how do nurses wear nail polish?

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

hey guys! so I'm a nursing student and worked at my hospital in patient transport for a year and I am now a nursing assistant in the ICU. when I worked in transport I noticed this but even more when I started in the ICU as an aid because I use hand sanitizer CONSTANTLY before I go into a room after each room and theres over 20 beds so when its time for sugar checks I use a whole lot of hand sanitzer. since the sanitizer is basically alcohol it destroys your hands and nails (especially if you have nail polish on) the polish will get sticky as all hell and basically come off and due to the tackiness of the polish then you get fuzz stuck to your nails (not cute). I have stopped wearing nail polish now but I noticed like all the women nurses wear normal nail polish and they dont have this problem.

Do you girls wear nail polish?

If so, does yours become tacky and gross?

I have sooooo much nail polish and have tried this with many different brands and it happen with all them pretty much. I know this is kinda a silly question but I am just wondering haha.

Specializes in LTC and School Health.
grntea said:
due to documented evidence of increased risk of infection, real nurses who do patient care do not wear nail polish or acrylics. no nail polish or acrylics in patient care. try not to swoon over this.

I'm a real nurse who wears gel nail polish. as stated in my previous post this polish does not chip or wear. I wear a neutral color ( light pink or beige).

I've seen real nurses, real doctors, real nurse managers, real nps, wear nail polish and acrylics.

this is a topic that is a loosing battle. just like there shouldn't be nurses who smoke or who is obese... yeah right.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Our hospital's policy is that you can wear "earth tone" polish (meaning, purple or green is out, sorry) that must be well-kept - no chips. As others have said, gel polish holds up well. I would suggest trying that.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
OnlybyHisgraceRN said:
I'm a real nurse who wears gel nail polish. As stated in my previous post this polish does not chip or wear.

My friend who started at a hospital had to go back to the salon and rip her new gels off (not just the polish.. the acrylic GEL that goes with it) days after she had them applied.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

So just to be clear, nurses who don't do direct patient care - are we not "real nurses"? Or is that only those of us who don't do direct patient care AND wear nail polish? Just wanted to make sure I'm clear on that.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I have thought of doing the gel manicure, as I hear it strengthens nails too, which I desperately need. My hesitation though is this: How do patients and administration know it is gel and not just nail polish? Doesn't that kind of fall into the vagueness that requires a policy to be all sweeping? The above comment about earth tones being permissible is the first I have ever read of nail polish not being against policy for an RN. Though Klone, I am unsure (and not being at all snarky) if you are doing patient care or not? Obviously that would make a difference in terms of the permissibility of it.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Our OR policy states that nail polish in neutral/natural tones that is not chipped and less than 4 days old is okay. No acrylic, no gel, no chips, and no week old manicures allowed. I personally don't wear it because I think it's more hassle than it's worth. I do, however, get a pedicure every four to five weeks with a really bright cheerful color.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC and School Health.
not.done.yet said:
I have thought of doing the gel manicure, as I hear it strengthens nails too, which I desperately need. My hesitation though is this: How do patients and administration know it is gel and not just nail polish? Doesn't that kind of fall into the vagueness that requires a policy to be all sweeping? The above comment about earth tones being permissible is the first I have ever read of nail polish not being against policy for an RN. Though Klone, I am unsure (and not being at all snarky) if you are doing patient care or not? Obviously that would make a difference in terms of the permissibility of it.

If you get your nails done right, the gel polish does make them stronger and longer. My nails have grown so much. I love gel polish ! We the polish is ready to come off, it peels right off.

I keep my nails short, clean, and pretty. The day they tell me I can't wear nail polish or make up, is the day I'll quit nursing. LOL !

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTAC, ICU, ER, Informatics.

I can't find it now, but I read a study that said that if the polish were fresh without chips, it didn't pose any increase in infection risk. Acrylic nails will always be an infection risk.

I have the problem of peeling, splitting nails. We're not allowed to wear any polish, even clear, at my nursing school, and my nails and cuticles are a right mess. I cannot see how a fresh application of a strengthening polish can be any more of an infection risk than the ragged mess my nails are right now.

I've had the gel polish before, and I had the same problems with it that I had with artificial nails - lifting at the root. So I won't it because it would definitely be an infection control hazard.

I think the polish issue isn't as cut and dried as some people would like to think.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

At my school, we're not allowed to wear any polish at all. At orientation they cited some research that showed that chips in nail polish can carry as many bacteria as acrylic nails. Yuck.. I'll pass. And besides, who can get a regular manicure to go more than a couple days without starting to get little chips here and there? I have had gel in the past, which I absolutly love, it really lasts a long tiime and looks great even after a couple weeks. If you're really insistant on having your nails done, and the facility allows, I'd go for the gel/shellac. The extra cost is worth it.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in M/S, ICU, ICP.

Actually, from an infection control point of view, most direct patient caregivers should not wear nail polish at all, or if worn, it should be fresh and not chipped and on very short well groomed nails.

(rolling my eyes, ducking for cover and having to deal with the fingernail issue on a daily basis)

In reality the bottom line is that infection control starts at the bedside with the nurse and assistants who touch the patient and the patients environment. If managers and directors don't enforce the policy, organisms just keep spreading and causing infections that medicare will no longer pay for. Not to mention the mortality rates.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

I wear nail polish. I don't see anything wrong with it as long as it's not chipped. We are allowed to wear it at my hospital as long as it's not chipped and it has to be changed or removed within 4 days.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Orthopedic, LTC, STR, Med-Surg, Tele.

I get a gel manicure every 2-3 weeks, and it doesn't come off or get gross with the hand sanitizer. Lasts a long time too :) I think our santizers have chlorhexidine though.

No one has ever said anything to me about having a manicure, even from an infection control standpoint. My nails were brittle and flaking, now they are healthy and strong. I cut them down after about a week (I'd hate to accidentally scratch someone) and they still look nice. Plus, my patients are always watching me flush their IV, auscultate their chest, etc., and I feel more polished and professional if my nails and cuticles aren't a peeling, bleeding, cracking mess.

I used to look down on girls and women who got manicures because I think it was frilly and high-maintenance and tacky. Now that I've started getting manicures, I feel so much more put together. As I said above, a lot of people are looking at my hands.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment