artifical nails off..angry nurse

Kimily · Feb 7, 2005

You, too, could benefit from educating yourself. You know what, its not about anyone "controlling you". I think some maturity is called for her. And a reality check......for example:
A few years back, 16 infants died in an NICU due to fungi spreading and infecting them, isolated from two nurses with fake nails. It is NOT worth it just cause they are "easier" or "look nice" or you feel you should be "free to dress as you choose". It's about more than that....
. How would you feel were YOU one of those nurses? I know I would never, ever forgive myself. I also know I would refuse the care of a nurse w/artificial nails, if given the chance to, hands-down. I hope I don't sound harsh.I don't mean to. But some of you folks who insist out of rebellion or vanity really need to educate yourselves more, let the studies and evidence speak for themselves!
If feel you can't do w/o fake nails, do us all a favor; get a job in an area where no patient contact is possible. Please.

Wow! You really, really like being right! haha, Thats okay though, makes for interesting conversation. I do agree that there are some documented misfortunes where fake nails are concerned, my point is this, As a nurse simply forgettting to wash your hands ( with or without nails I might add ) and touching someone on reverse isolation precautions may cause a reprocution, forgetting to wipe the hub of your IV site EACH AND EVERY TIME You insert a med or a flush may cause infection, Med Errors, Going to work sick because you have no more sick days and cant afford not to, and breathing on someone can cause serious issues for some patients. Dont you get it yet? Everyday..in many ways you can cause harm, however unintentional. Nails are simply one issue, not for you or me to decide, and certainly the right of anyone who wants to wear them to deal anyway theywant to with being able to , or not being able to wear them, without someone making them out to be lousy nurses. Even you can make a mistake without artificial nails, I hope if that time comes , Your support system is better than yours appears to be for others. One last point, I personally do not wear nails, my real nails are kept clean and manicured and at sport length. If I worked around NICU babies, they would most likely be shorter out of neccessity, Not everyone does or wants to. TO each his own, I am also very well educated and take my patients care and safety very seriously, I thankyou for assuming I would not though, it made me realize thinking you know everything and thinking your way has to be the right way, causes way to much trouble , and I hope I never ever become that way.

begalli · Feb 7, 2005

my point is this, As a nurse simply forgettting to wash your hands ( with or without nails I might add ) and touching someone on reverse isolation precautions may cause a reprocution, forgetting to wipe the hub of your IV site EACH AND EVERY TIME You insert a med or a flush may cause infection, Med Errors, Going to work sick because you have no more sick days and cant afford not to, and breathing on someone can cause serious issues for some patients.

I think the point is that it has been proven that artificial nails can cause problems. The examples that you list can also cause problems and are things that are preventable with good nursing judgement. Eliminating artificial nails is a preventative measure as well.

My nails are fine. Never in my life have I ever worn artificial nails, but there was a time before I was a nurse when I grew my nails medium-long and wore polish. I have sympathy for those who have nail problems. I really do, but I think hospitals as well as nurses have an obligation to the patients they serve to provide the safest environment possible. Eliminating artificial nails is just one issue or way to do that.

The way the OP was treated was rude and wrong.

Kimily · Feb 7, 2005

I think the point is that it has been proven that artificial nails can cause problems. The examples that you list can also cause problems and are things that are preventable with good nursing judgement. Eliminating artificial nails is a preventative measure as well.
My nails are fine. Never in my life have I ever worn artificial nails, but there was a time before I was a nurse when I grew my nails medium-long and wore polish. I have sympathy for those who have nail problems. I really do, but I think hospitals as well as nurses have an obligation to the patients they serve to provide the safest environment possible. Eliminating artificial nails is just one issue or way to do that.
The way the OP was treated was rude and wrong.

IF I was rude I appologize, I dont see that as much as I seen it from the OP to previous posters, but, yet again to each his own.

Most of the oposition if from non wearers and most of the defenders are currently and or have been wearers of artificial nails. I guess the moral of these arguments should be dont walk in someone elses shoes, if you dont wear them , dont worry about it, If you do, then you must deal with the consequences that may occur.

BUT!! I still feel telling someone that because they choose to wear them, or defend wearing them makes them unworthy of being a good nurse is truely what was rude and wrong.

Im moving on to a different subject now, there are much more serious issues to deal with in nursing than wether another nurse wears acrylics.

begalli · Feb 7, 2005

IF I was rude I appologize

I didn't mean YOU were rude, I meant the way the OP was treated by her employer was rude.

