even housekeeping staff.

Here is a link to the actual study, which I had never read before.

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/reprint/343/10/695.pdf

However, it's important to note that ultimately, the infections were traced back to three nurses who continuously tested positive for pseudomonas....only ONE of which was wearing artificial nails.

17 infants and ONE healthcareworker had the same 'clone" of pseudomonas.

165 workers were tested. 10 originally came back positive, only 3 chronically.

ALL 10 had artifical nail history, but it was traced back to ONE nurse wearing artificial nails.

To me, that almost appears to be a personal hygeine issue.

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What is also gross about uncontrolled hair is when the person touches her hair to brush it out of the way while wearing gloves during a patient care task! Yuck! All the nasty germs from the glove are on the hair and forhead now.

You are so right, that is just all-out yuck!:nono: Seriously, nasty germs now in your hair, then you go home and a loved one touches you and BINGO.

At my place, we cannot wear perfume or cologne to work either, and it goes for everyone throughout the whole place. I have to say, it has been very nice not having to smell the stuff. There are enough bad smells coming from the patients without having staff members add to the mix. Flowery perfume and poo, it's not a good mix.

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I have to say that this post hit home. I happen to know someone who is a nurse, and has been for over 10 years. This person and I are, at the very most, acquaintances (she's my hubby's ex-wife). I've seen her just before she leaves for work, in the middle of being at work and after work. She wears her hair down most of the time, has fake nails, and wears enough perfume to choke a person. I don't quite understand how it is that she continues to work in various facilities without anyone saying anything to her. She's very neat in her appearance, uniforms are clean & unwrinkled and it's not as if her hair looks messy, it's just, well, down....I would NEVER want to wear my hair down...God forbid I should accidentally have my hair hit something gross.....oh gag!

For those of you working in facilities already, do you have people who get sent home for things like hair, nails, perfume??

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Specializes in med surg ltc psych.

Beachbutterfly, I understand the reason for not having artificial nails and hair not kept up and away from the face. But I don't understand why walking into a store with your scrubs on, is as you stated a "no no." Is that a regional or facility thing that a nurse isn't supposed to do? Walking into a drinking establishment with scrubs on is definitely a no no in my book, but now got me curious about going into a store.

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