are "fake nails" okay for nurses?

Otessa, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2006

ALL of the hospitals in our area went to a "no fake nails policy" and real ones can't be longer than (I can't remember the exact length)......it was an infection control issue. We live in an area of about 600,000 people in a 20 mile radius so it isn't a small area.

kranken_schwester · Sep 27, 2006

If you're going to be providing direct patient care, you need to keep your nails shorter than usual, not longer! The first time you accidentally scratch a coumadin patient, you'll find out why...

juairefamily · Sep 27, 2006

My hospital also has a policy that if you clinical you cant wear them either...

scaredofshots · Oct 8, 2006

NONO NO NONONONO

NO NO NO NO NO NO

NO NONO NO NO NO

NO NONO NO NO

NO NO NONONONO :redlight:

fd5151 · Oct 14, 2006

I am a nursing student graduating next month. I wore "fake nails" before nursing school, but my program did not allow them during school. I am considering getting them again after graduation. What is your opinion and the policies at the facilities where you work? Are they a health hazaard to patients if proper handwashing precautions are used? Have you read any studies on the "fake nail" issue?

Whether long nails are fake or acrylic, they allow for bacteria to spread a lot easier onto your hands. I remembered that whenever i thought about my own nails and now i would keep them short irregardless.

Depends on your hospital's policy. Don't you think it would kind of be a hassle in patient care. Could end up giving someone a bit of a scratch.:wink2:

ortess1971 · Oct 14, 2006

My hospital just came out with a dress code that states that acrylic nails are banned. We are allowed to wear nail polish,(even in the OR) if there are no chips. You won't catch me in a nail salon ever again, upscale or not. The last one I went to, 6 years ago, the nail tech gave me serious attitude because I didn't want her to cut my cuticles. You can never be sure that they clean their tools properly either. Once in a while, I'll polish mine myself but I think its a pain in the butt to always be on a "chip alert". IMHO, acrylic nails or long natural nails have no place in nursing-they're unhygenic and look cheap and tacky in many cases. Just my 2 cents.

HappyNurse82 · Oct 14, 2006

Wear gloves. Wash hands. Good grief.

Thank you !!!!

CV_RN · Oct 14, 2006

I haven't read through all these replies yet, but acrylic nails should not be worn because pseudomonas is known to harbor in the glue used for acrylic nails

BSNtobe2009 · Oct 14, 2006

The "fake nails" ban in clinicals is causing a degree of anxiety with me.

I have very odd looking hands, and if there was a plastic surgery to correct my hands, there is no price to high that I wouldn't be willing to pay. It has been the cause of lifelong embarrassment to me.

My fingers, are unusually short and fat for my stature, my nail beds, are very wide, and short. They are not even a 1/4 of an inch deep. Before fake nails become popular and affordable, when I would go on dates, I actually had guys to comment on my hands, women did the same, and they all said, "why don't you let your nails grow out".

The truth is, they won't. They grow very slow, and when they do, they are paper thin and just rip off. I have had fake nails for 10 or 12 years and go for fill-ins every 1 1/2 weeks, and replace the set completely about every 2 months. I keep them "active length", with a french manicure, none of this funky polish thing. I don't have a problem with them breaking.

So, there are reason of why some women wear them. If I have nice hands that are even acceptable, trust me, you would never see me in another nail salon b/c the "habit" is expensive and time consuming, but it's the only way I know to fix, what I consider to be a deformity.

AfloydRN, BSN, RN · Oct 15, 2006

They were not allowed @ our hospital, however 90 % of our managerment staff had them. If noone enforces it....I have hypothyroidism and my nails tear and bleed. Thats not much different than fake nails.

puggymae · Oct 15, 2006

Fake nails are not allowed in the facility where I take students to clinical. In fact one day while we were there the infection control nurse came around and looked at everyone's hands on the floor - that included housekeepers, lab tech, the Nurse Manager, all the tech's and nurses, myself and the students. 3 staff members (a CNA, 2 RN's) with artifical nails were written up, sent home, and told not to come back to work until the nails were gone. They were also told that if there was a next time they would be fired. It goes against OSHA standards and infection control policies for the facility.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Oct 15, 2006

The "fake nails" ban in clinicals is causing a degree of anxiety with me.
I have very odd looking hands, and if there was a plastic surgery to correct my hands, there is no price to high that I wouldn't be willing to pay. It has been the cause of lifelong embarrassment to me.
My fingers, are unusually short and fat for my stature, my nail beds, are very wide, and short. They are not even a 1/4 of an inch deep. Before fake nails become popular and affordable, when I would go on dates, I actually had guys to comment on my hands, women did the same, and they all said, "why don't you let your nails grow out".
The truth is, they won't. They grow very slow, and when they do, they are paper thin and just rip off. I have had fake nails for 10 or 12 years and go for fill-ins every 1 1/2 weeks, and replace the set completely about every 2 months. I keep them "active length", with a french manicure, none of this funky polish thing. I don't have a problem with them breaking.
So, there are reason of why some women wear them. If I have nice hands that are even acceptable, trust me, you would never see me in another nail salon b/c the "habit" is expensive and time consuming, but it's the only way I know to fix, what I consider to be a deformity.

This reason isn't outweighing the risk presented to the pts. though.