trach care question

[Amy2005]

This is a question about when to change the sterile gloves.

After cleansing the stoma, the outer cannula, the face plate, the inner cannula,

replacing the inner cannula, and applying the new trach dressing - are the gloves

then removed before applying the new ties? Or should the nurse remove the gloves

before applying the new ties?

[GOMER42]

I wouldn't de-glove until after I put on the new ties. Why would you need to put on new sterile gloves to place ties to an area that doesn't require sterile technique?

[GeauxNursing]

no need to "change sterile gloves". Once you are done with the sterile part, the gloves then function as just "clean" and you finish your procedure.

(right?)

[jstbreathe]

I always wear regular gloves under my sterile gloves. When I am finished being sterile, I just take off the top layer of gloves. Then, I have clean DRY gloves. Hope that helps.

[DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP]

I always wear regular gloves under my sterile gloves. When I am finished being sterile, I just take off the top layer of gloves. Then, I have clean DRY gloves. Hope that helps.

ohhh, that's a good idea. thanks for sharing.

[Magsulfate, BSN, RN]

I guess it is a matter of preference, once you're finished with the sterile part of the procedure .. technically once you're done with this and cleaning around the stoma area, if you need to change gloves you can. OR as another poster said, have gloves on under your sterile gloves.

Or, just keep the sterile gloves on. As long as you don't break the sterile field while you're doing the sterile part like I said above,,

[GTnurse]

As I know this is the sterile procedure including changing trac ties and that is why it supplied together in the trac dressing pack. I would think we should change the strile gloves if the glove is contaminated and maintain sterily through the procedure.

[GeauxNursing]

As I know this is the sterile procedure including changing trac ties and that is why it supplied together in the trac dressing pack. I would think we should change the strile gloves if the glove is contaminated and maintain sterily through the procedure.

True, but this procedure has it's "sterile" component and it's "clean" component. And yes definitely change your sterile gloves if they become contaminated always. But, once the sterile part is over, (after you've messed with the stoma and the cannula) you can proceed as a clean procedure. If you gloves become "unsterile", it doesn't necessarily mean they are dirty.

(addendum: True, the ties are considered "sterile" as they are in the pack. But think about it, once you touch the old tie with your gloves, those gloves aren't sterile anymore, right? )

When we did this in school it was clean gloves to remove old dressing, remove them (wash hands) and open the trach kit, put on sterile gloves to handle sterile equipment and do sterile portion. Once the sterile part is over and you are changing ties and cleaning up, the "sterile" gloves are still clean and can function as such.

It was difficult to learn how to differentiate b/t the sterile and clean concepts for me. Esp. doing those procedures that require both. We had girls walking around during check-offs holding their hands up, sterile gloves on, like they were surgeons walking into the OR! "Here are my hands, and they are sterile! I can see them!" lol