Kimily, with much due respect, your logic is flawed. I don't think the researchers who studied this whole artificial nails thing were heck-bent on making people unhappy and taking away their constitutional rights.

It's about the safety of patients. That's it.

fergus51 · Feb 7, 2005

I don't understand why nurses are unwilling to admit facts. I know for us working with premies and sick infants, there are few things more important than avoiding infections. That makes acrylics a VERY serious nursing issue. Infection control doesn't forbid them because they are a bunch of cranky fake nail haters. I would love to be able to wear fake nails cause mine are horrid, but I couldn't live with knowing I had caused a baby's death because of them.

fergus51 · Feb 7, 2005

As a nurse simply forgettting to wash your hands ( with or without nails I might add ) and touching someone on reverse isolation precautions may cause a reprocution, forgetting to wipe the hub of your IV site EACH AND EVERY TIME You insert a med or a flush may cause infection, Med Errors, Going to work sick because you have no more sick days and cant afford not to, and breathing on someone can cause serious issues for some patients. Dont you get it yet? Everyday..in many ways you can cause harm, however unintentional.

So should we just do all those things and not worry about them? I would think the logical argument would be to try to limit anything that causes patient harm as much as possible, not allow all of them because we can't stop them 100%. It seems like you're saying "Why bother insisting nurses do things to limit patient harm?".

Forcemaster · Feb 7, 2005

My hospital has just begun a revision of it's uniform policy to ensure it is up to date with current thinking, and as such is beginning a big crack-down on people who flout the regulations that ALL healthcare staff (i.e. Nurses, Doctors, Radiographers, Physios and OTs et.c) had to read and ALL healthcare staff have to adhere to without fail, all in an effort of cutting down our infection statistics.

To sum up the nail issue for us in as few words as possible...

Nails must NOT extend beyond the ends of the finger.

Nail polish must NOT be worn.

Artificial nails of any type must NOT be worn.

All 3 of these issues are related to patient safety. Long & artificial & nail polish have been proven as a harbour for bacteria and risk damaging the skin of patients.

It has also been shown that the coatings that are often appiled to nails does chip and end up in patient's wounds and act as a vector for infection.

Patient safety comes above our right to 'look good' while at work... harsh but true.

Does this mean that nurses who wear these are not good nurses?

I would argue that any nurse who endangers their patient through ignornace is in need of education, and any nurse who decides looking good rises above the needs of patient safety is in the wrong profession... Again, this may seem autocratic, but you can't argue with the evidence.:stone

Still... back to the origional post... Should you have been written up for this without more warning? It seems as though you were written up on what? The second time? I always tend to go for the 3 strikes rule...

1 Informal chat

2 Verbal warning

3 Formal Written warning

And to those who have thin/cracked nails etc... You need to approach your hospital about setting up a contract with a reputable local manicurist to give all health care workers a discount on nail/hand care. It helps :rolleyes:

mopsi · Feb 7, 2005

I have used a product called NAIL MAGIC for years..I used to have weak nails like everyone else but this product really works for me..Others , who have gone through withdrawl from their enhanced talons have had great success too!! It is under $6 any place in the US.I even checked and Walgreens sells it online..A low cost thing to at least try..I do my nails twice a week. By that I mean strip polish, file scraglies and put 2 new top coats of nail magic on. I could really grow them out to ridiculous lenghts but choose not to.. You can also apply a color if thats your preference..Hope this was insightful and may ease the pains of the loss of pretty but germy fingers and will make the nail nazis happy!!!

Bubbles · Feb 7, 2005

I purchased Nail Tek III from my dermatologist - cost $10.00 - used it for many months with no improvement. My nails will only grow so long and then break and split. Not only does it look ugly, but I have one nail that is ridged and splits into the flesh. It hurts!! And I am constantly aware of my nail and how awful they look. Also, my mother and one sister have the same problem with the same nail. Have gone to acrylics finally for past two months - wear them very short - not crazy about having them - but at least they don't hurt! OTE=fuerza757]Hi,

I too use to work for an agency and am very surprised that they wrote you up. I use to have artifical nails and then continued with the overlay method for several years. When I returned to the clinical setting I gave up the nails because of the high risk of infection. I found a wonderful product called

Nail tech II. It is a clear top coat. It is protein based. Yes my nails looked terrible they where very brittle and paper thin, but by the second month of use, my nails became hard and healthy again. They grew and broke several times but finally they stopped braking. I also tried something I read in a magazine, using olive oil on my around the cuticles 1-2xweek.

