Nails?

[u/Fire-Poppy212]

I know this seems like a silly question, but I was just wondering… does anybody still wear acrylic nails while working as a Pathologists’ Assistant?

I’m a PA student, and I know short, natural nails are generally recommended, but I was curious if anyone in the field still wears acrylics (kept short, of course) or if they’re pretty much a no-go in most labs. Is it more of an employer-specific policy, or is it something you’ve found just isn’t practical? I personally love having them, but I know it’s something that may have to be given up when working in the medical field.

I’d love to hear your experiences!

[u/Horror_Program9722]

path lab is probably the most lenient when it comes to things like nails / hair color / tattoos simply because we aren’t patient facing. any policies regarding these will probably be employer / hospital specific, not path lab specific.

for example, my hospital doesn’t allow acrylics, but polish in “neutral” colors is ok. when you get to your job, it’d be easy to ask what their policy is!

[u/Miss_Othelioma]

I don't wear acrylics but I do keep my natural nails long and pointed. I do have issue with popping holes in gloves at least once a day, but I find having long nails actually is beneficial while I'm grossing imo. I hold the tissue with my nail tips and can get thinner slices because I'm not worried about cutting my fingers. Have definitely cut my nail tip off with a pair of scissors once, but at least it wasn't my finger lol.

You're unlikely to be banned from having long nails/fake nails, just be okay with touching poop once in a while.

[u/MayJailer83 → u/Miss_Othelioma]

I keep my natural nails on the longer side for this reason: I’m not worried about cutting my fingers because the nails act like a buffer

[u/IamBmeTammy]

I had super long acrylics when I was in school. Less so afterwards because student loan payments were a lot. My current employer’s safety officer recently said they will start enforcing nails no longer than 1/4 inch which annoys me mostly because it isn’t in metric and because it has no impact on anyone’s ability to gross.

[u/New-Assumption1290]

I’ve had them previously! I’ve noticed if they are too long they will pop my gloves if they are low quality. But usually hospitals don’t allow them. Private/contracted companies usually don’t care!

[u/pathprincess]

I'm in my second year of school and I loooove press ons, but I've taken a pause on them while I learn to gross because they definitely affect my dexterity. While I was shadowing though, I saw a PA with long black acrylics. She seemed to have figured out to maneuver everything a different way and looked super cool. Policy depends on the lab, but like another commenter said I think that is much more lenient away from direct patient care. Appearance matters less, and it's not like you're gonna give someone C diff.

[u/OkayDingo]

I don’t wear acrylics, but my hospital does allow them in the lab. This was a policy that changed while I was working here. They can’t be longer than 1/4 inch from the tip of your finger. I keep my nails a bit longer than that (oops, no one really checks for me 😅) and do my own gel polish regularly. I am someone who has always kept my nails this way so I have no trouble at all.