Fingersticks and Gauze?

[smiler2010]

Should sterile gauze be used with finger sticks or is non-sterile ok?

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

Should sterile gauze be used with finger sticks or is non-sterile ok?

Clean, or some version of clean, is ok at my facility.

[Good Morning, Gil]

Why would you need sterile gauze for a body part that's responsible for spreading HAI and arguably one of the most unclean parts of the body? lol

When trying to figure out if something is a sterile procedure, you just need to know if that body part is sterile or not. Inserting foleys: sterile since the bladder is sterile. Inserting NGT: not sterile, clean glove procedure, since the gut is not sterile, a multitude of bacteria crawling around in there.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

clean is ok in my facility too.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

When trying to figure out if something is a sterile procedure, you just need to know if that body part is sterile or not. Inserting foleys: sterile since the bladder is sterile. Inserting NGT: not sterile, clean glove procedure, since the gut is not sterile, a multitude of bacteria crawling around in there.

I bet there are a lot of newer nurses with that same question. I think your response will help those figure it out in the future.. I honestly think when it comes to nursing if you have a question ask it.. Don't guess.

[smiler2010]

Thank you all so much...I am a newer nurse and I was basically wondering because of opening the skin when the needle punctures the skin...which posed the question for me...should this be sterile because the skin is broken? Thanks!

[K+MgSO4, BSN]

It is a superfical puncture to the finger pad. Clean gauze or a cotton ball. No need for sterile.

[nursefrances, BSN, RN]

I prefer using a sterile 2X2. it just seems cleaner to me. Yesterday I ran out of gauze in my cart and I used a clean paper towel.