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Discussion

Does size matter (Gloves nurses, gloves!)

I do PRN nursing work. Recently a facility I work at has gone to only purchasing medium and xtra large gloves ? and the cheap ones with no stretch at that! My problem is I have large hands. I usually wear a large glove. I can fit a medium in a nice stretch glove like the blue nitrile gloves but in the food service type, white/clear gloves this facility provides tear when I try to put a medium on and the xtra large are bulky and I fear not protective due to the open area at the wrist. I am planning on bringing this up as an infection control issue with my boss. What are your feelings about this? Have you ever run across this issue? How did or would you handle this?

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    • Expert

    Yeah- it's an infection control issue, KK.

    The foley catheterization kits where I work had only small sterile gloves in them and I requested sterile gloves in the large size be regularly kept and ordered.

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    • Expert
    9 minutes ago, Davey Do said:

    Yeah- it's an infection control issue, KK.

    The foley catheterization kits where I work had only small sterile gloves in them and I requested sterile gloves in the large size be regularly kept and ordered.

    DITTO. I work prn and the facility ordered XL gloves - exam and sterile - just for little ole me...?

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    Better a little too big than too small...

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    So why only order two sizes, do they think people with small or large hands steal them or something? They need to provide the employees with what they need to provide safe care.

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    1 hour ago, Forest2 said:

    So why only order two sizes, do they think people with small or large hands steal them or something? They need to provide the employees with what they need to provide safe care.

    But, but, that...makes sense.

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    Yeah, I have the same problem with the foley trays. My hands are too big for those gloves (what are they XS? I'm not that big). Gloves are cheap, even the individually wrapped sterile ones aren't expensive enough to think twice about keeping them in stock.

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    • Expert

    More penny-wise and pound-foolish cost-cutting. And when the rate of nosocomial infections rises, they'll be herding you all to remedial handwashing classes.

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    Food service gloves?! Jeez, that facility gives a new meaning to cheap. Those clear gloves NEVER fully keep out liquids, I’ve tried many brands for food service.

    Hard to say how you could attempt to explain this to management, they strike me as folks who have never touched a pt.

    Perhaps a hands-on demonstration of the gloves failing with some creative props/food coloring?

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    My facility had nothing but latex and food service gloves when I started.

    My hands are small, and those gloves have no stretch. Most nursing tasks require dexterity, and I was struggling.

    I put in a requisition for nitrile gloves of all sizes, and it got through accounting, so I'm good now.

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    • Author

    I am glad you succeeded. I just wish facilities would realize that they have to provide the tools that allow us to do a good job. Not sure if I will stay at this job or not. Planning on requesting gloves in all sizes but purchasing my own right now.

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    Doesn't the facility legally have to provide you with whatever equipment you need to do your job safely? If they aren't willing to get you the gloves, I would look into reaching out to OSHA.

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    If the gloves are too large, especially the vinyl ones that don’t conform at all, I have so much trouble manipulating anything small, so it makes wound care or injections really difficult. I might as well have two slices of bread for hands.

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