News

Nursing students must keep it short

Viviana Avila, Staff Writer and podcaster

November 17, 2025

An ECC student displays her nails. But, nursing students are not allowed to have nails this length due to the nursing student handbook. This protocol is necessary for safety and sanitation reasons

During the nursing program new member orientation, Isabella Dulaca recalled Senior Director of Nursing Heather Escobar announcing that long nails and polish were not permitted.

“We can’t be allowed to wear nails during nursing school because bacteria gets underneath and it pokes the gloves easily,” said ECC student Isabella Dulaca.

On Wednesday Nov 5, 2025 nursing students attended their new member orientation and were immediately presented with a strict dress protocol, including specific regulations controlling nail maintenance.

The Nursing Program student handbook states “Nails should be well manicured and are not to extend beyond the end of the fingertips. Nail polish is not allowed in the clinical setting. Artificial nails are forbidden in all clinical areas.”

This protocol is necessary for safety and sanitation reasons but it limits students’ opportunity for self expression and individuality.

“I’d love to have nails sometimes, you know, but I get it with the nursing program,” said ECC student Jacky Ruiz

Similarly, student Evelyn Agirrie says she rarely gets her nails done but when she does she feels like she gains new confidence.

Luckily, nursing students have found that press-on nails are great alternatives to nail extensions. During holiday breaks and special events press-ons are more efficient.

“I feel like if I do the acrylic it’s not even gonna last long for me and I’m gonna to take them out after a couple weeks,” said Ruiz

Not only are press-ons more efficient, they are also more affordable. Dulaca feels like “in this economy” press-ons are the more reasonable option.

With viable options, nursing students have successfully learned to cope with the inability to maintain long or painted nails.

“Even though I can’t have my nails done all the time, when I do get them done it makes it extra special” said Dulaca.

Donate to Observer

$525

$5000

Contributed

Our Goal

Your contribution will allow us to send students to the National College Media Conference in San Francisco in March 2026. This will grant them an opportunity to learn about about journalism and receive recognition for their work.

About the Contributors

Viviana Avila, staff writer and podcaster

This is Avila’s first year at ECC pursuing an associate in arts. This is her first year serving on The Observer. Avila joined because she wanted to learn more about story writing and time-management. She enjoys covering club and organization opportunities that surround the ECC campus. Avila hopes to take complex topics and write them in a creative way, so her peers can be more interested. Her personal motto is to make a difference in her community. Contact information: [email protected]

Lila Dzikowicz, staff writer and photographer.

Dzikowicz is a freshman at ECC interested in studying music. This is her first year on the Observer staff. She joined the Observer because she likes to write and hopes to gain more experience. She is interested in covering politics and human-interest stories at ECC and in the wider community. She hopes her experience on the Observer will give her the chance to meet more people in the college and surrounding towns who she otherwise would never have had the opportunity to have a conversion with. Her motto is “If you hold your hand closed, nothing good can come in” (Bridget Mason). Contact information: [email protected]