Honestly: Do you wear gloves every time?

ornurse2001 · Jun 13, 2001

Denicke-I didn't think about it til I read your post-but I actually do that too!I don't double glove intentially for the added protection, but rather as you said to have a clean pair underneath.I didn't even think about that being "double gloved", but it is....

BeachNurse · Jun 16, 2001

Responding to the nurse who says she would wear gloves when passing meds to the HIV+ resident: completely UNnecessary. I work with HIV+ kids and I hug them, touch them, etc. Wearing gloves unneccesarily around HIV+ patients is cruel and insulting to them. If there are no body fluids present then gloves are not needed.

night owl · Jun 16, 2001

Beachnurse, It would be cruel and insulting to myself if I don't wear gloves when passing meds to an HIV+ pt.! Just protecting myself It may not be necessary for the pt, but it certainly is necessary for me and other pts thereafter that I have to pass meds to...

janleb · Jun 16, 2001

I wear gloves giving IM, sq, IV I wear gloves but tear out the tip of one finger to feel for vein.

da42rn · Jun 17, 2001

I know it seems logical to say everyone should wear gloves at all times. However, personally if I wear gloves alot my skin cracks- which actually breaks down my first line of protection. I know epidemiologists who do not always wear gloves. You need to access the risk and wear PPE as needed.

da42rn · Jun 17, 2001

Nightowl I agree with Beachnurse. You need to learn how diseases are transmitted. HIV is transmitted through blood and body fluids, you CANNOT get it from handing someone a pill.

night owl · Jun 17, 2001

da42rn, If I hand him a cup of pills and he puts it up to his mouth two or three times to get the pills out then he hands me back the cup, his oral secretions are all over the top of the cup... I'm still wearing gloves to protect myself. It's either that or wash my hands before I touch anything. That means LEAVING my med cart to go to the nearest sink which could be down the hall if he's out of his room which is 99% of the time. If it doesn't bother him that I wear gloves, then it shouldn't bother anyone else right? :rolleyes:

wildflower · Jun 18, 2001

I wear gloves almost all the time, but please remember esp. those of you who said that when you pass meds you use gloves and then enter another pts. room with a new pair, handwashing is the best thing to prevent cross contamination between pt. Gloves protect you and also the pt. but handwashing protects the next pt. from both you and the previous pt. Gloves should not replace handwashing.

Terrie Hogan · Jun 18, 2001

Good Question. I work in IV therapy and I wear gloves darn near all the time when doing starts. Very rarely I will have to remove a glove on my L hand to palp a vein and I get nervous doing this. I am working hard on not taking my glove off, period.

When I first started nursing gloves were only found in the BR and usually large sizes!! The first time I was told I had to start an IV with gloves I said, "yea, right!" Guess what? I learned to wear 'em.

Terrie

lynnellirving · Jun 23, 2001

Wow! I am very surprised by the number of posters who admit to not using gloves while starting IVs. One poster even used the rational that the "blood exposure when starting an IV is fairly minimal". ANY blood you come in contact with is potentially infectious. Whether it is a squirt on your hand from flashback during insertion, or saturation thru a cotton ball held to the site, you are putting yourself at risk. Personally, for a long time I hated the feel of gloves when starting IVs or giving shots, but now, after 10 yrs, it is second nature. I have worked L&D for 10 yrs and we all know how messy that can get, subsequently, I wear gloves for every procedure where there is risk of exposure:IV starts, giving IM meds, vag exams, AROMS(for cleaning pt up after),etc. Also I have a husband and 4 young children, and I couldn't live with myself if I contracted a blood-borne illness simply because I "didn't like the feel of the gloves during an IV insertion!". Having said that, however, I was appalled that blood and body fluid precautions is not an international issue. I had my 4th child here in France this Jan. and NO ONE wears gloves to take blood, remove staples after surgery, insert IVs, give injections. In fact, to draw blood here, the tech inserts the needle with the end open(not attached to a syringe) and the blood drips into a vacutainer (they take the lid off so the blood will drip in)! When the nurse came to remove my staples after my surgery and I INSISTED she wear gloves (to protect me!!) she became VERY angry that this American thought she was unclean! After all, they use antibacterial hand wash between patients! AGHHHH!!! My point is, protect yourselves-you are too important to your families to take this issue for granted. One drop can equal your life!

BrandyBSN · Jun 25, 2001

I am a senior nursing student in a BSN program. If we are seen doing any procedure such as IVs, blood glucose checks, shots, staples, ANYTHING dealing with blood or a break in the skin without gloves, we are dismissed from clinicals! No second chance, no coaching! we use a needleless system at our hospital, and we are still dismissed if we dont wear gloves!

Last year my friend drew insulin without gloves, and gave it to the patient, no accidental sticks, and she was dismissed. And i do not mean sent home for the day, so was not allowed to finish her rotation, and was not allowed to continue in the program. She is now a Psych major.

I even wear gloves when I am giving lotion backrubs. I dont do any part of patient care without gloves on. Makes my skin crawl to touch anyone without gloves.

I do not use latex gloves when doing meds though, i use the thicker plastic non latex gloves, just to keep latex powder off the meds.

Use Gloves! Please!

Agnus · Jul 4, 2001

I heard cost mentioned at least once ( reference to using size specific steril gloves) and the old "it's my life argument you can't make me." It may be your life, but it is my pay check that is effected when worker's compensation insurance is increased for claims made because you were injured by comming in contact with a body fluid. One doesn't have to be stuck to contract hepatitis. It, unlike HIV, will live on surfaces a considerable time and is very virulent. I frequently have small microscopic skin breaks where organisms can enter. Hand washing is harsh on the skin and puts nurses at risk. (Not that I will ever stop washing) It cost a lot less to put on fitted steril gloves even double glove than to pay for the cost of treatment. I glove and wash after as well. I am latex sensitive. So I use non latex as often as possible. If none are available then I still glove up. I was once gloved and sustained a bloody large bore needle stick. partly the hospital's fault partly mine. It is no fun going through the testing for this even without the treatment. I have more than once found that I have place my hand directly in a small amt or blood or other body fluid and I was glad to be gloved. Perhaps you have been lucky so far ( or just think you have) I live in Nevada were our economy is based on the fact that people can be suckered thinking that they are lucky.