why nurses cannot have a nail polish..?

Nurses Safety

Published

im just wondering why nurses cannot paint their nails during duty...??

is it a general rule or only to the hospital where i work..

Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

Even if you don't wear polish and have outside plumbing, we love you guys anyway...*grin*

Besides, there's a guy in our ER who's been a nurse since the days of the Ark, and he makes awesome chili, and always thinks of us "girls up in the unit." I'm not disrespecting anybody that feeds me!

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Specializes in LTC.

In mircobiology one of my classmates cultured her acrylic nails.... It was one of the most disgusting things I've seen.

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Specializes in FNP.

We have a no fake nails policy, and they are supposed to be short. No rules about polish AFAIK. I sometimes wear polish, not usually. However, I'd say easily 1/3 to 1/2 the staff wear fake nails. The policy has never been enforced. They ignore that, a real infection control issue, and yet sen d people home for visible tattoos, lol. I'm no fan of tattoos, but let's be reasonable here, they certainly don't pose a health risk to patients!

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.
It's ok Boratz, we don't need nail polish, we can pee standing up HAHA

We can pee standing up too, but afterwards a change of pants is sometimes in order.

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Specializes in Pedi ICU.

Because that's what we've done since 1863.

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Specializes in LTAC, ICU, ER, Informatics.

I keep wondering about this, because while I do NOT wear fake nails, and I keep my nails short, decades of nail biting (managed to stop that habit a couple of years ago) has left me with incredibly thin and brittle nails. I wear strengthening/thickening polishes, and will have to check with my nursing program (accepted for Spring - yay!!) to see if clear is acceptable. I don't however want to create an infection problem regardless of my nails issues. If the polish is kept fresh, should it be ok??

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Specializes in ER, L&D, RR, Rural nursing.

Bacteria is why not to wear polish or fake nails. Seen the infections come in from some salons who don't keep things hygienic.

Buffing nails is wonderful. I have recently began to do that and wouldn't consider clear polish at all. My nails were also brittle and thin, peeling too. I keep them fairy short. I would steer clear of polish if at all possible.

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I would think that nail biting has nothing to do with your nails being thin and brittle. It's probably genetic and diet related.

Cutting or dying your hair doesn't affect the yet-to-be-grown hair. Chewing nails shouldn't affect nails that haven't yet emerged.

Wedding rings are an infection risk, too. How many of you know that and still wear them? I'm the only married nurse on my unit that doesn't wear a wedding ring. I just don't get it. It's an infection control risk, just as fake/painted nails, yet nurses will vehemently defend wearing one, stating they clean it well and theirs is most definitely *not* a risk. Yeah, right. Yours is the exception to the rule.

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Specializes in LTAC, ICU, ER, Informatics.

I know what you mean about the wedding rings. When I was a paramedic, I saw people wearing all sorts of rings, channel-set diamonds, etc. Powder from the gloves would cake in there, and all I could think was if THAT's making a mess, what other crud is caking up in there.

My first husband and I selected plain wedding bands (he was also a paramedic) that had no engraving or other details and could easily scrub. My current husband and I did that, as well as selecting titanium because I hoped at some point to get back in the medical field. But I see your point about even rings that don't trap stuff and can be scrubbed. I won't be wearing any rings or other jewelry other than a watch (and I prefer one on a fob) and maybe my titanium ear studs.

I may start buffing my nails as suggested - I've never done that. I have been using a fortifying cuticle oil and that seems to be helping. If nothing else, I can take the polish off when I'm working and put it back on when I'm off shift. I am *really* conscious of being a petri dish and don't want to risk my patients. :)

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Specializes in acute care med/surg, LTC, orthopedics.

Me. I wear my wedding ring; haven't removed it since the day 20 years ago when my husband put in on my finger so I'll be damned if I remove it for a job.

I'm a meticulous hand washer and sanitizer, though.

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You'll be damned if you'll remove it for patient and your own safety? This is exactly what I'm talking about. ---- the evidence, I'm doing it this way, and no one will tell me otherwise. As if your marriage is somehow lessened by the fact that you might have to remove your wedding ring. I just don't get it. I really don't. Otherwise totally rational, competent, intelligent nurses who pull this line. It just doesn't make any sense to me.

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Specializes in acute care med/surg, LTC, orthopedics.

It's a choice made based on personal and fundamental beliefs.

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