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 ?
I think that is really cold to wear gloves to do VS-- maybe if the patient has open wounds on the arm or something--or on precautions-- as a patient I would be offended.
I haven't done any clinicals yet (still doing pre-reqs) but I have had 2 kids and can say with certainity that I hardly even noticed when a nurse choose to wear gloves when taking vitals on me pp (which happened both times.) Certainly not offended by any means. If anything I saw it as a barrier for me, as a patient, from the nurse who had been around other patients. Not that I felt that any of my nurses were "unclean" or anything, just one extra precaution
I haven't done any clinicals yet (still doing pre-reqs) but I have had 2 kids and can say with certainity that I hardly even noticed when a nurse choose to wear gloves when taking vitals on me pp (which happened both times.) Certainly not offended by any means. If anything I saw it as a barrier for me, as a patient, from the nurse who had been around other patients. Not that I felt that any of my nurses were "unclean" or anything, just one extra precaution
Yea, well the little old lady who is lonely in her room all day and just longs for some human contact may not feel the same way.
I'm a nursing student and I do not wear gloves unless the patient is on contact precautions. Yes, our brains have be ingrained with the "ALWAYS WEAR GLOVES" motto but I have never had a an instructor tell me I had to wear gloves while doing vitals. Like everyone else, I only wear them when neccessary, i.e. bodily fluids etc. During my head to toe assessment I am gloveless as well, it isn't possible to feel the skin temp, if it's clammy, dry etc with a gloved hand. There have been times on my rotation on OB where I have seen the nurses check pads and really get down in there without a glove on, of course they wash there hands after, but I definately wear a glove for that! Plus, I always carry a pair in my pocket in case I run into something I need them for! That way you don't even have to leave the pt.'s side!
i dont wear gloves for taking vital signs either... come to think of it...do you want a nurse to take your blood pressure with a gloves... it's totally abuse of gloves my dear.....unless you change her pads...say yes to gloves then!
I dont wear gloves when boosting pts or taking vitals, even during my head to toe exams usually unless i know im going to be touching body fluids, etc...when i started my recent clincial placement practically ALL the nurses put on gloves when taking VS and boosting patients. I asked them why and they said you never know what you might touch, etc when your in a patients room doing something so they all pretty much wear gloves to do almost any kind of pt care.
I can see their point but i think its a big waste of gloves and makes the patient feel contaminated! just to do VS and basic care...
I too am currently in OB, and I dont wear gloves for VS. I do however wash my hands with the hand soap before and after just to make sure. Of course I use gloves, if their is potential or actual encounter with body fluids....
We were specifically told by our MedSurg 1 professor not to wear gloves during vital signs for the reason posted above, gloves give a false sense of security, gloves are for exposure to body fluids, etc. not VS, as I get further along in the process I can see why, more and more I see staff, other students etc, come in a room and just glove up for everything, but I never see them wash, oh maybe a quick swipe at the antimicrobial on the wall, nothing beats good hand washing, but it is a personal decision, now I put on gloves when necessary, but always wash my hands, before and after patient care. My hands are raw sometimes when I leave clinical
Specializes in Psych, ER, Resp/Med, LTC, Education.
I don't think that anyone was saying ALL nursing students wear gloves for VS and when totally not necessary.............the poster was saying the the ones here where where wearing them were NS's and pre-nursing.
Also.........there have been a lot of studies done about the waterless hand stuff and unless your hands are VISIBLY soiled they are just as effective say all the studies and they encourage its use as it can be used faster so people are more apt to take the 5 seconds it takes to use it....since those that "forget"to wash when asked reported that they were rushed and didn't always have the time to do a full wash. Here is an article I found interesting..........
Plus, I always carry a pair in my pocket in case I run into something I need them for! That way you don't even have to leave the pt.'s side!
RochesterRN-BSN, BSN, RN
399 Posts
LOL.....Interesting point! you are right there!