Reminder: Artificial nails, polish not allowed for healthcare workers
More than handwashing: USA Health hand hygiene policy prohibits artificial nails and nail polish for staff, including department directors, managers and educators.
As we strive to fulfill the mission of helping people lead longer, better lives, it’s important to review safety protocols that protect patients, their caregivers and staff members.
One such measure is ensuring that our hands are clean. Proper hand hygiene is the single most effective way to prevent healthcare-associated infections and stop the spread of pathogens, according to the USA Health hand hygiene policy.
The hand hygiene policy for USA Health includes provisions banning artificial nails and nail polish products for healthcare workers who have direct contact with patients or provide services that handle items used by patients.
“Please help us enforce our hand hygiene policy with staff,” said Angela Duffy, assistant chief nursing officer for USA Health. “This is a long-established patient safety issue with healthcare workers. Artificial nails and nail polish can harbor bacteria and cause infections in patients.”
In addition to outlining proper hand washing procedures with soap and water, the policy also details issues related to fingernails. It reads:
“Artificial nails or extenders, regardless of product type, natural nails no greater than one-quarter-inch in length, and any nail polish products are prohibited for healthcare workers and their department directors, managers, educators, etc., in direct patient care or with the potential to have any patient contact or those departments providing services or handling items that come in contact with or provided to patients (such as) food and nutrition services, pharmacy, supply and distribution, EVS, sterilization, case managers, etc.”
