In Australia, most healthcare facilities (hospitals, aged care) generally prohibit regular nail polish, artificial nails (gel, acrylic, SNS), and chipped polish for nurses in direct patient care due to infection risks, favoring a "bare below the elbows" policy to ensure effective hand hygiene and reduce microorganism harbouring. While some facilities might allow clear polish or specific long-lasting polish if perfectly maintained, it's best practice to have short, clean, unvarnished natural nails for safety, as policies vary by employer.
The best way to ensure healthcare workers' hands are correctly and effectively cleaned is to be Bare Below the Elbows. This means that healthcare workers should not be wearing any clothing, jewellery, false or embellished nails, nail polish, or items such as splints, from the elbow down to the fingertips.
Can I wear nail polish whilst working in healthcare? Artificial, painted and chipped nails should not be worn in clinical areas as they can harbour microorganisms and are linked with outbreaks of infections.
It is the responsibility of all direct patient care providers to maintain short (less than 6 mm or a ¼ inch long) to medium-length fingernails (no longer than 3mm or the size of a cotton tip swab). Nail polish, if worn, must be of a clear and light color and free of cracks or chips.
However, the evidence that SP could be detrimental came from two studies that showed a significantly higher bacterial count following surgical hand scrub for nurses wearing either chipped nail polish [3] or polish of unspecified condition [4].
5.3 Allow the nurse or midwife to maintain modesty when working. Clothing that may gape between buttons should be avoided, as should straight dresses and skirts that not only limit movement but ride up when the wearer bends or sits.
Natural nalls must be clean, with tips less than 1/4 Inch beyond the tip of the finger. If fingernail polish is worn, it must be in good condition, free of chips, and preferably clear in color. Wearing rings with stones on fingers is discouraged. They can harbor bacteria and also tear gloves.
"Fingernails should be trimmed short, and no false fingernails or nail polish should be permitted."
You may also be asked not to wear any make-up, nail polish, moisturiser, perfume or deodorant; and to remove false nails and piercings.
Healthcare workers often wear scrubs and work in environments with varying temperatures. Many Crocs styles include ventilation holes that improve airflow around the feet. This breathability reduces sweating and helps keep feet cool and dry during long shifts, improving overall comfort.
Bare Below the Elbows is an initiative that aims to improve the effectiveness of hand hygiene performed by health care workers. Bare Below the Elbows is achieved when sleeves are above the elbow, hands and forearms are free of jewellery, skin is intact, and nails are natural, short, and unvarnished.
Earrings should be removed or contained with the scrub attire. All hospitals, day surgeries and diagnostic facilities should ensure they have regulations pertinent to their individual circumstances regarding wearing of jewellery.
Best brands and products
OPI Infinite Shine – a series of long-lasting polishes available in a wide range of colors that meet the aesthetic requirements of medical facilities. OPI polishes are known for their high quality and durability, making them an excellent choice for those working in demanding conditions.
Colleagues must have the ability to be bare below the elbow when in face-to-face contact with patients or when in a clinical environment therefore long or false nails are not permitted.
Alcohol, Controlled Substance, and Smoking Policy. Smoking is not permitted on any School of Nursing property. Students are not allowed to attend class or clinical practice under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances.
Best Practices for Nail Care in Nursing
Avoid artificial nails: This includes acrylics, gels, and dip powder manicures. Skip nail polish: Chipped nail polish can harbor bacteria. Clean under nails: Scrub the undersides of nails with soap and water every time you wash your hands.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nurses and other healthcare workers should avoid wearing artificial nails or nail polish that can harbor harmful bacteria.
The CDC guidelines say that health care personnel should not wear artificial nails and should keep natural nails less than one quarter inch long if they care for patients at high risk of acquiring infections (e.g. patients in intensive care units or in transplant units).
(JHH Policy, 2019) CDC hand hygiene guidelines for nail polish are based on research from 2002 which does not include data on gel nails. The Association for peri-operative Registered Nurses (2019, updated in 2016) stated that since there is no research, the safe approach was to not accept gel nails.
Most surgeons and anesthesiologists prefer NO nail polish . Cracked , peeling , etc can harbor germs . Infection risk .
Gel nails are a type of acrylic nails, they have a more glossy appearance than acrylic nails which tend to be sturdier. Acrylic nail manicures tend to cater to those who want to go for a more creative and dramatic look by enhancing their nails with artificial nails.
Nurses in Australia primarily wear scrubs (comfortable, easy-to-clean tunics and pants) in various colours, often dictated by hospital policy or department, though light blue/teal is common for junior staff, with darker colours like navy or black sometimes signifying senior roles, while traditional white is rare now; uniforms focus on functionality, hygiene, and brand recognition, with nurses often buying their own from suppliers like Medshop, NNT Uniforms, and Scrub Lab.
The Golden Rule, or the ethic of reciprocity, is perhaps the world's most often cited guide to ethical human behavior. Simply stated, the rule asks that we treat others as we wish to be treated.
Specific requirements—including designated scrub colors, supportive footwear, limited accessories, and strict hygiene—vary by facility and sometimes by unit. No universal nurse uniform exists; dress codes differ between hospitals and schools, with allowances for cultural or religious needs.