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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this letter from NHS is pathetic?

164 replies

MozzchopsThirty · 21/03/2015 14:19

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

OP posts:
AuntieDee · 21/03/2015 14:47

OP - you will find that persistent refusal to adhere to infection control policy is very much a dismissable offence. Carry on as you are - the NHS needs less staff like you. You have an appalling attitude.

Northernlurker · 21/03/2015 14:48

I think that persistent breaching of the uniform code would be possible grounds for dismissal - if you were warned for it but kept doing it for example. I agree with the other poster. You can have nails or you can work clinically. That's the choice.

WeAllHaveWings · 21/03/2015 14:48

Tbh I think you are doing you profession a disservice by continuing to have the opinion you know better than the clinical guidelines and your nails are more important than the health of seriously ill patients. If may just be a single day at work to you, but it is potentially a serious infection for an already seriously ill patient.

TheoriginalLEM · 21/03/2015 14:51

what are gel nails? is it the length? i think yabu.

SauvignonBlanche · 21/03/2015 14:56

YABU

If you're doing Bank work then you are clinical and the same rules apply to you as the permanent staff.

Idiotdh · 21/03/2015 14:58

Totally disagree and can't understand why it would be a problem..it's just a rule. I'd be very surprised if its evidence based in any way. Just the usual power mad approach by middle management. As Drs we don't have that rule, we are allowed nail varnish, we do the same tasks.

Idiotdh · 21/03/2015 14:59

I mean , they can ask you..a letter seems OTT. And a waste of time.

SauvignonBlanche · 21/03/2015 15:02

You are mistaken Idiotdh, NICE guidelines cover doctors as well as nurses. Hmm

VivaLeBeaver · 21/03/2015 15:03

Yabu and repeated non compliance of staff uniform policy would be a dismissible offence for permanent staff.

There's research which shows that bacteria is more likely to be under gel nails and also longer nails which all the hand hygiene in the world won't get rid of. Which is why there's also rules on nail length even if they're natural.

No hand hygiene is perfect, haven't your infection control team ever demonstrated this with a glow box to you? It's fascinating all the bits you miss.

You're putting your patients at risk by having gel nails. If I was the ward sister Id be telling the bank office I didn't want you back.

MissDuke · 21/03/2015 15:04

Were I am, doctors do often wear nail varnish, jewellery, hair down, own clothes etc. Doesn't make it right....

SauvignonBlanche · 21/03/2015 15:04

See here for NICE guidance.

VivaLeBeaver · 21/03/2015 15:05

I think Idiotdh means Drs aren't bound by hospital uniform policies. So they can have dangly earrings and long nails and high heels if they want.

SauvignonBlanche · 21/03/2015 15:06

They are in my Trust, our policy is for all clinical staff.

VivaLeBeaver · 21/03/2015 15:07

some research here

OddBoots · 21/03/2015 15:07

From observations as a patient and visitor, doctors may not be given the same rules but many are more frequently adopting infection control best practice themselves because they are scientists who understand why these things are important.

VivaLeBeaver · 21/03/2015 15:08

I think it should be for all clinical staff. It isn't where I am.

londonrach · 21/03/2015 15:09

I was Infection control lead for my area a few years ago and believe me nice deadlines are very strict re nail polish and i know it covers ALL clinical staff including doctors. I have never seen anyone i work with wearing nail polish apart from day off then its removed before work is started and ive worked in 5 trusts now and have worked with different professions. Its consider a huge no no and i have it in hospital on the boards saying no nail polish. At the moment im bank (hoping job comes up soon) and believe me there are certain standards everyone has and no nail polish is one of a huge list which is for the benefit for patients!

ChipDip · 21/03/2015 15:10

Yabu it's the rules. Why be so unnecessarily difficult?

houseofnerds · 21/03/2015 15:11

Yeah - if you want to work bank in a clinical setting, then you do have to adhere by the clinical setting rules. If you want to be available to work bank, don't have gel nails. Simples.

Letter is fine, and necessary because it will be a record of a breach of policy. I assume this will be used in the future as an administrative case if you break other guidelines. It's unlikely they would use it in isolation for dismissal lol, but if you continue to break protocols and have a string of them on your file, it's possible.

You knew the rules anyway - when you worked in the clinical setting routinely, you adhered to them. Why should it matter whether you were only working a bank shift as a one off? There is no difference and you knowing broke the rules.

Will you be getting them removed? Or will you be taking yourself off the bank list?

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 21/03/2015 15:13

houseof - OP's already said "no more bank for me"

Gruntfuttock · 21/03/2015 15:14

Are there any other rules you don't adhere to because it's too much bother?

AuntieDee · 21/03/2015 16:36

"" As Drs we don't have that rule, we are allowed nail varnish, we do the same tasks""

That is entirely untrue but entirely typical of doctors :( there is still a huge percentage of doctors who seem to think the rules don't apply to them. And heaven forbid you should rightly pull them up about it. "do you know who I am?" Is a common utterance, usually met by "Yes I do and frankly you should know better"

SauvignonBlanche · 21/03/2015 16:47

NICE states that:

"1.1.2.3 Healthcare workers should ensure that their hands can be decontaminated throughout the duration of clinical work by:

being bare below the elbow[8] when delivering direct patient care

removing wrist and hand jewellery

making sure that fingernails are short, clean and free of nail polish

covering cuts and abrasions with waterproof dressings. [new 2012]"

They give further guidance on what constitutes a health care worker (it does includes doctors) and what Direct patient care is.

ohdearitshappeningtome · 21/03/2015 16:50

Why do you think your so special and exempt from the rules ?

BafanaThesober · 21/03/2015 16:53

Yabu
Nails are not allowed.
Adher to the regulations, or don't do the shifts.

It's not difficult.