Greater KC APIC Chapter Taking the Lead in Collaborative Efforts Regarding Artificial Nails with Metropolitan Area Healthcare Facilities

ISSUE: The Greater Kansas City APIC Chapter collaborated to develop a position statement in response to the JCAHO Patient Safety Goal # 7.a “Comply with current CDC hand hygiene guidelines.” A consensus statement was developed to provide area hospitals with direction regarding the use of artificial nails in by direct patient-care providers. Without consensus of the majority of hospitals, concern was raised that nurses would choose hospitals that allowed artificial fingernails. PROJECT: An APIC task force met to review current medical literature, HICPACʹs Hand Hygiene Guideline, and the JCAHOʹs patient safety goals. The task force developed a questionnaire and asked all members of the APIC chapter to interview the director of nursing and the human resources director in their facilities. A consensus statement was written and approved by the APIC chapter and sent to all area hospitals as well as to the Missouri and Kansas Hospital Associations. RESULTS: Prior to the initiative, 33% of area hospitals had a “no artificial fingernail” policy. Following consensus statement development and dissemination, 70% of hospitals planned to implement such a policy.