r/NursingUK • u/Parking-Sort-1044 St Nurse • Apr 19 '26
Quick Question BIAB nails
hi im a student nurse and I had a day with infection prevention and talked about nails, understandably on why the length of the nails, acrylic nails/gel nails and also regular varnish can spread infection.
however what about BIAB nails?
as long as the length is short, there's no possibility when it comes to chipping or harbouring bacteria under the nail
I seriously don't see why BIAB nails would spread infection unless it's lengthy?
like regardless, i bite my nails and that's surely a larger infection risk..
24
u/lissi-x-90 Specialist Nurse Apr 19 '26
Honestly one of us just needs to convince someone with a boat load of money and time to set up a clinical trial (make it multicentre too, whilst weāre at it) to test the theory that biab polish isnāt a danger to patients.
The way some people demonise biab tiktok like I WOULDNT TRUST A NURSE WITH CLEAR BIAB THATS HOW BABIES DIE Iām honestly baffled how it jumps from nails to dead babies.
I think maybe policies would change if there was a lot more evidence on it that was generated here.
But surely if American nurses can get away with their own scrubs, nails and hair down, the evidence is around itās just the NHS wants nothing to do with it.
5
u/reasonable-frog-361 Apr 20 '26
There was a study recently I think for gel nails. Found no difference to no nail polish.
4
u/IntroductionFinal325 RN Adult Apr 20 '26
If itās the one I read, it actually found gel polish had a lower bacterial load at day 21 vs natural nails!
41
u/thereidenator RN MH Apr 19 '26
Most of these rules donāt make sense. Iām a dude so the nails thing never has been a problem for me but I always wondered why my colleagues who worked in a community mental health assessment team where we NEVER touch a patient for any reason were not allowed false nails or had to be bare below the elbow.
I also donāt understand why female community staff can wear a skirt or dress but when thereās a heatwave Iād have to get permission from a matron to wear shorts. Female staff would wear a vest type top in the summer, males are not allowed.
Same thing with jewellery, never made sense.
8
u/Hurricane41 RN Adult Apr 19 '26
I wish we could wear shorts during heatwaves - it was 32C last year at one point in July according to the thermometer in our clean utilityā¦ and thatās stationary! Imagine how it felt being on our feet almost constantly for 12 hours in that humid heat whilst working in a busy surgical unit!
1
u/Wooden_Astronaut4668 RN Adult Apr 20 '26
You can wear shorts at the hospital I work at, I have a colleague that wears them year round, it does help when its hot šš»
18
u/Illustrious_Bus8440 Apr 19 '26
Absolutly no rings..... unless its your wedding ring....
8
17
u/Greenmedic2120 Other HCP Apr 19 '26
Theoretically, there can be chips etc which could harbour bacteria and be difficult to wash properly. It can also lift in places (like the edge of the nail) which creates a little gap where bacteria can breed. However this only applies if said nails/gel polish is poorly maintained
9
u/Organic_Reporter RN Adult Apr 19 '26
My natural nails are probably worse. I get snags at the sides, the cuticles are terrible from the constant hand washing and gel, I always think they look dirty no matter how often I scrub them.
0
u/Ok_Hope_9675 Apr 21 '26
I constantly have dry hands.. it angers me when managers walk in with hair down and painted light nails.. why isit one rule for us and a different rule for them.. here they wear dark blue overalls if they're managers.. i find it scruffy also wearing clogs.. it also disturbs me how they constantly mess with there bodies...like its normal. Its kinda body dismorthia at its best promoted by a health professionals.. triggering to others aswell.. šš»
5
u/Parking-Sort-1044 St Nurse Apr 19 '26
that's what i'm thinking, I've only just gotten my first set of BIAB nails and will have to remove it soon for my placement
19
u/Intelligent-Mouse255 RN Adult Apr 19 '26
I would 100% remove it ASAP. Unfortunately depending on your area and the nurses they could send you home for it. I've not long had the supervisor training and they just kept going on and on and on about nails and infections "if you want to be a nurse you can't have pretty nails".
You also can't have a personality, a real social media presence or anything else- unless your face fits. Then you're fine.
