are "fake nails" okay for nurses?

[Ruffles]

I am a nursing student graduating next month. I wore "fake nails" before nursing school, but my program did not allow them during school. I am considering getting them again after graduation. What is your opinion and the policies at the facilities where you work? Are they a health hazaard to patients if proper handwashing precautions are used? Have you read any studies on the "fake nail" issue?

[ANSMFA-RN]

Hi Ruffles! Welcome to the board! I know my hospital also has policies against acrylic nails, but I see some nurses wearing them anyway.

Good luck to you! And an early congratulations on your graduation!

Ann

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

The fact that your program did not allow them should clue you in. They harbor germs, poke thru gloves and sometimes fall off (would you want a stranger's nails in your bed?) As for "proper handwashing"--- that varies considerably with the nurse. You do not want to carry home all those yukky germs.

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

Studies have shown that bacteria transmitted on nurses' fake nails have caused severe infections and were even the cause of some deaths in a NICU. An investigation was done that traced the cause of the severe infections directly to bacteria transmitted from nurses' fake nails.

I am against them for nurses. If I worked in another field, I would consider getting them myself.

If you do a search, you can probably find some articles on hospital infections and deaths related to fake nails.

[GraceyB]

This topic has been discussed over and over. Do a search and I am sure that you will find some threads regarding the fake nail issue. I believe it all depends on the facility where you are working.

[RN2B~MAY4ME]

Regardless of the facility, you should use caution.

Personally i would make it a rule of my own not to where them....our school told us that the glue used to attach the nails is what harbours the bacteria....ewwww ....not only are you passing germs from one pt to the next....but you also could get a nasty infection over time and remember that if you catch a nail fungus....you could be on meds for up to 2 yrs before it goes away.....

How pretty will your nails be covered in FUNGUS????!!!!????

By the way.....

MILLIONS OF CONGRATS on GRADUATION!!!!!!

[karenG]

long nails and nursing dont mix! when I worked at Moorfields eye hospital, if you had long nails, Matron would cut them!! honest! imagine long nails near eye patients.........

so when I retire I am going to have talons!!

Karen

[willie2003]

are "fake nails" okay for nurses?

Absolutely not.

[fergus51]

Our hospital doesn't allow them. I can't think of a place I have worked that did.

[ptnurse]

We were just told in a staff meeting to get rid of them if we had them and that an official policy would be out soon.

[nrw350]

Every nurse that I have seen has had short nails that were looked like they had been cut the night before.

[GAstudent]

Hey. Where I work we do wear them. I must say that I have them and don't wear them very long. I have never had a problem with the gloves or one falling off. As for where I work, as listed above NICU and a death related because of them..I would just use my best judgement on this. I don't work in NICU. Try it and see how it goes. Congrats.