False nails on nursery workers, AIBU?

[Wigglesworth]

I guess this should be changed to am I being a pedantic git but here goes. All the staff, including the manager (who is hands on with the kids) and my DS key worker have HUGE false acrylic nails. I never noticed this when we originally chose this nursery for our DS to attend only when he started about 6 weeks ago. He is 10 months old and I have noticed he has had a few scratches on his legs, face and nose which IMO look very nail like.
AIBU to think that the staff, especially those who will be handling the children more and changing nappies i.e. those working with babies, shouldn't have these nails? They are seriously long and thick, I have had acrylic nails before I had DS and I have caught myself with them a few times and it hurts. Not only is it dangerous but surely unsanitary too.
Would you say something or am I being picky?

[southeastastra]

ew yes bit unhygenic

[bigchris]

well nursery staff tend to be young and inot those sorts of things
many mums have those hideous things too
my mil has huge yukky talons and I have no idea how she puts her contact lenses in

[LadyOfWaffle]

I think it's gross. At college when we were working with horses one girl got blasted for having false nails and was made to remove them before she poked a horses eye out.

[FluffyBunnyGoneBad]

I trained as a paeds nurse, all of those I trained with were told we had to have short nails to protect the patients, they could sue the trust if we scratched them. I don't think you are being picky, what if a child was scratched and then developed an infection?

[pinkstarfish]

Jeez I had to have short nails when I worked in Asda!

YANBU at all, like you said, it might/has caused harm to the young children, not to mention making their lives hard for themselves! Maybe ask them how DS got the marks on his legs then glare suspiciously yet obviously at their nails with a raised eyebrow look.

[ThePhantomPlopper]

YANBU. Gross.

[myredcardigan]

YANBU. They are horrid and tacky and are one of the clues that A&E Drs look for when assessing the social status of patients. (we have 2 good friends who are A&E drs in different parts of the country.)

Tell them you're concerned that he has regular scratches.

[myredcardigan]

Just to clarify that is not my POV, just another POV.

[FluffyBunnyGoneBad]

I had no idea that Drs looked for the social status of parents. Tell me more, interesting!

[psychomum5]

YANBU at all.

I have had false nails in the past, my nails are very very bad and I like having some that look good, but they are a waste on me as I have them really short to still do all I need as a mum.

and I never had them when mine were tiny, tried once as friend was training and wanted me to practise on. I lasted 24hrs, couldn;t do anything like change a nappy without having major probs, and was terrified about hurting DS2.

they really should be banned when working with tiny children IMVHO. for health and safety reasons if nothing else.

[Wigglesworth]

Yeah I want to know more too, what else do they look for?

[LovelyTinOfSpam]

Would long real nails be any more acceptable?

[FluffyBunnyGoneBad]

No, technically, you should not be able to see them at all if you hold your palms up. This was drilled into us (litigation and the NHS and all that). I didn't mind. I would have felt very bad if I would have scratched a child.

[southeastastra]

it's the germs that can get under the nails that is more of the problem, rather than scratching.

'ealth and safety innit

[Wigglesworth]

Thanks for all your replies. I am so glad you all think IANBU.
No Spam I don't think long nails, fake or real, are appropriate when working with young children really. They all have the fake ones and they each have different neon coloured tips (instead of white ones) which made me notice them more TBH.

[FluffyBunnyGoneBad]

Yes but scratching could leave an open wound as the scratch could bleed.

[LovelyTinOfSpam]

Just made me think. Every time I have a baby I cut my nails short the week before I'm due, as I'm irrationally worried that I will get told off/they won't give me the baby/they will look at me askance if I have my usual nails.

I did them last week maybe they will get another trim before it all kicks off...

[Jaquelinehyde]

I have false nails but they are not those long ghastly things. I keep them short and smart looking.

I have never had any problems looking after any children, nor have I scratched any of them. If your DS is coming back with regular scratches that you are sure are not his own doing, you must raise it as an issue.

For what it's worth I am not skanky, chavvy or IMO from a low social group.

Off topic - I don't get why Dr's would need to make this kind of judgement does it affect the kind of treatment they offer? Or are they just being judgemental, bitchy and pathetic? FWIW I hope I never have to rely on the help of a Dr who basis decisions on false nails.

[muggglewump]

I've always had fairly long natural nails and have never accidently hurt anyone with them, never had a problem doing anything either but maybe because I'm used to them?

I cut them all when one breaks (every few months) and then I can't do anything for a day or two because of the sudden change in length!

[chegirl]

Why would an A&E doctor need to know the social status of a parent anyway?

Not sure what that has to do with child health.

When I worked in A&E (clerical) the doctors used to write all sorts of irrelevant and subjective stuff on the notes. I am sure new guidelines were bought in and that sort of thing was stopped.

[myredcardigan]

They also count the number of rings on the fingers. Apparently it's ok to have 2 or 3 on the wedding finger but that's it. Rings on thumbs really sink you!

They also ask if a child has any brothers or sisters to assertain whether the child in question is a PFB or there's a genuine worry.

I'm just the messenger,remember!

[psychomum5]

actually, don;t docs just have to note about false nails as if they need to put a finger monitor on, they don;t read properly thru the nail??? nothing to do with social status at all, especially as all social types have them nowadays!!

[myredcardigan]

I think the guidelines were to stop the 'Norfolk' stuff.

[southeastastra]

as if they have the time or inclination