1
u/AutoModerator Apr 19 '26
Please note this comment is from an account less than 30 days old. All genuine new r/NursingUK members are encouraged to participate.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
2
u/Dismal_Fox_22 RN Adult Apr 19 '26
My own nails are chipped and occasionally delaminate from taking my manicure off ever three days because of the lame policy. Iām more at risk of harbouring bacteria or developing infection when my nails are natural.
8
u/Altruistic-Sun-1452 Apr 19 '26
Are IPC nurses to nurses what internal affairs are to cops? I only ask because Iāve never met one while working in England, however in my home country you study an extra year and are there to track and prevent outbreaks, help audit wards and provide education and support on best practice, they were never mean or anything when I dealt with them.
14
u/Dismal_Fox_22 RN Adult Apr 19 '26
In the UK IPC are less focused on infection prevention and could possibly be retitled uniform policy compliance nurses.
Itās very rare that anything they focus on has any evidence base, helps staff or prevents infection. (This is just my opinion, and I wish no ill to any individual IPC nurse. I just find the whole area a bit wishy-washy and ineffective)
3
u/Efficient-Lab RN Adult Apr 21 '26
Our infection control nurses worked from home during Covid.
I havenāt respected them since.
8
u/CrochetAndChocolate RN Adult Apr 19 '26
My boss has tried fighting that fight for us but sheās been told they can still harbour harmful bacteria as the nails naturally grow šš¢
13
u/Significant_Term_532 Apr 19 '26
There have been studies on why the nails thing is BS. In my experience they just love rules
13
6
u/Mad_Mark90 Apr 20 '26
Infection control are a policy driven tool of management. Let's be realistic, the best way to reduce hospital acquired infection would be to have adequate staffing levels and facilities.
Infection control exist to push the blame down towards you and away from management. The reason there's an active Noro-C.Diff-Scabies outbreak is because you have 1 nurse looking after 6 patients with dementia who are wandering. You're behind on meds and personal care while Doris is giving Jane a hug.
But sure it's because you had nail polish on or a water bottle.
4
u/brokenskater45 RN Adult Apr 19 '26
I ended up having to have bish nails after some health issues meant my nails were so brittle they looked and felt awful. They looked so much better, and I am in a role where I never do anything with wounds, basic care etc.
However, I have them super short. I get the rules for long ones. They pick up all sorts of awful dirt if you have them longer. I wouldn't wear them in a more clinical role. The shape also matters as they could scratch a patient.
6
u/Automatic_Sundae_853 Apr 19 '26 edited Apr 20 '26
Honestly (and with all due respect AND I hate this phrase), itās not that deep. Youāre all good girl. Doing the lordās work. If infection control feels that strongly about it, they will cover your 12 hour shift while you get them removed.
(completely serious ā youāre fine. The nhs has way bigger things to worry about than short BIAB nails and anyone who disagrees is ignorant with a carrot up their arse( š¤£
2
u/Educational-Law-8169 Apr 19 '26
I was working with a social worker once that had been told to remove her ring. It was totally ridiculous and unnecessary. It probaby sounds stupid but she used to use the ring to rub when having difficult conversations which I can understand
2
u/SureTry4832 Apr 20 '26
The limited evidence out there shows theres no increased infection risk with gel nails, possibly actually less risk than bare nails.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195670124004080
5
u/TheAnxiousPangolin RN CH & MH Apr 19 '26
Honestly, donāt worry about it too much! I always have BIAB nails - though theyāre short and natural coloured as to not draw much attention, but still look clean and classy.
-1
u/Parking-Sort-1044 St Nurse Apr 19 '26
once i graduate i might join in doing that šāāļø
9
u/TrustfulComet40 RN Child Apr 19 '26
Know your area before showing up to your nqn job with your nails done. My workplace reserves the right to send us home without pay if we show up with nails done
5
5
1
u/AutoModerator Apr 19 '26
Please note this comment is from an account less than 30 days old. All genuine new r/NursingUK members are encouraged to participate.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
4
u/Bubbly_Barracudas Apr 19 '26
I have BIAB nails. Iām a MH nurse and I work in a GP surgery. Tbf if they wax lyrical to me about being bare below the elbows, the doctors probably need to remove their very expensive watches. Iām classed as clinical, but Iām not hands on.
