Gel Nails

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I know that this may seem like a trite topic, but our local hospital has just created policy that gel nails are unsanitary and has banned their use. It seems to me that gel nails aren't much different than regular nail polish, other than it lasts much longer/looks better. What's the general consensus on whether or not gel nails are unsanitary/inappropriate for the workplace?

Specializes in Ortho, CMSRN.
So who determines if it's clean, unclipped and germ-free? You? Your nursing supervisor? The nail police? Too bad you don't care as much for your patients, their safety and infection control as you do about your vanity and your nail polish. :confused:
Wowza... kinda harsh. It's not polite to level personal attacks against character on discussion boards. Please don't pretend that you know me, or my motives.
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:speechless:
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Specializes in psychiatric.

Whenever I see a conversation about this kind of topic, all I can think of is the PA that worked in the ICU. His white lab coat was FILTHY, FILTHY, FILTHY. Yes, I had to say it three times. I spoke to my charge about it and he washed it soon afterwards but really, it was disgusting.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.
:speechless:

Dang, Tex---I came here to like a thousand times what you wrote BEFORE your edits!

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

Brainstormin,

That's a great example.

For me personally, it reminds me of healthcare workers that insist on wearing perfume to work with patients. Perfume that reeks to high heaven. These same employees would complain if they have a patient that smells like sweat but totally have a conniption if you suggest that they lay off the cologne.

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Dang, Tex---I came here to like a thousand times what you wrote BEFORE your edits!

Yeh, I know, but just sometimes editing is the better way to go.

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.
Why? So that nurses can wear a certain type of nail polish? As a male, I really don't care what the policy says or how much evidence there is (or is not) to support that policy--so maybe it's just that I don't care. However, it just seems that there are much more important issues to research.

I don't really disagree with you. As a non-polish wearer, it matters little to me. What I dislike is poor application of EBP or claiming a policy is evidence based when if is not.

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It may seem confusing to you, if you are the type of person who gets their nails re-done on a REGULAR basis. Not everyone does, for various reasons (can't afford to, lack of time, whatever). The people who go a little too long in between manicures get chipping and those who get gel polish manicures can get very bad and deep lifting/peeling effect. The more contact with water the faster it lifts. It's a hassle, it gets caught on things, I have scratched my boyfriend etc. and that is why I went back to regular manicures. Yes, there is a very good reason why most people shouldn't risk it...if you wash your dishes by hand, forget it, ugh so gross!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

Clara red heart: you are lady after my own heart!! I love my gel nails. I started doing my own at home when I was a broke nursing student.

Everywhere I've worked as a nurse had no rules about nails/polish.

I keep mine super short, but simply adore the look of my gel nails!!!!!!!

I also do not see the logic of a no gel polish rule in a setting where regular polish is allowed.

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Specializes in Ortho, CMSRN.

I would actually be VERY interested in seeing a recent, evidence based study that compares the safety of nail polish with unvarnished hands in the workplace. Again, I do think that if we must target something... hospital curtains are more disgusting and I resent it every time I touch them accidentally. I did do some reading today. Really... if it came to it, I'd sacrifice my nails. I did it for my parents when I was a teenager and for my family when I was a nursing student. It's just one of the small things that happens to bring me pleasure in life. I'd be sad, but I'd let it go if I had to. From my reading however, apparently 4 day or older polish was the culprit. You'll never see that here :) Really Tex, I did go and paint my nails -_-

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Specializes in critical care.
Why? So that nurses can wear a certain type of nail polish? As a male, I really don't care what the policy says or how much evidence there is (or is not) to support that policy--so maybe it's just that I don't care. However, it just seems that there are much more important issues to research.

Unfortunately, the persistence by those who feel passionately about continuing to wear some type of covering on their nails seems to create the continued need for research.

Even if the risk of infection transmission is low with gels, it's still higher than no covering at all. Maybe someone can explain how they reconcile the desire for gels in spite of the potential risks? I just don't understand the fierce commitment to this.

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Specializes in Trauma-Surgical, Case Management, Clinic.

Im wondering how would the employer know the difference between gel or regular polish just by looking at your hands?

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