nails

bsrn0523 · Mar 8, 2009

:twocents:to me, it is still fake nails, just without the tips. in our facility we cannot have enhancements, so you may want to check with your facility's policy first.

APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Mar 8, 2009

According to the CDC, it contributes to changes in the nail that can increase the risk of colonization and transmission of organisms from you to the patient.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Mar 8, 2009

At my LTC, probably half the aides wear fake nails or tips. We also have a lot of UTIs, and whenever somebody gets a cold or a stomach virus, it spreads throughout the building faster than a rumor. And NOBODY has the time to wash their hands as thoroughly or as often as they ought to, especially with those little germ-traps on their fingers.

Now when I was in management, I banned artificial nails outright........my staff weren't too happy with my policy, but for the most part they were cooperative, and we didn't have near as many infections as some other local facilities that permitted staff to wear fake nails on the job. For me, that anecdotal evidence is enough; I don't wear fake nails, and I try to educate my co-workers and CNAs as well.

Babs0512 · Mar 8, 2009

In our facility, no, you cannot wear acrylic over your natural nails, or get silk wraps either. Pretty much the same everywhere.

CooL B8B · Mar 8, 2009

IMO, acrylic nails still considered as fake nails. In the hospital I work in, we are advised not to have long nails or put any sort of fake nails. This is highly due to the fact that bacteria can reside under its free edge and it can cause skin tear especially to kiddies & elderly. I guess it is the same as ceasing nurses to have identity badges hanging from lanyards as it has been proven to increase one's risk to develop nosocomial infection.

newleaf2012 · Mar 8, 2009

is standard nail polish okay ?

Babs0512 · Mar 8, 2009

Yes, nail polish okay, I just wouldn't wear "freaky" colors. Lol

AmericanRN · Mar 8, 2009

At one of my rotations some of the nurses wear nail polish (Not acrylic) but most of them don't wear any and everyone has short nails except for some of the techs & the ER nurses.

L & D, postpartum, NBN and the NICU are the strictest. I've never seen so much as a hang nail or a cuticle on anybody let alone nail polish.

The ER seems to be the single exception, it's acrylic nail central. I have no idea how they get away w/it.

Removing chipped nail polish though is heavily enforced in the whole facility. Every break room has a bottle of remover somewhere in it.

animal1993 · Mar 8, 2009

Hello everyone!

I have been a licensed manicurist for 12 yrs. As far as acrylic goes, even if you only have an overlay on your nails, it is still considered an artificial nail enhancement. Tips only establish length. Also, even nail polish is considered to be an artificial nail enhancement. (Anything you add to the surface of the natural nail is.) IMO, artificial nail enhancements themselves don't contribute to the rate of infection any more than natural nails do, as long as they are applied and maintained in the proper way. However, most people don't. Therefore, I'm glad that they're not allowed in most health care settings. As far as nail polish goes, I personally wouldn't wear it to work with patients, either. (Believe it or not, I have actually removed polish from a client to find a bacterial infection growing under it!)

abundantjoy07, RN · Mar 8, 2009

You're not supposed to wear any fakeness on your nails, however I have never meet the fingernail police at any facility I have worked at. I have however seen lots of fakery going on. It's a matter of personal ethics since we as nurses know the reasons against wearing them.

marmsgirl · Mar 9, 2009

Not washing hands like suppose to?