So I had my first clinical day for OB and my instructor told us not to wear gloves when doing vitals for the post-partum mom. I was totally in shock. I told her that I normally wear gloves every time I'm doing vitals or a Head to toe assessment just in case an unexpected situation came up. Or what if I had to help change a pad or something I wouldn't want to say " hold on for a minute or two let me grab some gloves" Anyway she said that they are not needed when doing VS. I find this very contradicting in that we as nurses and student must always use standard precaution, we must always treat everyone as if they are infected. Now, If I'm providing comforting measures or holding someones hand, I may not use gloves all the time, but they are still close by.
So my question is do you or do you not wear gloves when taking vitals. I'm just curious here...
Maybe I've been wrong for wearing gloves all this time ?
Personally I think wearing gloves during vital signs and fundal exam is little unneccesary and I feel it really hinders the holistic feeling that I am trying to portray. But, this is obviously a personal choice that one shouldn't be critisized for. I don't feel uncomfortable to say "Let me grab a pair of gloves" and the patient understands the need.
I have a classmate who wears gloves to simply walk in a patient's room. She says it's due to her OCD. She had our clinical instructor's blessing in clinicals. Our CI said we should wear gloves more, not less.
This student works as a tech on a very busy med/surg unit, and she does this at work, too.
I have a classmate who wears gloves to simply walk in a patient's room. She says it's due to her OCD. She had our clinical instructor's blessing in clinicals. Our CI said we should wear gloves more, not less.
This student works as a tech on a very busy med/surg unit, and she does this at work, too.
Oh Lordie, this girl is in for a tough time in nursing!
I agree with others in that wearing gloves during vital signs/assessment is cold and OCD (and I actually have OCD hehe)
I only wear gloves in an assessment while Im doing doppler pulses (I dont like the lubey stuff) or looking below the belt.
As a patient, I would much rather see my HCP wash their hands than slap on a pair of gloves.
Further, I think it really isolates/ostracizes a person when you wear gloves excessively. In fact, one of our instructors said it was unethical to wear gloves when assessing an HIV + pt with skin intact. Standard precautions will be just fine for me.
Okay thanks everyone ! Now I know and understand why gloves are NOT needed when simply checking vitals signs on a Post-partum mom. I will also not wear gloves doing vitals on any other patient unless circumstances have me to. Thanks for answering my question very well. I'm glad that I can start my OB rotation with a good start :) I'm glad I posted this before I actually had a chance to vitals on the Post-partum mom. Thanks again.
I personally wouldn't think anything of a nurse or aide wearing gloves while doing vitals unless maybe I was at a routine check-up and even then I wouldn't really care. I typically do not wear gloves myself while doing vitals but will when I do a physical assessment because, like you said, you just don't know what you will encounter. Honestly it's better to err on the side of safety and over-protect yourself and your patient, as far as I am concerned anyway. I think patients are pretty used to seeing us wearing gloves all the time so I really doubt if anyone would think much of it... I always keep extra gloves on me at all times anyway so, should something arise, I am prepared.
Specializes in Case management, occupational health.
I have been an xray tech/medical assistant for 15 yrs, and am in my 2nd semester of nursing school. The only time I can recall wearing gloves while doing vital signs is when I am caring for a trauma patient that is covered in blood. Gloves are not needed for vital signs.
I don't wear gloves for VS, but I think it is agency specific. Where I used to work, we were instructed to only wear gloves if coming into contact with bodily fluids (excluding sweat). Where I work now, we were told to wear gloves for everything. I personally find it kind of amusing that people put gloves on for just boosting a patient up in bed (unless there is reason to suspect their sheets have excrement on them) but whatever floats your boat!
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kaybay529
4 Posts
Personally I think wearing gloves during vital signs and fundal exam is little unneccesary and I feel it really hinders the holistic feeling that I am trying to portray. But, this is obviously a personal choice that one shouldn't be critisized for. I don't feel uncomfortable to say "Let me grab a pair of gloves" and the patient understands the need.