Will nursing wreck my hands?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi!

This may seem like a strange question, but as I am waiting to find out if I made it into nursing school I am wondering if nursing is hard on your hands? Does all the hand washing and glove wearing wreck them? In the winter my cuticles can sometimes crack and bleed, and I just wash my hands the usual amount (before and after cooking, after restroom), so I wondered if that is an issue for anyone, and if so, what you do about it. Has anyone dropped out of nursing because their hands couldn't hack it?

Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.
Thick cotton socks on your hands also work great!

As much as I love to use yummy smelling lotions at home, I've found that high quality lotions with no added scent or colors tend to work best for me. I also use non-antibacterial soap at home.

Caring for your hands/ cuticles in health care is so important. If you don't care for them, it puts you at increased infection risk as non-intact skin is a portal for germs/ bacteria/ fungus to enter.

Burts bees is my current favorite cuticle treatment, but there are several other options out there. I tend to rotate "favorites":) Sometimes it has to do with which good quality product is on sale when I am running low!

I really like the Burt's Bees line of products. I have used their cuticle cream, hand and body lotion, lip balms, eye cream, and shampoo! You are right that taking care of our hands and nails is very important!
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Specializes in CVICU CCRN.

Strangely, the sanitizer at my workplace doesn't bother my sensitive skin. However, tons of soap and water washing causes me to crack and bleed. I am a lotion junkie, but mainly because my skin is so incredibly sensitive. I noticed someone mentioned L'Occitane - I love their spray almond oil for after showers, especially in the winter. I also work outdoors a lot with my horses so maybe the soap/water bothering my hands is an issue of chapping.

For hands, I discovered a glycerine-based natural product in my hospital's gift shop - the brand is Camille Beckman. She has several nice but subtle scents as well as a fabulous unscented version. I can't believe how well this lotion coats your hands; you can feel it for hours after application and it's not sticky at all. You can purchase from her website - I believe all her products are made in Idaho. I like the Tuscan Honey. Not as strong smelling as Bath and Body works, but wow my hands love it. The French Vanilla is nice too - but the scent is super soft.

Another that I didn't see here was Gold Bond. They have some great pocket sized tubes. They even make a combination moisturizer and sanitizer - or used to. (Haven't used it for awhile so it may contain triclosan). Their aloe or shea butter lotions are great though - and no fragrance. I work with some folks who can't tolerate any fragrance, but these don't seem to bother them.

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Specializes in CVICU CCRN.
I really like the Burt's Bees line of products. I have used their cuticle cream, hand and body lotion, lip balms, eye cream, and shampoo! You are right that taking care of our hands and nails is very important!

I really want to love Burt's Bees but for some reason, their chapstick causes me to epically breakout. I actually am allergic to bee stings, and it's probably unrelated and ridiculous, but something in their products enrages my skin. I *have* been able to use their super strong menthol based "working hands" salve though. Be warned...you want to use this when you're NOT caring for patients, cuz man it is pungent. Nothing better for fixing my hands after they already start bleeding, though.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
Thank you for that idea! A friend made me some scrub and I haven't even tried it yet- afraid the friction might make it worse, but I should give it a go!

It actually feels wonderful when you're massaging it onto your dry, sore hands.

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Specializes in ED, psych.
I really want to love Burt's Bees but for some reason, their chapstick causes me to epically breakout. I actually am allergic to bee stings, and it's probably unrelated and ridiculous, but something in their products enrages my skin. I *have* been able to use their super strong menthol based "working hands" salve though. Be warned...you want to use this when you're NOT caring for patients, cuz man it is pungent. Nothing better for fixing my hands after they already start bleeding, though.

Aww, man -- same thing here! I want to love Burt's Bees products, but every.single.product makes me seriously break out in angry red blotches. The chapstick actually seems to contribute to cold sores. I swear, if I even look at the products at the store my skin gets angry.

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Strangely, the sanitizer at my workplace doesn't bother my sensitive skin. However, tons of soap and water washing causes me to crack and bleed. I am a lotion junkie, but mainly because my skin is so incredibly sensitive. I noticed someone mentioned L'Occitane - I love their spray almond oil for after showers, especially in the winter. I also work outdoors a lot with my horses so maybe the soap/water bothering my hands is an issue of chapping.

For hands, I discovered a glycerine-based natural product in my hospital's gift shop - the brand is Camille Beckman. She has several nice but subtle scents as well as a fabulous unscented version. I can't believe how well this lotion coats your hands; you can feel it for hours after application and it's not sticky at all. You can purchase from her website - I believe all her products are made in Idaho. I like the Tuscan Honey. Not as strong smelling as Bath and Body works, but wow my hands love it. The French Vanilla is nice too - but the scent is super soft.

Another that I didn't see here was Gold Bond. They have some great pocket sized tubes. They even make a combination moisturizer and sanitizer - or used to. (Haven't used it for awhile so it may contain triclosan). Their aloe or shea butter lotions are great though - and no fragrance. I work with some folks who can't tolerate any fragrance, but these don't seem to bother them.

I try to stay away from fragrance as much as possible since it can be irritating for me, so thanks for these wonderful suggestions!!

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I would like to thank all the PPs for not ONCE mentioning how UNFAIR it is that we can't have pretty acrylic and polished nails like all their friends. Did the students not find this thread yet? LOL

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If and when you are accepted to nursing school, your cuticles will be the least of your problems.

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I would like to thank all the PPs for not ONCE mentioning how UNFAIR it is that we can't have pretty acrylic and polished nails like all their friends. Did the students not find this thread yet? LOL

No, haven't seen this one yet! But I would imagine they would be microbe magnets...

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Your cuticles will never again be healthy, whole, and moisturized. Especially in the winter. Coat your hands with Eucerin or Aquaphor, dip them in a paraffin bath, and let that stuff soak into them for a good 30 minutes. Very, very soothing. For split and bleeding skin, I keep a bottle of this in my work bag at all times: Amazon.com: NEW SKIN LIQUID BANDAGE BOTTLE .3 OZ: Health & Personal Care

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Your cuticles will never again be healthy, whole, and moisturized. Especially in the winter. Coat your hands with Eucerin or Aquaphor, dip them in a paraffin bath, and let that stuff soak into them for a good 30 minutes. Very, very soothing. For split and bleeding skin, I keep a bottle of this in my work bag at all times: Amazon.com: NEW SKIN LIQUID BANDAGE BOTTLE .3 OZ: Health & Personal Care

Going on my wish list! Thanks so much!

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Specializes in Occ. Hlth, Education, ICU, Med-Surg.

I find this "handwashing" you speak of to be interesting...very interesting ... :sarcastic:

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