Hand and Nail Care for Female Nurses

[hnewman]

Hi I am an Occupational Health Nurse working at a community hospital in Ontario Canada. I am looking for input from other nurses as to how they take care of their hands and nails.

Hand Hygiene and best practices now prohibit care providers from wearing fake nails and point of care practices have increased the usage of alcohol based hand cleansers. This has caused both caused some Nurses to experience excessive drying of skin . The removal of fake nails requires a " growing out period", and individuals that have been long term wears of fake nails and then remove them, have found that naill intergrity( peeling and splitting) has been a problem. In addition use of alcohol based hand cleansers and antibacterial soaps cause stinging to the nails during the time their nails are growing out. There are also risks associated to transmission of Blood Borne Pathogens and other microorganisms with non intact skin and nails.

Have other nurses experienced these problems? If so I would like to here from you and how your workplaces support you maintaining good skin ( hands)and nail integrity . In addition I am looking for self-care practices you particpate in to ensure you maintain good nail and skin conditions.

Thanks,
H Newman

[SoldierNurse]

Originally Posted by hnewman

Hi I am an Occupational Health Nurse working at a community hospital in Ontario Canada. I am looking for input from other nurses as to how they take care of their hands and nails.

Hand Hygiene and best practices now prohibit care providers from wearing fake nails and point of care practices have increased the usage of alcohol based hand cleansers. This has caused both caused some Nurses to experience excessive drying of skin . The removal of fake nails requires a " growing out period", and individuals that have been long term wears of fake nails and then remove them, have found that naill intergrity( peeling and splitting) has been a problem. In addition use of alcohol based hand cleansers and antibacterial soaps cause stinging to the nails during the time their nails are growing out. There are also risks associated to transmission of Blood Borne Pathogens and other microorganisms with non intact skin and nails.

Have other nurses experienced these problems? If so I would like to here from you and how your workplaces support you maintaining good skin ( hands)and nail integrity . In addition I am looking for self-care practices you particpate in to ensure you maintain good nail and skin conditions.

Thanks,
H Newman

Hey Cat, can you answer this OP? I never really got into wearing fake nails, LOL.

:lmao:

... this is the part of nursing that I hate -> fake nails questions