The fingernail police!!

[RN92]

I knew it was coming,but...the hospitals around here are "outlawing" fake nails and/or overlays. I can see their issue with bacteria, etc..under the nails..

but it bothers me that they are dictating what I can or cant have on my own body. For instance, if nails are dirty - what about jewelry, earrings, etc.,where do you draw the line? Does it not make sense that anyone who goes to the trouble of having nice nails would also take the time to wash under those nails. Im not talking about 6" long tiger nails - but any length, nomatter how short,isnt allowed. I am a nail biter - if I dont have overlays, I will be biting my nails all day - how sanitary is that? I was just wondering if this was a local thing or country wide.

[profjanmc]

I loved my pretty nails, but the evidence had to win. I now have extra money for a massage! ;-)

[jkaee]

Another argument regarding fake nails, that has nothing to do with "cleanliness"....

Just today during report, a nurse who has acrylics was reporting that when she was trying to give a hospice pt. a med rectally (since she could not take anything po), the pill kept on getting stuck in her nail every time she inserted it. So, how many times did she stick her long nailed finger up this poor, dying womans bum? She finally had the aide do it (which is a WHOLE other issue.......yikes!)

I have been a pianist my whole life, so I've never had long nails, and the few times I decided to spluge and get my nails done I've always taken them off within the week because they drive me nuts. Thanks to everyone who posted links to the studies done on this, I never realized that it was that dangerous. I just don't see how one can adequately wipe a poopy bum (their own or anothers) with such long nails, but since I've never really had them, I can't really comment. But I tend to agree with the research on this one.....off with their nails, I say!