Gloves or not for IV meds?

[Shibby3]

So in my 3rd year of nursing we have a class simulation on how to be supportive and informative "buddy nurses" as nursing has the inevitable duty of educating student nurses. In this simulation I was to pretend to be a buddy nurse to a 2nd year student and guide my student in administering IV antibiotics.

As we were about to administer it we both put on gloves, which the educator then walked in and questioned why we were wearing gloves. On my clinical placements I was always instructed to wear gloves giving medication through the IV, blood present or not.. The educator argued that unless it was not a one way valve cannula, or if there was no blood/bodily fluids present there is no need to wear gloves in this situation. I would partially agree with this, however I would rather my student always wear gloves in this situation than not wear them when it is necessary. I was a little bit annoyed at this, is it really that necessary to savour the resources of gloves to put a student at risk?

So who wears/doesn't wear gloves in this situation and why?

[sandyfeet]

So in my 3rd year of nursing we have a class simulation on how to be supportive and informative "buddy nurses" as nursing has the inevitable duty of educating student nurses. In this simulation I was to pretend to be a buddy nurse to a 2nd year student and guide my student in administering IV antibiotics.

As we were about to administer it we both put on gloves, which the educator then walked in and questioned why we were wearing gloves. On my clinical placements I was always instructed to wear gloves giving medication through the IV, blood present or not.. The educator argued that unless it was not a one way valve cannula, or if there was no blood/bodily fluids present there is no need to wear gloves in this situation. I would partially agree with this, however I would rather my student always wear gloves in this situation than not wear them when it is necessary. I was a little bit annoyed at this, is it really that necessary to savour the resources of gloves to put a student at risk?

So who wears/doesn't wear gloves in this situation and why?

My instructor this semester was really big on "knowing WHY you are doing things". In your situation, for example, my instructor would perceive it as "this person thinks they are going to be exposed to blood or body fluids by giving IV drugs" and question if you really understood what you were doing. This may be why the educator questioned you as well.

I don't wear gloves giving IVPs or IVPBs because I'm not putting myself at risk. I always have gloves in my pocket in case something happens while I'm at the bedside, and I wash my hands with soap and water when I'm done.

To everyone feeling safe by wearing gloves: they are not 100% sealed. There is an acceptable amount of pores or holes allowed in manufacturing. To quote my instructor again, "Ask anyone who ever got pregnant while using a condom!"

[EMTCali]

From what I have seen If your swabing the port with alcohol your way ahead of the game.

[noyesno, MSN, APRN, NP]

Oops....meant to say GLOVES not clothes, lol! Actually can't imagine walking around the hospital naked either!

I do all my IV meds naked but I do wear gloves.

[JK, clothes and no gloves for IV meds.]

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I do all my IV meds naked but I do wear gloves.

I think I saw that in a movie once....

[melmarie23, MSN, RN]

don't let the JC catch you without your gloves or not washing your hands when going into or leaving a pt's room. I wear gloves almost always-not so much for my benefit, but for the patient's. And I am super anal about hand washing. Better to get myself in the habit of always doing it now, so that I am not tempted to slack on this later on.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

Actually, you should be wearing gloves when accessing ANY line, PIV, AL or central. This is a huge thing to prevent IV/Central line infections. If you got caught without gloves in my place of employment you would get a talking to. Also, if JC or the Health Dept are in house your unit will get a ding for not wearing gloves. Do a search on Central line bundles and what they entail...even changing bags you should be wearing gloves. It isn't just to protect you, but your patients also. If I saw you accessing my line, PIV or not you'd get a few words from me!

[IVRUS, BSN, RN]

Actually, you should be wearing gloves when accessing ANY line, PIV, AL or central. This is a huge thing to prevent IV/Central line infections. If you got caught without gloves in my place of employment you would get a talking to. Also, if JC or the Health Dept are in house your unit will get a ding for not wearing gloves. Do a search on Central line bundles and what they entail...even changing bags you should be wearing gloves. It isn't just to protect you, but your patients also. If I saw you accessing my line, PIV or not you'd get a few words from me!

If you wear gloves, when spiking a bag of IV fluids, and you accidently touch the tip of the sterile spike (perhaps because your gloves are too big), haven't you contaminated the set just as you would have if you accidently touched it with your hand... YES. Are you exposed to blood, in this procedure... NO... So, an organization should not bring a punitive approach to any individual in this instance! Think it through...

[dandk1997RN, MSN, RN]

I wear gloves doing anything! We're taught to do so, so therefore I do. I can never imagine not wearing clothes....it has become such a habit. I feel safer wearing them.

Love this! I prefer wearing clothes, too. (Excuse me for picking on the typo- you made my morning.) ;~)

Back to the original question...aren't you always assessing the IV site by palpating before you give the patient any new IV fluids? If you are (which according to my training, you should) you are possibly going to be exposing the patient to your germs or you to theirs, and therefore, you would need gloves. JMHO

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

Love this! I prefer wearing clothes, too. (Excuse me for picking on the typo- you made my morning.) ;~)

Back to the original question...aren't you always assessing the IV site by palpating before you give the patient any new IV fluids? If you are (which according to my training, you should) you are possibly going to be exposing the patient to your germs or you to theirs, and therefore, you would need gloves. JMHO

It's always covered with a big piece of tagaderm so the insertion site isn't exposed. If you aren't exposed to any blood it seems the gloves are just as covered with germs as your hands (if you just washed them) since they aren't sterile. I mean especially if someone is pulling the gloves out of their pocket where stuff is constantly going in and out. I mean non sterile gloves are touching all these germs too and it's getting on the surface of the gloves. I consider non sterile gloves a barrier to protect your skin when coming in contact with bodily fluid or things like MRSA, they aren't keeping the person your taking care of from getting germs unless they are sterile.

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

Best bet is to check with the institution you work at. Some protocols require gloves for any IV accessing, hanging bags, etc. We have gone to this policy in the last 2 years.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I consider non sterile gloves a barrier to protect your skin when coming in contact with bodily fluid or things like MRSA, they aren't keeping the person your taking care of from getting germs unless they are sterile.

Non-sterile gloves are to protect you

Sterile gloves are to protect the pt.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

Non-sterile gloves are to protect you

Sterile gloves are to protect the pt.

Ok so just go summarize my long post to 2 sentences why don't you. Lol