Client Consultation, Communication, and Professional Ethics
Consultation and ethics items are judgment scenarios: what you ask, what you record, what you refuse, and what you keep private.
Intake that matters
A written record starts with name, contact, date and service, then a short health history: allergies and prior reactions to polish, adhesive or gel; skin conditions; diabetes, poor circulation, neuropathy or blood thinners; pregnancy; medications such as isotretinoin that thin the skin; and previous enhancements and how they were removed. Record the service, products used, any reaction and any referral. Ask rather than assume, and ask again before introducing a new product.
Communication that prevents complaints
Confirm look, length, shape and price before you begin, since most disputes are expectation disputes. Explain what the product can and cannot do, give aftercare in writing, and describe what to expect at the two-week mark. Use plain language and a professional interpreter rather than a relative when discussing consent.
Ethics and scope
You do not diagnose or treat disease, promise a cure, or advertise medical results; you refer. If a service is contraindicated you may decline politely and offer an alternative. Keep records confidential, sharing them only with written permission or where law requires. Do not discuss one client with another, and do not take or post photographs without consent.
Worked example
A regular client arrives with a painful, swollen, red nail fold and asks you to squeeze out the pus and cover it with an enhancement. Reasoning: this looks like paronychia, an infection; squeezing or covering it spreads infection and delays care. Do not work on that digit. Describe what you see without asserting a diagnosis, refer her to a physician, document the referral and refusal, and resume only when she is cleared.
Traps
Diagnosing instead of describing; leaving a reaction out of the record; accepting a client's assurance that a patch test is unnecessary; guaranteeing durability; and discussing health history at the front desk.