Published
More than half of my staff are wearing artificial nails with outlandish nail polish. This is not allowed per policy but the staff has gotten away with it for years. Not only is this against policy, but the risk of infection increases, not to mention the lack of professionalism. Any suggestions on how to enforce this?
If it's not allowed by policy, tell the staff they comply or get written up.
If they don't comply, write them up.
If they still don't comply, follow your policy regarding number of write ups prior to termination, then terminate them.
That is, if you have the power to do so.
Are you the manager or the DON?
Just a bit of devil's advocacy...I do not wear artificial nails now (I work directly with patients). However, I did wear them when I had an administrative position. Regarding the possibility of skin tears: my nails were much less "sharp" when coated with acrylic than they are now without. My nails are much sharper, and thus more likely to scratch someone, in their natural state, than they were with acrylic coating. I think the infection rate is somewhat over-hyped, but that being said, anyone wearing acrylic topping needs to keep them professionally cared for on a very regular basis. I also agree with the issue of patient perception and overall professionalism.
Can't agree with you more. Acrylic nails when kept short.. are rounded and a bit thicker than a credit card. Natural nails.. when long.. are sharp and thinner. More likely to scratch a resident. I totally agree there.
It really is over-hyped. Natural nails can have dirt and germs on and under them just as much as artificial.
Nasty! My hospital just did a crack down. Infection control put all these graphic posters around the hospital showing infections caused by artifical nails. The concern is not skin tears it is infection to both the patient and the nurse.
I don't have any ideas to enforce it, but I just wanted to put in my $.02 about the issue. Wearing artificial nails as a nurse is NASTY. I wouldn't worry about skin tears because they aren't that sharp (much less then regular nails OR all of these gaudy rings nurses will wear too), but the infection risk is soooooo bad! Both for the nurse AND patient.... and really, do you really want to make yourself MORE vulnerable to infection in the hospital? Yucko. The polish issue.... not professional, but not as much of a risk. I'm a germaphobe so it just grosses me out.
Flo., BSN, RN
571 Posts
Nasty! My hospital just did a crack down. Infection control put all these graphic posters around the hospital showing infections caused by artifical nails. The concern is not skin tears it is infection to both the patient and the nurse.