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?

[AprilRNhere]

Our facility has a policy against any type of nail extensions. I don't have data to back it up..but in orientation we were told there was a cardiac unit within the company that had a high mortality rate one quarter. They ended up tracing it back to a fungus that is common under acrylic nails. Even with good hand washing....fungus isn't always killed - and with glove changes spores can be spread through the air.

We don't have a policy on nail length or color.

[LPN01112005]

Natural nails only and they must be trimmed. This is an infection control issue. Polish is ok as long as it isn't chipped.