To think this letter from NHS is pathetic?

[MozzchopsThirty]

I no longer work in the clinical area so I have nice gel nails. They are not long or talon like, they are short, neat and usually neutrally coloured.

A few weeks ago I did a shift on my old ward (ITU) and my old ward manager noticed them and asked me to remove them, I explained that I couldn't and she said it was unprofessional and I was setting a bad example!

Now to give some perspective on that shift there were 3 other agency workers from a particular agency who charge approx £400 per shift. I get about £140.
I cared for one patient, gave care as I always would, adhered to hand hygiene and wore gloves for clinical tasks

I've now recieved a letter stating that my conduct was unprofessional and that gel nails must not be worn in the clinical area

Now whilst I appreciate this, and when working in clinical area I never had nails, I can't believe the WM has alerted the temp staff office and they've written to me.

I'm now faced with the choice of removing nails for the sake of one shift every 1-2 months or stop working there and the NHS pay someone else £400 to do my shifts
That's £260 extra for the sake of nails

I'm ð??³ð??³ð??³ð??³ð??³

YANBU. As long as you follow hygiene procedures and they're not too long so you find things difficult/fiddly/hinders your performance. Bonkers to pay someone more than twice your wage because you have false nails.

Hmm sorry but I think YABU. The relative amounts paid for you/bank staff are irrelevant. Your gel nails break hygiene regulations and are obviously not allowed in a clinical area for infection control reasons. I love gel nails but they do allow for various grots to get stuck around the edges. Your supervisor would have been wrong not to raise it, especially in view of the very poorly patients in ITU. What if an infection had been transferred to a patient and it transpired she knew you were using gel nails?

I agree with OldFarticus, YABU. Rules are there for a reason and whether you agree with them or not, should be adhered to.

Yabu, the rules are there for very good reasons to reduce risk of infection to patients. the cost of agency staff is totally irrelevant.

Any infection should be killed by good hand hygiene
My nails would make no difference

I just feel that when we are in short supply of experienced ITU nurses this is just pathetic

So what qualifies you to know better than the experts who did the risk assessments for the hygiene regulations?

Think your clinical knowledge around hand hygiene needs updating if you want to continue clinical practice.

Why did you wait until your job was no longer in a clinical area to get the gel nails?

YAB completely U.

^that gel nails must not be worn in the clinical area

Now whilst I appreciate this, and when working in clinical area I never had nails^

You are still working in a clinical area, although now infrequently. The rules still apply to you even if you don't want them to.

Yabu. I work within the nhs in a clinical situation and nail varnish full stop is not allowed to be wore whilst you are working. Its in the contract for a very good reason, like putting long hair back. Gel nails are even worse as all the bacteria collects under the nail (ive seen the damage that occurs using gel nails to saw nothing about the bacteria, fungal spores etc that each nail varnish pot harbours and then put on each person who visits the nail bar) even hand washing wouldnt work.

YABU - you have a choice, if you want to work there then remove the nails.

You don't get to change the rules because ITU nurses are in short supply.

Yabvu you know the rules around gel nails and working in clinical areas but yet you seem to think they only apply to other people. Either take the nails off or don't work in clinical areas. Simple.

Yabu - it's policy for infection control reasons. It's national policy and will be in your terms and conditions of employment. Why wouldn't they write you up for it? Failing to remove them is a dismiss able offence.

Clean short nails with no visible White and no polish is policy - gel nails can never fit with this. As the nails grow out the bed showing between the cuticle and the gel is a huge harbour for infection!

YABU. You were on a clinical shift. Just because you're bank doesn't mean the rules don't apply to you.

FFS you work in ITU? The area patients need the most protection! Shame on you! Hand hygiene will not remove all bacteria when you are wearing gels - hence them being banned!

Ok I stand corrected then

However I feel about the fact that some staff get away with it or have dirty natural nails
I suppose rules are rules and the NHS never gets its clinical guidelines wrong

No more bank for me

YABU. Follow the rules or look for a different employer. I would be worried if the NHS DID take the view that they'd save themselves some £££ by hiring people who won't adhere to hygiene codes rather than those that do.

Another YABU. You know what the rules are so you should obey them. The payment of agency staff is irrelevant.

Btw auntiedee it's not an offence punishable by dismissal lol

Sorry yabu, I currently work as a nurse, not only is this unacceptable practice, it also looks unprofessional. As a nurse you have to adhere to certain conditions both for infection control but also to ensure that nurses look professional.

I never bother painting my nails as I know it's not acceptable.

YABU. I work have worked in clinical area both for the NHS and for charitable organisations and in every setting I have worked in has been clear in the fact that clinical areas=no nail varnish and no gel nails. You knew the rules, you chose not to adhere to them the letter was merited.

I remember reading about how chips of nail varnish has been found on postmortem in the lungs of neonates who were care for in NICU. Nail varnish should not be worn by anyone in the clinical area, so of course that applies to you too. It is just part of the job I am afraid. I am impressed it has been dealt with, too much is ignored. Gloves don't necessarily protect your patient, otherwise why must we scrub our hands before applying gloves?