If you look at any hospital in the United States, you will see that there are a number of nurses who are now allowed to wear fake nails. Not only is it permissible but it is actually required for them to do so.
This practice was started about ten years ago and it is one of the simplest ways that nurses are being encouraged to try and improve their work performance. They can use acrylic nails or artificial nails and these can be bought from a number of stores both offline and online.
One of the biggest problems that is faced by nurses when they are working in a hospital is infection. As a result of using artificial nails, there is the reduced risk of getting an infection because there is no opportunity for bacteria to grow. It is even considered to be a more hygienic method than using the bare hands.
Can Nurses Wear Gel Nails on the Job?
Can nurses wear gel nails? This question was recently raised by one of my friends at the hospital and she wants to know if it is permissible or not.
If someone has broken an oxygen nail polish would they have any way of knowing that they are wearing something artificial? The answer may be yes if the make-up artist did not practice good safety habits when applying the nail polish.
You see the hospital is under strict rules regarding the use of artificial nails and good hospital employees always follow those rules.
If the nurse or the make-up artist did not follow the rules and the patient was injured then it would be obvious to them right away that the patient had not been injured in the safe manner that the hospital would like people to believe.
I suppose one could argue that a doctor can change a surgical site instead of using a fake nail polish but that would seem kind of strange as it would seem as if the doctor was trying to save face or minimize any liability.
Now then I suppose it is possible that the doctor or the nurse could change the site without creating a problem or without creating a hazard. It also would make sense to have a nurse wear temporary wear vans for all surgical procedures.
Why Can’t Nurses Wear Fake Nails in Healthcare Facilities?
A long time ago in a hospital in Pennsylvania, a nurse was fired for refusing to wear fake nails during a surgery. The reason she was asked to remove her artificial nails was because the fake nails would have been difficult for other surgeons to use during the procedure.
The fact that she refused to remove them would have meant that she would have delayed the surgery allowing the doctor time to set up and prepare the patient for surgery.
This would have cost the hospital money which is the hospital’s operating expense and this would have been a direct cost cut for the hospital.
Since the reasoning of the nurse involved in this incident is based on cost rather than appearance many people are asking the question; “Why can’t nurses wear fake nails?” This is a very good question and there is no simple answer to this question.
The fact that nurses need to remove their false nails before they are allowed to work in a certain location might make it impossible for the nurse to return to work after a surgery since most likely the location will be off-site for a few days until the artificial nails are removed.
Also, it takes several procedures to get ready for the artificial nails so nurses might have to spend more time at the spa getting ready then going back to the office.
Is it Dangerous For a Nurse to Wear Fake Nails in a Hospital?
Is it dangerous for a nurse to wear fake nails? In reality, it can be very dangerous not only for a nurse but also for patients as well because nurses are always in close contact with their patients.
For example, when a nurse removes artificial nails from the patient’s nails, she is actually applying artificial nails to the patient’s own nails, which means that not only could the nurse be applying anesthetic or some other chemical onto the patient’s nails, but she could also be spreading germs or infectious diseases onto the patient’s skin.
So whether a nurse wants to or not, whether she works in a hospital, clinics, nursing home, private practice, or any other medical facility, she should think twice about whether she is actually helping relieve someone of their pain or suffering by placing artificial nails on their hands or feet.
Is it dangerous for a nurse to wear fake nails? Now, the short answer is yes and no. Although doctors and other health professionals in hospitals do not generally frown on nurses who choose to wear acrylic nails, it is important for nurses to think about the consequences of their decision before they place their patients at risk.
It is perfectly OK for a nurse to wear artificial nails in her private practice, but if a nurse wants to make a career out of working in a medical environment, then it is imperative that she chooses a career that does not involve dealing with unlicensed individuals or putting patients at risk.
Should the Nails of a Nurse Be Short?
If you want to be in style and portray a sophisticated image among your peers, you must be perfectly aware of your looks. Having perfect white or ivory-looking nails is almost a dream of every female.
This is why artificial nails have been quite popular lately as they help you get that perfect look without spending a fortune.
Artificial nails have helped women in several ways. Apart from enhancing one’s beauty, artificial nails have helped women in gaining a sense of confidence as it helps them to project an image that mirrors what they want to portray.
The only problem with artificial nails is that, over a period of time, it may lead to infection if proper care is not taken.
Long nails posing as artificial nails may cause severe discomfort and pain and even expose the nurses to severe infections. This may lead to the nurse getting depressed causing further damage to the patient’s health.
Although artificial nails provide many advantages, the fact should never be forgotten that they can also be a source of infection just like wearing regular artificial nails. Even though operating room personnel do try to wear nail polish under their uniform, this does not always work.
Is Nurses Allowed to Wear Fake Nails?
There are many reasons why nurses are allowed to wear nail polish. One of the major reasons is infection control. The infection can easily spread from one patient to another, if a nurse or other healthcare workers touches an open wound or a bed liner and puts their hands into the infected area.
If the infection cannot be transmitted from one person to another then there is no reason for the nurse to wear artificial nails, unless they are medical staff and work in a hospital that specifically requests them to wear fake nails or acrylic nails.
Another reason that this is banned in healthcare facilities is due to the cost of maintaining these artificial nails. These products can run into thousands of dollars per year or more. It costs around $300 a year to buy a box of artificial nails.
Nurses are often asked to cover a lot of this upfront which causes the facility a loss in their revenue. The American Academy of Nursing has actually stated that the cost of keeping these products in stock is so expensive that it is not reasonable for healthcare facilities to continue to have the same practices as they have in the past.
This means that the nurse will touch the patient’s nail with their bare hands, which means a greater chance of the patient picking up an infection.
Conclusion
If a nurse does not want to go against the policies of the hospital where they work, then they simply must pick nail polish over artificial nails. It is really that simple. No healthcare facility is going to ban nurses from wearing nail polish, but they are going to ask them to properly sterilize their instruments first.
It doesn’t take much for bacteria to travel from one patient to another through a cut or a scratch. Hospitals have found that having a high-tech system for preventing and treating infections is just as important as having a high-tech system for treating the infections once they happen.
