[Disablednurse]

I don't understand. The lotion is supposed to decrease the integrity of the gloves. How long do you wear gloves when you put them on? Usually no longer than 5 to 10 minutes. Your gloves will not hold up any longer than that. What about those staff members that cannot wear gloves with powder in them? Do they supply gloves that they can wear. Bring in a doctors prescription that you cannot use that lotion, but only one that he prescribes. What could they do then?

[tory]

Well, not that I totally believe the answer we were given but IC said that the integrity starts to break down in the glove immediately. I don't wear gloves for 10-25 minutes but they claim the damage is microscopic and can occur with one minute of having the glove in contact with the lotion. If that IS true, I could see it being a problem if you are working to clean up an incontinent patient or if there is some situation where there are body fluids on your gloves for a minute or a few minutes, even though that may not occur very often at all for most of us.

It amazes me though how they worry so much about that but can't come up with alternatives for those of us that do have sensitivities and/or ezcema. Guess they would rather have us walk around with the cracks and open areas on our hands.

[LaVorneRN]

Boy. This is a hot potato, huh? The hospital I worked at in Alaska(cold, dry,cracking, chapped skin) developed this policy and everyone said "okay" and they had numerous trials of wall pumped funky lotions and foams and everyone tried em then did what they wanted anyway. No deaths have been reported yet and the integrity of the caregivers hands are still in tact. I would have to pimp slap some IC nurse who thought to "TAKE" my lotion from me. Can I see a show of hands?

[KC CHICK]

Originally posted by liberalrn
LOL re: the lip gloss! Frankly, you try to come between me and my vaseline or lipstick and someone will get hurt!

I think this glove degradation is an urban myth--you wear the gloves for like 10 minutes, tops. I re and reglove due to soiling or sweating in the latex (hate that feeling). Maybe in OR--but don't they also reglove? And besides, it's well nigh impossible to put gloves on with hands moist from fresh lotion....you wait for it to dry! I will need more substantial evidence before I change my practice.

Actually, most that I've seen at the OR table DOUBLE glove.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the possibility of using LATEX-FREE GLOVES. ....OMG, they do exist!
Wouldn't that eliminate the 'degredation' debate with your IC?

Anne

[RN from OZ]

We are actually provided with neutrogena or the sorbelene pain stuff in a pump pack at all the sinks in the facility.
Our Policy is wash with the anti bac soap have your patient interaction then wash again and put on the lotion, untill your next wash.
My hands have improved no end since we started this. It is and IC issue if you have cracked hands and a W/C issue as well !

[frannybee]

New question - what about the effect of the unguents and ointments and lotions we have to put on our patients? IC never seem to mention those topicals degrading gloves, and they're packed with more potent active ingredients than a nurse's hand cream would ever be.

Sjoe, my boyfriend bought the Neutrogena stuff for me the first time, called it 'Fisherman's Formula'.

[zudy]

My hospital does not provide any lotion, so we don't have that issue here. I carry my own, either Ludriderm or Neutrogena. I can't understand an infection control nurse thinking dry, cracked hands were some kind of improvment.

[liberalrn]

OK, so we have some people double gloving. I still stand by may original question: you don't glove up with hands wet from lotion--how does a product that is already absorbed (essentially) degrade gloves? OR is a different world...but for basic on the floor pt care? The non-latex gloves are a good answer, but hosp. where I work is tres cheap and only supplies that for latex allergy--I'm not kidding, the RN's who suffer from this malady walk around with boxes of nonlatex gloves with their names on them........

Also, great point re: lotions, ugents, oitments, etc. put on pt's skin....no-one's got their knickers ina twist about that and frankly, I'm much more concerned about MY gloves degrading whilst applying X creme to some unknown YZ skin disease than "cross contamination" from my travel size Eucerin creme!



Neutragena Norwegian stuff is great--very expensive.....

[KC CHICK]

I don't know, liberalrn. With that same theory, wouldn't our own natural oils from the skin break down gloves over time as well?
Non-latex gloves SHOULD BE PROVIDED regardless of facility budget. All we have to do is call central supply and they send what we need right up. I've never heard of anyone having a problem getting non-latex gloves. Do your facilities' administrators know what OSHA is?

As far as the lotion ABSORBING into the skin. Some may...yes...in the very upper surface layer..... but, I think most of it dries ONTO your skin. I still agree, however, that gloves aren't on long enough for the lotion to do any more damage than your natural oils would.

Anne

[liberalrn]

Good point about the absorption of lotion--essentailly just a coating to trap natural oils in. I do wonder about our own oils re: latex gloves. If I'm gloved for a length of time (in the same pair) say while assisting in a bedside procedure or during a code, esp. if I sweat in the things--they do get nasty inside. BUT my bottom line is: do present a contamination danger to myself or the pt?

Yes, nonlatex gloves are available--but they dole them out like salt shakers at a chf support group!