Ask the NMC

QUESTION:
Why are some hospitals requiring nurses to remove artificial enhancements?

ANSWER:
Certain research has suggested that long fingernails—artificial or natural—and cracked nail polish prevent proper medical hand-washing done in hospitals to control infectious microbes (a.k.a. germs). These microbes normally exist on our skin and nails without harm, but in a surgical or intensive care unit, an extra degree of cleanliness is required. Lifted enhancements or cracked polish can create pockets that harbor germs, making them difficult to wash away.

Research indicates that doctors and nurses do not take time to properly wash their hands, and there is concern that they will not properly maintain their nails despite well-established hospital rules. Because hospital administrators have trouble enforcing basic hand-washing guidelines and are unlikely to have the time to inspect long and/or artificial nails, some hospitals determined that it would be easier to simply prohibit artificial nails. Finally, long nails are thought to pose a risk of glove puncture, which could put both patient and caregiver at risk, so those required to wear gloves are expected to keep their nails short.

QUESTION:
Does being “organic” or “natural” mean that a product is healthier than others?

ANSWER:No, it doesn’t. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has repeatedly stated that the term "organic" does not ensure that a product is any safer, better or of higher quality than "non-organic" products. They believe organic products are a lifestyle choice, not an issue of safety. In 2009, a survey of almost 1,000 toxicologists (scientists that specialize in understanding toxic materials) revealed that 90% agreed that organic or natural products are not inherently safer.

The word "natural" means different things to different people. Nature is filled with many naturally occurring toxins and other potentially harmful substances: pollen, cat dander, poison ivy and hemlock, to name a few. Natural simply indicates that an ingredient is normally found in nature, not that it is inherently safer.

QUESTION:
Do artificial nails thin or “eat” the nail plate?

ANSWER:
It’s a myth that artificial nails thin the nail plate. You can prove this by soaking nail clippings in any artificial nail product, even for years, without causing visible damage. Nail plate thinning is caused by the improper use of abrasive files and/or electric files—such as heavy-handed filing techniques or using an excessively coarse file—or by clipping and/or forcing loose product from the nail plate.

Today’s advanced technology products no longer require “roughing up the nail.” A light touch with a 180-grit abrasive should be enough if the nails are properly cleaned and prepared, the product is properly applied and the enhancement correctly maintained. When artificial nails are removed, the nail underneath should not be noticeably thinner than the new growth areas. The goal of every nail professional should be to protect and nurture the nail plate, and using proper filing techniques is one important way to achieve this goal.

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