Does size matter (Gloves nurses, gloves!)

[guest825264]

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?

[guest825264]

Thank you for the website Mcnasty. I filed a complaint on my break.

[OyWithThePoodles, RN]

20 hours ago, Krispy Kritter said:

**Update** Spoke to management...they told me that supplying the gloves is a courtesy and that if I require special gloves I can supply them myself just like my stethoscope and scrubs. They said there is no law that requires them to provide us with gloves. Not sure where to go from here, working on updating my resume.

I would try to get this conversation in an email, that way it doesn't become and he said/she said incident when you report them for being idiots.

[BettyGirard, BSN]

That is so wrong. A stethoscope, perhaps. But gloves and other protected clothing are required to be provided (see earlier posts of the regs).

[guest825264]

One of the things that surprises me is that I seem to be the only nurse there who is upset about this. More CNA's are vocal than the nurses. Why does everyone just accept this? I have been purchasing my own gloves in a size large and I turned my notice in. I don't feel like this is anywhere I want to spend any significant amount of time.

[guest825264]

Update - I reported to OSHA and they contacted my facility. My facility of course told them that they supply the gloves and they immediately purchased gloves in all sizes. I politely went PRN instead of resigning and found another job. My new job supplies gloves without OSHA intervention!

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

Oh heck no! I have small hands — I wear size 6 in sterile gloves. I would not be willing to do messy jobs with anything larger than a size small because they won’t stay on. That is not acceptable for the patient or for me.

ETA: just saw this is an older thread; I’m glad you reported these clowns and got out!

Gloves a courtesy, uh no... anywhere I have worked, EOHW has PROVIDED PPE for employees who have problems with the standard issue. Like the sensitivity to the old powdered gloves, sensitivity to the hand sanitizer etc. Besides they can’t very well provide “courtesy” PPE to only those who wear a particular size. ?

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Kudos for being a nursing advocate and reporting to OSHA lack of routine PPE to protect staff and patients! Wishing you smooth sailing at new facility.