Nails

[michael79]

What is your facility's policy on fingernails? I have natural fingernails that are not long, but slightly extended over the tip that I get manicured with just nail polish (no gel or acrylic or anything) in a french manicure style. I have heard that some LTC's won't let you have you nails polished at all let alone a french manicure. Can anyone tell me what their policy is? And if you cannot have natural, short fingernails why?

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

our hospital dosen't allow long finger nails of any sort...

[suzanne4, RN]

Your own personal nails are just fine and polished how you like, for most facilities at least. What is not approved are any type of add-ons to your nails, such as gel or acrylic, and more than a 1/4 inch extension over your fingertip for most.

We are starting to see more nurses wearing acrylics as they do not seem to think that the rules apply to them. I would not permit someone to care for me, or a family member with them. Have seen too many problems thru the years to permit it.

[ICU_nurse]

I don't think there is a "policy" of sorts at my hospital- if one does exist, i have never seen it/found it/heard of it/been directed to read it etc etc. I have what i describe as "normal" sized nails, little bit of the tip pokes over my finger, rounded off. I sometimes wear polish (either clear or natural colour) but thats a personal thing for me as my nails are so brittle from exposure to water/soap/chemicals (ie- frequent hand-washing) that I will put a coat of polish to protect them. Having said that, people have told me that polish (and the polish remover i use to take it off!) is just as drying on my hands and nails.

There are plenty of nurses at work who have acrylic nails (they look difficult to work in to me!!) and who wear various coloured polishes. To be honest i don't think the hospital cares- at the moment we don't even have a uniform!

The reason is infection control-plain and simple. No nail tip = no places for bugs to get under. I'd cut them if i absolutely had to, however I"m abit of a hand-hygiene fiend so it's not something that I would do on my own accord- my wash routine is pretty decent!

parko

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

Our policy is no acrylics, but polish is allowed if not chipped. I keep my nails natural anyway, so not an issue for me.

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

I am still a student but we are not allowed anything other than natural nails that are no longer than 1/4 inch over the fingertip. Polish is only allowed in flesh colored tones or a french manicure. Chipped/chipping polish is NOT allowed.

I don't know exactly what the policy is in the facilities we been to (LTC to hospitals, day cares, etc) but there has not been one facility where I haven't noticed at least one or two nurses and/or techs with claw like, brightly colored FAKE nails. It totally grosses me out to think what the hell is festering under those nails! (add to the fake nails, outrageous makeup, huge dangling earrings, so much jewerly they look like they are a display case for a jewerly store and hair that is to the waist that is just flowing and dangling everywhere. That one particular nurse (long hair and claws for nails) was an OB nurse and I watched in horror as her hair was dangling in a newborn babe's face and into is diaper area..verytime she moved her hair would fly out and go into whatever was behind her or next to her (my face being one of those things) almost enough to make me hurl. I can only imagine what those claws felt like during a cervix check

*I am one who normally has nice natural nails that are always kept meticulous. I always have a french manicure (unless going to an event then I will add color or design to them) but the second I was accepted into school, I cut them down to pretty much nothing. It killed me! It wasn't so much what I might have given to pts with what might be under my nails, it was more what of theirs might be transferred from them to my nails...ewwww!!*

[nightmare, RN]

if you read this it may put you off wearing false nails!

"for the study, two strains of mrsa were inoculated in triplicate onto coupons made of bed linen, keyboard covers and acrylic fingernails. at selected times over 8 weeks, the coupons were subcultured and surviving bacteria were counted. mrsa survivors remained at detectable levels for 8 weeks on acrylic fingernails, 6 weeks on computer keyboard covers and 5 days on bed linen. "the results of this study clearly demonstrate the need for frequent hand washing and environmental disinfection in health care settings," says owens."

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source:american society for microbiology

date:june 7, 2005

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

Our policy is no artificial nails and no nails beyond 1/4 in. Wearing gloves does not prevent germs with artificial nails. Do a culture on them sometime!

[squeakykitty]

Our policy is no artificial nails and no nails beyond 1/4 in. Wearing gloves does not prevent germs with artificial nails. Do a culture on them sometime!

The LTC I worked at had the same policy. I never let my nails get to 1/4" because one time I did and I accidently gouged myself on the forehead. I didn't want to do that to a resident by accident.

[CareBayer]

I have read several articles that indicate that chipped nail-polish will also harbor microbes (regardless of hand-hygeine practices.) I keep my nails short and polish-less for this reason!

[marjoriemac, LPN]

I dont think we are supposed to wear any nail polish nor have long nails as there is the infection control risk and the risk of scratching patients who already have very fragile skin.

[sharlynn]

Many,many years ago when I was starting my career in nursing, I wore colored polish. I was shocked at how dirty my fingernails were when I removed the polish and wear none or clear to this day. Evidently, I unconsciously clean under my naols when I can see them!

Most facilities I have worked at have had a policy of fingertip length only, but it is rarely enforced.