here goes again I am sure-acrylics-this time it's personal

BradleyRN · Mar 5, 2009

Get yourself some fake nails! Cut them short, and grow your real ones. In a couple of months, you can switch to the real ones. I would think fake nails would be more difficult psychologically to bite, so maybe you can break the habit!:)

HappyBunnyNurse · Mar 5, 2009

I think the problem with fake nails is the pseudomonas bacteria, fungi, and other things that grow between the real nail the wrap. No amount of handwashing will get that area clean. Even if my facility allowed them I'd be afraid of harming my patients. Maybe if you just got a plain manicure it would help your cuticles and your feelings. You should also try pedicures. Pedicures are so relaxing and really help feet suffering from 12 hour shifts. (I know this personally) :)

allnurses Guide · Mar 5, 2009

The CDC is adamantly against fake nails because of the infectious problems. My hospital has an outright ban on them. Ask your infection control nurse if your facility has a policy against them, that would settle it for me.

Hugs to you.

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2009

Get yourself some fake nails! Cut them short, and grow your real ones. In a couple of months, you can switch to the real ones. I would think fake nails would be more difficult psychologically to bite, so maybe you can break the habit!:)

They are..as a lifelong nail biter, I can attest..it instantly stops me from my urge to bite..I don't know what it is, but it does.

I personally, think that the entire "no fake nails" thing has been exaggerated to the hilt. Obviously these hospitals don't even care enough to require physicians to wash their hands between patients....God forbid if you ticked one of them off. I have seen stethescopes used over and over again between patients by both nurses and physicians..no one screams get out an alcohol wipes.

And how many places are using a central blood pressure cuff on a cart with each patient not having their own? Now nasty is that? Have they ever tested that thing?

How many nurses work with minor cuts on their fingers that use band-aids? Do they ever send them home? Nope.

No..artificial nails are not to blame...it's not maintaining them properly and not using gloves when you are supposed to. If you go to a quality salon, get them done weekly, get a simple, french manicure...even at close examination, you cannot tell the fakes from the real ones.

I don't go near a patient with broken skin without using gloves...ever.

Tait, MSN, RN · Mar 5, 2009

I think the problem with fake nails is the pseudomonas bacteria, fungi, and other things that grow between the real nail the wrap. No amount of handwashing will get that area clean. Even if my facility allowed them I'd be afraid of harming my patients. Maybe if you just got a plain manicure it would help your cuticles and your feelings. You should also try pedicures. Pedicures are so relaxing and really help feet suffering from 12 hour shifts. (I know this personally) :)

I am going to agree with HBN on this one. There is NOTHING better than a great manicure after a few rough nights to make you feel sexy again. That and matching underwear. Something about a pretty set that only you know about is magical for a little bit of bounce in your step.

Tait

:icon_hug:

al7139, ASN, RN · Mar 5, 2009

I agree with HBN and Tait,

I was a slave to acrylics before nursing school. My nails do not grow well and I am also rough on my hands, so I got acrylics.

Starting with school, they were banned. They are also banned for anyone directly involved in patient care in my hospital. There is a very good reason for this. Even after a few days, they start to lift and there is NO WAY to get that space clean. You can wash all you want, they will still harbor all kinds of nasty bacteria and fungi.

Think about it; First, do you really want to be the "Typhoid Mary" who spreads infection from patient to patient?

Second, do you want to bring home whatever nasty germs you have come into contact on your shift and expose your family, friends, and yourself to a potentially deadly infection?

I hope the answer is "No."

Plain old manicures will restore your nails and your sense of self esteem without the dangerous germs.

Amy

Equinox_93 · Mar 5, 2009

Fakes are awful for pathogen growth. Sorry! Get regular manicures, (a good manicurist can help you recover your nails- it will be a process- but with time- you'll have nice nails again :) ) get a great selection of polish colors- and a really good cuticle cream. Wear gloves all the time and wash those hands like it's a religion. For your own safety if you're in nursing- you gotta break the oral fixation where it relates to your hands. You don't wanna be chowin down on MRSA or C-Diff... Or any of the other nasties you could pick up anywhere along the course of your day...

Suggestion? Chew lots of gum and get regular manicures and massages. Massage will help relieve some of your stress. (Also meditation is great for anxiety/stress as well...) Exercise and eating right also helps with anxiety/stress- and it helps with one of the causes of your stress- the weight gain. Also- a good vitamin supplement helps ALOT- both with the nail growth/repair and with the stress. GOOD LUCK! You can beat this! :)

I have had fake's a couple of times, usually they are off in a week. I realized they cost too much to maintain, I had great nails, and I was in nursing and knew they weren't great for that ( I was a CNA at the time). I lived in Vegas as a CNA and there was some big lawsuit regarding a woman who got an infection and blamed it on her nurse who had acrylics and wore no gloves when removing a dressing (not sure about redressing...). Vegas hospitals (not all) banned these nails for obvious reasons-they are a breeding ground for bacteria.
I am an LPN now, working towards my RN. I am no longer in Vegas, but back in MO where I had previously been. Here, acrylics are neither here nor there. We all know the bads about them-still, nurses have them. I quit smoking when I was in Vegas, and now I am destroying my nails and cuticles on a daily basis. I am so unhappy-there are other issues and personal issues (divorce, weight gain, school AND working 12's, etc...) I know, woe is me....BUT, one day my infection control nurse pointed out how bad bitten nails and torn cuticles are as well-I can't win. I want fakes to boost my self esteem. not long ones, no longer than Sport length- I don't want the cost but I have to feel better somewhere.
SO, the question-how bad are they now??? If a person is conscious of the need to be diligent with hand washing, does that make a difference? Are they as big of an issue as they were five years ago??? I also loved my nails, but they are just crap now-four years of badgering them has hurt the nail bed and I can't get them back. Nail polish isn't good either!
Please, some feedback. I know the concerns and issues with the acrylics and infection control.....I am not necessarily going for the acrylics either.
I wanted to point out-I have an oral fixation and an obvious anxiety issue. I am medicated with zoloft for the anxiety. I sucked my thumb when I was little til 12, then bit my nails, then started smoking, quit smoking, starting attacking the SKIN-the nails not so much, but cuticle area. WIth the weight gain too, I could so easily just start smoking again-BUT, that is looked down on more than the fake nails where I work-they don't want you to even SMELL of smoke.
I don't need a big discussion again-I think I know the answer anyway. can't win.

