False Nails (Does it promote infection?)

[bjweiland]

I am curious to what people think about this subject. At the hospital where I work they are really emphasizing that no care giver direct patient care or indirect patient care are permitted to wear false nails. I just don't think that what they are basing it on is correct. I don't know how many people know about the babies who died from the nurses wearing false nails. I just can't help but wander where was their universal precautions and gloves!!!!!!!!!!!I can not believe that false nails harbor that much germs that they could still be intact after a nurse would wash her hands and don and doff gloves. Anyone that can comment on this I would love to hear from. I would also like to know what other hospitals are doing. I am an assistant nurse manager, and I am not permitted to wear them even if I do no patient care. I am considered direct patient care 80% of the time.

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[RNGranny]

Here in SouthernCalifornia, there have been hospital studies that have traced outbreaks of nosocomial infections directly back to the long fingernails of health care workers. Not a good idea to have them. If I had a nurse or CNA taking care of me, especially handling IVs, wound care, etc., and who had long nails, I would make a very loud complaint. Not worth it!

[baseline]

Hmmmm....makes me wonder about the increase in fungal infections in our patient population......I'll definetly run this one by the ID girls on Monday.....Verrrrry Interesting.......I used to wear acrylic nails, but didn't do direct patient care.....

[sassynurse78]

Besides all the studies done and facts regarding artificial nails, let me share an experience of mine, once I once got artificial acrylic nails to have of course for vanity, on my two week vacation. I went back to work with them actully forgetting about even having them, opening pills was like a puzzle (how to get the package open with my short not long nails on) but the kicker was when I put on gloves and while taking someone off the bedpan my glove ripped and I got BM under one of my nails. YUCCKKKK. I washed and washed and used a nail clipper to get behind my nail and still could not get it all out. I went home soaked them and took them off. Never ever again until maybe I am retired!

[renerian, BSN, RN]

My sister got fungal infections under all 10 nails, had to have them off for a year and take diflucan for that entire year to clear it up. I would never wear them. Her nails are ugly now.

renerian

[emily_mom]

We are not allowed to wear them at work, and no nail polish either. I had fake nails once, for my wedding, and I will never get them again. I couldn't get them off, went to the place I got them and they couldn't either. I had to let them grow out and keep cutting them....ick!

I think you get lots of things under your nails and don't realize it. When I was a waitress, I'd wash my hands all the time. Yet, I'd come home with the equivalent of a five course meal under them. Now, in health care, we're just dealing with the things we can't see....

Kristy

[chartleypj]

Originally posted by nurse-lou

Ok I need to add my $0.02 here,

I have artificial nails. I wash my hand religiously and wear gloves when I am supposed to and as far as I know have never gotten an infection. I know a nurse that is a certified OR nurse and is a member of AORN and she told me that as far as AORN is concerned, that artificial nails are OK with them.

nurse-lou,

RE AORN recommended practice; check out this website.

http://aorn.org/clinical/faq3.htm

I work with more than one periop nurse whose nails are destroyed from fungus infection associated with artificial nails. A.N. are not allowed in the OR I work in. We also wash our hands religiously and wear gloves.

Paula

[RN-PA, RN]

Our hospital has recently notified us that it will be a false nail-free facility by April. They also don't want our nails any longer than 1/8 inch beyond the fingertip-- fine by me since I keep mine shorter than that. I never could understand how nurses can work with long nails as I occassionally accidentally scratch or poke a patient I'm assessing with my shortish nails, and always wondered about inserting rectal suppositories with those dagger fingernails-- YIKES! The Infection Control committee is saying that manicures and nail polish are okay, but says that chipped polish is also a harbor for germs and is warning about that, too.

[2banurse]

This has been something I was considering posting on. I'm glad that this was picked up again. I've had acrylic nails since last March and though I like the way the nails looked (no chipping of polish like regular manicures), I know that I am going to have to have them removed before starting the nursing program. Since I would like to work in the NICU, I don't want to create any additional problems.

[RockiNbarbi]

There has been some talk at the hospital that I work in about banning the artificial nails. My opinion is that I can't see them harbouring any more bacteria than a natural long nail. What I will disagree with is the inappropriate lengths some nurses come in with...ouch!

[onco gal]

I have seen terrible fungal infections that have grown under the fake nail disfiguring the "real nail bed". I personally do not wear them and would not. I feel the same way about artificial nails as I do about strong perfume and excessive jewelry. They do not belong while delivering patient care. When I had surgery a nurse's perfume was so strong that I had excessive n/v in recovery. When she asked me what she could do for me I told her. Please respect the people who are depending on us. It is not a beauty contest. You can look beautiful without the nails, perfume and excessive jewelry

[onlyaPre-nurse]

Ok guys I see both sides of this LOOOOONG debate. I am a nail tech{putting self thru nursing school} but I would have to say.....that even tho nails right now and for the pass 7 yrs were/are my livelyhood i do not agree with them in the health care field! you should see some of the gunk that is under peoples nails, even when they come in and wash there hands its still there!!!!any kind of nail enhancement has the potential for lift and thus so trapping germs between the enhancement and the natural nail. and no amount of hand washing can get that out. but that is JMHO :)

[donmurray]

I can't believe this thread is still active after almost TWO years!

The first few posts gave links to ample evidence that false nails harbour/cause infections. So what's to discuss?