Staff and artificial nails

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Apr 3, 2011

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.

Actually, if you read any study on this, you will see that artificial nails harbor more bacteria and fungi. The reason? Artificial nails, no matter how well they are applied, have a space between the acrylic and the real nail it's stuck to. This space which might be impossible to see with the naked eye, is all the space it takes for bacteria to enter and for fungi to flourish.

debRN0417 · Apr 3, 2011

I wore acrylic nails before there were all those studies that showed the artificial nails harbored bacteria. I was a nail biter (yuck-gag) and started wearing the nails to stop that disgusting habit. It did stop the habit. I continued to wear the nails while working as a bedside nurse. My "fake nails" were actualy just the acrylic coating over my own natural nails because my natural nails were sharp as razor blades. My nails were extremely short. I would make sure they were clean underneath by using a bleach solution. To be honest, I am rather torn about the whole artificial nail matter. I would much rather see very short coated clean nails than someone who bites their nails. I mean, which is yukkier? I do have a problem with extremely long nails with all those wild designs in the workplace. It would also come down to a matter of policy where you work. Long nasty nails or short nasty nails...I think it also is a matter of hand hygiene.

Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN · Apr 3, 2011

I wore acrylic nails before there were all those studies that showed the artificial nails harbored bacteria. I was a nail biter (yuck-gag) and started wearing the nails to stop that disgusting habit. It did stop the habit. I continued to wear the nails while working as a bedside nurse. My "fake nails" were actualy just the acrylic coating over my own natural nails because my natural nails were sharp as razor blades. My nails were extremely short. I would make sure they were clean underneath by using a bleach solution. To be honest, I am rather torn about the whole artificial nail matter. I would much rather see very short coated clean nails than someone who bites their nails. I mean, which is yukkier? I do have a problem with extremely long nails with all those wild designs in the workplace. It would also come down to a matter of policy where you work. Long nasty nails or short nasty nails...I think it also is a matter of hand hygiene.

I was a nail biter. And my natural nails were so brittle and bitten so I had the acrylic nails put on again.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Apr 3, 2011

I don't wear fake nails ever but occassionally I will get an acryclic overlay on my real nails. I don't see a problem with fake nails as long as they are kept short and well cared for. I see nurses with real nails that are long and some nails are short but sharp. I honestly think we have bigger fish to fry. I'm sorry but how often do people write incident reports over nails causing skin tears?

wooh, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2011

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.

It has nothing to do with "on and under" and it has nothing to do with long/sharp/skin tears. The bacteria grows IN the acrylic. So the acrylic shellac long lasting nail "polish" has the same danger. You can't wash the bacteria off or clean it off by keeping "on and under" clean because it is growing IN the acrylic.

APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Apr 3, 2011

Have you seen my real nails? (Which, by the way, are unpolished, short and natural).....

I keep them very short and the ends of them start separating constantly. I file them and clip them, but it just keeps happening. There is no way that my very own nails are any less of a danger than nail polish that stays on for a few days.

Brian, ASN, RN · Apr 3, 2011

This topic has been discussed many times, I just tagged several (not all) related threads for your browsing convenience :)

https://allnurses.com/tags/artificia_nails.html

Please carry on and continue the discussion :)

casi, ASN, RN · Apr 4, 2011

In micro we swabbed someones accryllic nail. The results were disgusting.

Many places I've worked have banned fake nails, but are okay with nail polish as long as it's not chipping and is well kept up. And isn't a super abnormal color.

indigonurse · Apr 8, 2011

A DON's finger nails were swabbed by the lab and E. Coli was found under them and the admin. brought this up in a staff meeting right in front of her. I am not sure if the nails were natural or artificial. Don't see many disposable nail brushes or finger nail cleaners at sinks.

DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN · Oct 21, 2011

Echo on the Shellac. Shellac is designed to cure with micro tunnels within it to facilitate easier removal. So if there are micro tunnels bacteria will be there too. No amount of hand washing gets it out.

I don't believe that acrylic, as a substance, is a medium for microorganism growth. It is supposed to be non-porous. It is the cracks and scratches that provide a location for organism growth.

I think we should have random swabbing of people's nails regularly. Not to get them in trouble but as a motivator. How about swabbing rings and watches that get worn to work. eeeeeeeeew

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Oct 21, 2011

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?

I have the same problem at my ALF. I've decided to go higher up the food chain and get Corporate involved......my nurse consultant is with me on this and is working on a way to write a ban on artificial nails into the P & P book.

DixieRedHead, ASN, RN · Oct 22, 2011

You know, policy is policy. Doesn't matter if you are administrative or not. Policy at my facility says no artificial nails, nails are short and smooth. Do not let me have to come up with interventions for a skin tear on a resident that was caused by staff (or resident) fingernails for that matter. I run a tight ship, BUT I abide by the rules myself and expect nor tolerate any less from any other staff. I am fair, firm, and try my very best to intervene on the side of the residents at times. It's not about the nails, it's about the residents.