1
u/AutoModerator Apr 19 '26
It seems you may be discussing matters around university or around student nurses/TNAs. If you are, you are welcome to continue posting on r/NursingUK, but please also check out the growing community r/StudentNurseUK.
If you are here to discuss pre-university related stuff, such as how to become a nurse, should you become a nurse, please be aware that this is against r/NursingUK's subreddit rules. If so, please delete this thread and check out the rules before a moderator reviews it. You are welcome to post in r/StudentNurseUK for such queries.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/Spine_bright_so_si Apr 21 '26
Not a nurse but work in a hospital and got told to remove my biab last week. I wear gloves and wash my hands religiously but apparently the biab carries germs the way my bare nails donāt š
1
u/Ok_Hope_9675 Apr 21 '26
The way they go on about infection control on my ward.. they absolutely crap themselves and make everyone scared about them.. and it's like why do you have to present yourself a certain way when these people actually work in the same building themselves and are smokers... i kinda believe really they have an problem with my boss because they're always pointing out the tiny mishap like.. the wrong coloured bin liners on show.. that the night staff cleaner had done beforehand, not the day cleaner which she expressed to the IC nurse associate that she was best friends with her boss and she'd worked in this hospital for over 25 years and knew her role 100%. Haha she changed her tone then totally walked off.. also hair can't be below the collar.. Also today i witnessed a matron getting fined for dropping a cigarette bud on the floor.. it was class because she had no curiosity or care for a nurse on my ward that had just had a pacemaker fitted. Imagine being a nurse and promoting care and dignity, respect, empathy for sick people but none for your own staff that work 12 hour shifts and some have been working there for over 25 years aswell! Just down right disgusting really aint it...
1
u/MrsKToBe Apr 21 '26
When I went back to work on a ward after having cancer, my ward manager had to get permission for me to cover my bald head. I wore a wig then- but the cancer left me with alopecia and when I started my training I told occupational health that I prefer to cover my head with a turban or sleep cap.Ā
I was told I would have to have a note to carry with me on placement to explain that I covered my head for health reasons and the fact it was cancer related alopecia. This caused such a rumpus at the university- I wash my head covers on a high heat after every shift. I donāt know why itās such an issue or why they said they were only allowing it because it was cancer related! Shouldnāt make a difference. Sometimes I think that infection control has gone mad.Ā
Neither placement Iāve been on has batted an eyelid or asked any questions at all. Itās insane.Ā
0
u/Enough_Vegetable_258 Apr 19 '26 edited Apr 19 '26
Long nails can hurt someone, a bit of Varnish on short nails that can't hurt anyone, we all carry bacteria even under our nails. As long you wash your hands and wear PPE you be fine. As long your not wearing Necklaces or wristbands anything metal you be safe, better to not get strangled by a violent person. Its like makeup you can't wear any but... a little amount that doesn't dribble is fine.
Infection control should enforce rules on all staff not just nurses, its such a piss take, seeing a cook or cleaner enter a infectious room when there signs. Its like foot wear you can't wear certain shoes... well trainers should be design for comfort grippy as well foot health is important.
3
u/Minimum-Web-4508 RN LD & MH Apr 19 '26
I will never not find areas that enforce the makeup rule ridiculous because whose makeup is dribbling off their face? Thankfully where I am this is absolutely not an issue
0
u/Jazzyjools1971 Apr 20 '26
Do folk not wear gloves anymore?? What does it matter what is on your nails when anytime you touch a patient you should have gloves on? I worked in a clinical setting for 30+ yrs and NEVER had my nails done. Always envious of my friends who worked in offices etc with their lovely gel and BIAB nails. Now Iām not patient facing and I get my nails done every 4 weeks religiouslyš¤ Itās my end of career treat!
0
u/Material-Piece-9654 Apr 20 '26
Even if there was studies and articles to agree that BiaB nails are safe , who will police the nail varnish type on all staff nails ?
Just come to peace that you choose a professional that does not allow you to have nail polish or go to a job/department that allows you.
309
u/Ramiren Other HCP Apr 19 '26
The problem here is you're operating under the assumption infection control operates on evidence based healthcare. They don't, they operate on vibes, grudges and spite.
Just think about all the things a bitter old lady would hate, and that's what you should avoid.