Ok seasoned nurses, I have a question!

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I'm am doing the prerequiste classes to get into the LPN program in the spring. Currently I am taking Patient Care Fundamentals and we are doing clinicals at a local nursing home. Since I've started, I wash my hands a million times a day and also use hand santizer. My hands are killing me! They are cracked, dried out and feel like an 80 year olds hands. When I get home I put lots of lotion on my hands, but it doesnt help very much. Please tell me what can I do about this? There's gotta be some magic lotion or something that can help. I dont think my hands will make it, washing them like this for years to come.

Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

Cream several times a day and apply something a bit thicker at night and cover with cotton gloves. Personally, i use hand treatment by crabtree and evelyn during the day and don't have to do too much else for my hands - but to heal up really bad hands i have put a thin layer of lansinoh (the nipple ointment from when i was nursing) and cover with gloves for half the night (remove when i get up to use the bathroom) and it has healed them up in a night or two.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Peds, OB, L/D, Ortho.

All the suggestions are great.....may I add that it is just as important to get your hands dry after washing them. I know I am guilty of washing and just a quick dry then on to the next patient....we must get em dry all over especially between our fingers and knuckles! Good luck!

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Udderly SMOOth® Udder Cream ~ very effective:smackingf

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Specializes in LTC, Home Health.

I love Corn Huskers Lotion. It is not thick and greasy at all but works great!

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Specializes in Developmentally Disabled, LTC, Clinic, Hospital.

Good ol Vaseline!! Run your hands in warm--NOT hot-- warm water for a few minutes, just to soften them up, SLATHER on the vaseline and put on a pair of cotton gloves. Go to bed. Sleep well and wake up with soft and hydrated hands. Its a little awkward and feels kinda weird, but the benefits are awesome. You can also do this with your feet if you have cracked heels. If you look in the baby section at walmart, etc, where the baby wash stuff is, they usually have gloves intended to be worn while bathing your baby so you don't have to try to hold the little slippery fish and a washcloth at the same time. These are the gloves I use. :twocents:

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Specializes in medicine and psychiatry.

Its bag balm for me all the way. Been using it for years.

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Specializes in ED, Flight.

Well, you can see your problem isn't unique!

I use Curel lotion during the shift, just because it works for me and isn't all that expensive. I just bought a multi-pack at Sam's Club that should hold me for a while.

At home I use Burt's Bees Hand Salve. I have pretty bad arthritis in my hands, and this stuff not only helps my skin but also makes my joints feel just a little better.

If you ask, you'll find that lots of us have experimented with all sorts of creams and lotions till we found the right one for 'me'.

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