dotherightthing · Mar 5, 2009

i have had fake's a couple of times, usually they are off in a week. i realized they cost too much to maintain, i had great nails, and i was in nursing and knew they weren't great for that ( i was a cna at the time). i lived in vegas as a cna and there was some big lawsuit regarding a woman who got an infection and blamed it on her nurse who had acrylics and wore no gloves when removing a dressing (not sure about redressing...). vegas hospitals (not all) banned these nails for obvious reasons-they are a breeding ground for bacteria.
i am an lpn now, working towards my rn. i am no longer in vegas, but back in mo where i had previously been. here, acrylics are neither here nor there. we all know the bads about them-still, nurses have them. i quit smoking when i was in vegas, and now i am destroying my nails and cuticles on a daily basis. i am so unhappy-there are other issues and personal issues (divorce, weight gain, school and working 12's, etc...) i know, woe is me....but, one day my infection control nurse pointed out how bad bitten nails and torn cuticles are as well-i can't win. i want fakes to boost my self esteem. not long ones, no longer than sport length- i don't want the cost but i have to feel better somewhere.
so, the question-how bad are they now??? if a person is conscious of the need to be diligent with hand washing, does that make a difference? are they as big of an issue as they were five years ago??? i also loved my nails, but they are just crap now-four years of badgering them has hurt the nail bed and i can't get them back. nail polish isn't good either!
please, some feedback. i know the concerns and issues with the acrylics and infection control.....i am not necessarily going for the acrylics either.
i wanted to point out-i have an oral fixation and an obvious anxiety issue. i am medicated with zoloft for the anxiety. i sucked my thumb when i was little til 12, then bit my nails, then started smoking, quit smoking, starting attacking the skin-the nails not so much, but cuticle area. with the weight gain too, i could so easily just start smoking again-but, that is looked down on more than the fake nails where i work-they don't want you to even smell of smoke.
i don't need a big discussion again-i think i know the answer anyway. can't win.

fake nails: studies have shown that they harbor all kinds of germs, bad stuff. they already knew this about natural nails, it's why surgeons scrub with a brush.

back to the bad stuff, it's passed from patient to patient even when doing a simple task like taking pulses or bps. think about all the things you touch that's been touched by any number of other people, like the med cart and med cards or containers. do you know if they're washing their hands as much as you?

and then, you self-innoculate and go home with whatever it is. trying to manage this by using gloves more? you set up the perfect breeding ground for all the stuff between the nails-warm and moist, inside the gloves.

all this can happen with natural nails as well, which i have so work on the premise of handwashing, handwashing, handwashing.

and self-innoculation-i wash my hands before i use the bathroom, for me and afterward for everyone else. with fake nails, handwashing before you use the rest room is useless.

i use a really good hand cream for the cuticles and dry or broken skin-a generic neutragena or aquaphor-put it in a small squeeze container that fits in my pocket. it helps soothe and protect the cuticles and nails. the bad stuff doesn't survive as well in an oil or beeswax medium.

ScrappyED, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2009

I was a compulsive nail biter until age 14 then moved on to food so I feel your pain. The underlying problem is not a fake nail or real nail issue--it is the chewing desire and the anxiety. Maybe the gum idea would work--I constantly keep a pack of gum with me or sometimes mints or something. (The pt's probably appreciate the good breath too :wink2: ) Try adjusting your meds also if the anxiety is not under control. It sounds like you have a lot going on in your life right now so I would have a talk with your doctor that is prescribing your Zoloft. And get a manicure, pedicure, massage on a regular basis! They help me tremendously!!

Aneroo, LPN · Mar 5, 2009

Get yourself some fake nails! Cut them short, and grow your real ones. In a couple of months, you can switch to the real ones. I would think fake nails would be more difficult psychologically to bite, so maybe you can break the habit!:)

You've never had fake nails have you- they're awful to the natural nail. It leaves them weak and even more brittle than they might have been before. It's taken me months to recover from acrylics.

I think the problem with fake nails is the pseudomonas bacteria, fungi, and other things that grow between the real nail the wrap. No amount of handwashing will get that area clean. Even if my facility allowed them I'd be afraid of harming my patients. Maybe if you just got a plain manicure it would help your cuticles and your feelings. You should also try pedicures. Pedicures are so relaxing and really help feet suffering from 12 hour shifts. (I know this personally) :)

I agree.

Whispera, MSN, RN · Mar 5, 2009

On skimming all the responses, I didn't see anyone mention the big possibility of developing a fungus infection under your nails, given the constant wetness from hand-washing along with all the critters that will be hiding there....