Patients who are unable to care for their own finger or toe nails will require your assistance in keeping nails clean and trimmed. If your patient is unconcious or medicated, they can easily scratch their own skin, which can lead to infection. Nail beds host a variety of microorganisms that can cause infection in your patient, and proper care will preven the spread of infection. If your patient is undergoing anticoagulation therapy, do not perfom nail care as the medication can cause increased bleeding. Patients who are diabetic should have nail care performed by a doctor because diabetes causes a decrease in the ability of tissue to repair itself. Even a very tiny cut on the foot can lead to an ulcer. Before you care for any patient’s nails, check with your facility to be sure that cutting nails is within the scope of duties for a nurse’s aide. You will need training to properly cut nails, but the following guidelines will always need to be followed:
- Before you begin nail care, wash your hands and put gloves on. Ensure equipment such as scissors or trimmers are clean and sterile to prevent passing on infection.
- As you cut each nail, ensure there are no sharp or jagged edges. Sharp edges can cause cuts to the patient’s skin, increasing the risk of infection transmission through breakage in the skin.
- Inspect the patient’s nail beds as you work to look for signs of inflamation or fungal growth. If you observe discoloration or signs of infection, report it to the nurse.
Proper nail care can reduce the transmission of disease because the hands and feet are often exposed to many microorganisms which can grow quickly in the nail beds. This procedure will also help the patient to remain comfortable and allow you to look for signs of infection that can lead to complications.