Another tip is to keep them at a reasonable length.That was 2 years ago and I must tell you, it is so good to go to the nail shop for a wonderful manicure once a month instead of every two weeks now when I look at nails I am so happy because they where in such bad shape, I love that they are healthy, natural and all mine. Today, They grow so rapidly that I have to cut them down frequently. It will take sometime. My nails where also discolored. But in time it will fade with proper care. You really did the right thing.

Good Luck.

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 7, 2005

Wow! You really, really like being right! haha, Thats okay though, makes for interesting conversation. I do agree that there are some documented misfortunes where fake nails are concerned, my point is this, As a nurse simply forgettting to wash your hands ( with or without nails I might add ) and touching someone on reverse isolation precautions may cause a reprocution, forgetting to wipe the hub of your IV site EACH AND EVERY TIME You insert a med or a flush may cause infection, Med Errors, Going to work sick because you have no more sick days and cant afford not to, and breathing on someone can cause serious issues for some patients. Dont you get it yet? Everyday..in many ways you can cause harm, however unintentional. Nails are simply one issue, not for you or me to decide, and certainly the right of anyone who wants to wear them to deal anyway theywant to with being able to , or not being able to wear them, without someone making them out to be lousy nurses. Even you can make a mistake without artificial nails, I hope if that time comes , Your support system is better than yours appears to be for others. One last point, I personally do not wear nails, my real nails are kept clean and manicured and at sport length. If I worked around NICU babies, they would most likely be shorter out of neccessity, Not everyone does or wants to. TO each his own, I am also very well educated and take my patients care and safety very seriously, I thankyou for assuming I would not though, it made me realize thinking you know everything and thinking your way has to be the right way, causes way to much trouble , and I hope I never ever become that way.

You still don't get it. Ummm, Where did I say I was perfect? Where did I say I make no mistakes? I just know if something is wrong, and I am aware, I would not be making a "mistake" continuing to do so. I would be doing something WRONG. There is a difference. If you think I am saying all this to be "right", well you are truly clueless. I give up. Maybe someone else can enlighten you....before you make a patient sick, I hope .....but try and refrain from being defensive. It gets in the way of learning and changing for the better.

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 7, 2005

My hospital has just begun a revision of it's uniform policy to ensure it is up to date with current thinking, and as such is beginning a big crack-down on people who flout the regulations that ALL healthcare staff (i.e. Nurses, Doctors, Radiographers, Physios and OTs et.c) had to read and ALL healthcare staff have to adhere to without fail, all in an effort of cutting down our infection statistics.
To sum up the nail issue for us in as few words as possible...
Nails must NOT extend beyond the ends of the finger.
Nail polish must NOT be worn.
Artificial nails of any type must NOT be worn.
All 3 of these issues are related to patient safety. Long & artificial & nail polish have been proven as a harbour for bacteria and risk damaging the skin of patients.
It has also been shown that the coatings that are often appiled to nails does chip and end up in patient's wounds and act as a vector for infection.
Patient safety comes above our right to 'look good' while at work... harsh but true.
Does this mean that nurses who wear these are not good nurses?
I would argue that any nurse who endangers their patient through ignornace is in need of education, and any nurse who decides looking good rises above the needs of patient safety is in the wrong profession... Again, this may seem autocratic, but you can't argue with the evidence.:stone
Still... back to the origional post... Should you have been written up for this without more warning? It seems as though you were written up on what? The second time? I always tend to go for the 3 strikes rule...
1 Informal chat
2 Verbal warning
3 Formal Written warning
And to those who have thin/cracked nails etc... You need to approach your hospital about setting up a contract with a reputable local manicurist to give all health care workers a discount on nail/hand care. It helps

A very good voice of reason. Excellent post. Thank you.

KrisRNwannabe · Feb 7, 2005

From reading on the CDC webpage, the thing with nail polish is chipping. like if you had a chip then bacteria could get under the polish and grow. i had never heard this before but it seems reasonable. i guess it would be easier to see lifting nail polish than lifting under the acrylic tip. which occurs alot from your own nail growing and then seperating from the tip