Nails question

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i just heard that nurses arent allowed to have 'nails' anymore when working with patients...i guess this includes acrylic nails and just nails that are longer than the tip of your finger.

also, no nail polish unless it is clear or neutral colored.

is this true? i am in california...

:uhoh3:

~~confused~~

Specializes in L & D; Postpartum.

I wore acrylics for several years BECAUSE my own nails chip, split and I have horrible cuticles. And I wore them very short. I found no problems working in them at all, and never did I wear them at daggar length. Now they are gone, and my natural nails look crappy: split, torn, horrible cuticles...but I guess that's healthier than the alternative, so someone better be happy about it. I'm not, but I'm going to retire in a couple of years.

I donated blood yesterday and the gal who took my history, did my blood sample and who also does starts and stops, had beautiful French tips. I was so envious, and no it didn't bother me. She followed all the other protocols, gloves, handwashing, etc., so I was very comfortable with it.

I guess that's where I don't quite understand the big deal: if nurses can't have them, why do you see them everywhere else in health care. There are lots of people who have patient contact, from the admissions people to the person wheeling them out at discharge. Many of those folks are not bound by this.

I only hope that one day there will be a study done on how much improved the infection rate has become because we've given them up, not just that they cause all kinds of problems.

I'm probably dreaming.

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Specializes in ER.
I can agree with not having the artificial nails, but does anyone have a suggestion on how to keep your own nails from breaking and splitting from the moisture that we constantly subject our hands to? Mine are soooo short and thin, they are horrid!

I keep Sally Hansen Maximum Growth on mine. It does not chip (more like peels) but you will ofcourse need to check it everyday to see if it needs to be reapplied. My nails very, very rarely split.

And to the original poster, no can't wear fake ones. I believe you can do a Google search to a case many, many years ago where an infection was traced back to a workers artificial nails.

T

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Specializes in None...YET!.

I'm not a nurse yet, but I don't like acrylic nails...that's one less thing I have to worry about. LOL!

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No one with patient contact is allowed to wear fake nails where I work. I would be horrified to see a nurse in the NICU wearing acryllics after that well publicized case in which the germs in fake nails were linked to the deaths of several NICU babies. We even tell moms to remove their nails if they have them. It's a fungus fest under those things. Sally Hansen has lots of great creams and such that help natural nails stay healthy. Mine don't look great or anything, but at least I know they won't kill my patients:)

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
i keep sally hansen maximum growth on mine. it does not chip (more like peels) but you will ofcourse need to check it everyday to see if it needs to be reapplied. my nails very, very rarely split.

and to the original poster, no can't wear fake ones. i believe you can do a google search to a case many, many years ago where an infection was traced back to a workers artificial nails.

t

i've tried just about every nail product known to man and my nails peel, not just the polish!

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Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.
No one with patient contact is allowed to wear fake nails where I work. I would be horrified to see a nurse in the NICU wearing acryllics after that well publicized case in which the germs in fake nails were linked to the deaths of several NICU babies. We even tell moms to remove their nails if they have them. It's a fungus fest under those things. Sally Hansen has lots of great creams and such that help natural nails stay healthy. Mine don't look great or anything, but at least I know they won't kill my patients:)

Yes, I remember that study. I think it was in Oklahoma and something like 16 babies died!!! It's a no-brainer really. Why would one want to contribute to harming or even killing patients because of acrylic nails? :uhoh3:

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.
i just heard that nurses arent allowed to have 'nails' anymore when working with patients...i guess this includes acrylic nails and just nails that are longer than the tip of your finger.

also, no nail polish unless it is clear or neutral colored.

is this true? i am in california...

:uhoh3:

~~confused~~

yes, this is true for the nicu. cause for harboring bacteria.

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Specializes in M/S, home health, LTC, rehab/orth.

I keep my nails shorter than the fingertips (so you can't see them from the palm side of the hand), and no nail polish. I was taught that chips in nail polish give germs a good place to hide so I never polish mine. I've heard some places allow clear polish but even though you can't see the chips they're still there right? I figure any little thing to protect myself and my patients is worth the vanity issues related to having pretty nails. I've found that not wearing polish my nails are healthier and stronger anyway. The tips are very white since they're not stained (althought they're short). You can buff them if you want them to look shiny without polish but if your nails are thin that can make them break easier. Since I'm taking prenatal vitamins and pg I feel like mine are harder and growing a lot faster so I've really had to keep up with cutting them often, which is funny since they are normally very soft from all my handwashing/alcohol sanitizer applying. So my advice to anyone wanting stronger nails--prenatal vitamins! :idea: LOL

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I don't think you should have acrylics - especially the dagger ones. And there does seem to be legitimate research on bacteria and acrylics. However, I always wear colored nail polish - not out of vanity, but because my thumb nails have terrible ridges and almost look deformed. The polish covers them up. I'm careful to re-apply the polish when they start to chip.

In fact, the best nail polish EVER is Revlon Colorstay. That polish seriously stays on for over a week without chips! In addition, my nails hardly ever peel, etc., because of the nail polish. If your nails are in bad shape, can't bacteria also enter chipping/peeling/snagged nails?

And, I have to say - if you're going to do deal with something gross, shouldn't you be wearing gloves and wash your hands anyway? I know that's not fool-proof, but it seems to be the best protection from bacteria.

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Gloves aren't worn to protect the patient (unless we're talking about sterile gloves), they are worn to protect the nurse. You pick them up with your bare hands, so they have the same bacteria on them as you do on your hands.

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I am going to start my nursing classes in a few weeks, and I have just received and read my handbook. It says that our nails are not to be seen from the palmar side of the hand, no fake nails, etc. Don't know if that's what the rules are everywhere, but that's what I was told!

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Here is an article about the baby deaths in Oklahoma linked to acrylic nails...

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/22/1728_55965.htm

That is enough to convince me that I will never have them!

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