What is a disadvantage of gel nail polish in nursing?

• A. It strengthens the nails
• B. It is cheaper and faster to apply
• C. It reduces infection risk
• D. It is very difficult to clean around even with proper hand washing

Answer: (D)

Hand hygiene is essential in patient safety, and anything that creates a barrier on the nails can hinder cleaning. Gel nail polish sits on the nail surface and can seal around the edges, making it hard for handwashing and alcohol-based sanitizers to reach the skin and the areas around the nail. Even with thorough washing, microbes can persist under or around the polish, which increases the risk of transmitting pathogens. For this reason, gel polish is a disadvantage in nursing because it can compromise infection control. It does not strengthen nails, isn’t typically cheaper or faster to apply, and it does not reduce infection risk; in fact, it can raise it.