glove allergy

Nursing Students Student Assist

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Hello, I am a student nurse in the UK with a type 4 latex and natural rubber latex allergy (carba mix and thiuram mix). Does any one have the same allergy as me? I have been told I shouldn't be a nurse due to my allergy, but this is all I have ever wanted to do. Leaving this course doesn't even come into the equation for me. Does anyone else know what gloves may be suitable or anyone with the same allergy?

I was wearing vinyl gloves for clinical placement however they do not offer adequate protection against blood Bourne viruses.

Thank you all,

Sherone

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

The OP is in the UK so product availability and quality (UK vinyl gloves vs US vinyl gloves) may differ. There are food grade vinyl gloves and medical grade vinyl gloves. Perhaps that's one of the issues.

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I have tried the purple gloves and they exacerbate my allergy, my hands and forearms swell as though I have lymphodema. The vinyl have an increased permeability for prolonged use and research back in 1998 suggest they do not protect against bbv, also infection control policies in my current trust state vinyl gloves are not to be used. I have found hypoallergenic gloves however they do not conform to the European medical guidelines.

I am beginning to think my career is going to ending really prematurely.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

If occupational medicine has told you that there aren't products safe for you that meet trust standards, unfortunately you may be right about your options in nursing may be prematurely limited. I know there are vinyl gloves that meet US infection control standards as well as blue nitrile gloves safe for patient care and chemo that are safe for those with latex allergies.

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Specializes in Hospice.

Just curious - here in the US a type 4 latex allergy is defined as a delayed hypersensitivity to latex. Does it mean the same thing in your country?

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This must be extremely frustrating for you! I don't see how they can't provide you with gloves or at least direct you towards some to buy. I don't know how the UK does things, but as the others have mentioned there are patients with latex allergies who must require good non-latex gloves. You should be provided with these.

It sounds like you have a passion for nursing. You could make a difference to many people in your career. Don't let some gloves stop you, no matter what people say.

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Specializes in Critical care.

Are you in the RCN or Unison? It might be an idea to have a chat with them to see if they have any suggestions if you are a member.

There are different types of nitrile gloves available in the NHS, I know of several staff in my previous job who had different gloves ordered in for them because the standard ones weren't appropriate due to allergies.

Your university's occupational health department should have seen you prior to, or at the very start of your course and they should have asked about allergies that could affect you being in clinical practice, latex allergies are quite common and I know of nurses who are allergic to latex, it's not a barrier to being a nurse, you just have to be careful. If they're telling you they can't do anything about it now and you're in your second year then they've messed up, as they should have dealt with this before you started.

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It is so annoying, I have not seen occupational health other than for my vaccinations. It has taken me 2years to even be referred to occ health. No one has been helpful, I feel like I have been left on my own until I just fall in a hole and say I give up on nursing. I was 18 when I started as a HCA and I am now 25, I am so strong willed that I won't give in.

I have contacted RCN for advice. I've got some samples on order from some glove companies, so surely the head of nursing and programme lead cannot just kick me off the course.... Can they?

A type 4 allergy involves a delayed skin rash with blistering and oozing of the skin, also the swelling of hands and wrists. A reaction can take anything from 6 hours to 4 plus days

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Have you consulted with an allergist or dermatologist? Not certain how worker/student rights work in the UK.

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Please speak to occupational health - both at clinical sites and at school. They should have non-latex equipment available. That isn't just for gloves, but other medical supplies you should be coming into contact with.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Do you know the disability laws regarding accommodation? In the U.S. this may be considered an accommodation mandating schools and facilities provide reasonable accommodations. I have a latex sensitivity and can safely use medical grade vinyl, purple, green or blue nitrile gloves.

However in the OP's case she has an allergy to a component other than the latex and has reacted to a few varieties of the nitrile gloves in addition to "traditional" NRL. At this point she has not found a glove safe to use other than vinyl (which do not meet the infection control standard in the UK or the NHS Trust).

Overseas reasonable accommodation laws are not the same as the U.S., if they even exist. If the OP even finds a suitable brand of gloves that meet the UK & NHS Trust infection control standards, the cost and/or availability of the product may not be reasonable. If the facility is not already latex free or latex sensitive (most U.S. facilities are latex free) there is a high risk of accidental exposure which can in turn result in a severe reaction, though it's not common for a type 4 reaction to exacerbate into anaphylaxis it's not impossible.

Remember the OP is in the UK where product availability, infection control standards, facility policies, and accommodation laws may greatly vary from US or Canadian standards.

I hope you are able to find a glove product that you don't react to, meets infection control standards, and the school & facility are able to easily acquire.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Not the answer you're looking for, but quite frankly, facing the possibility of blistered and oozing skin would make me feel a whole lot less passionate about nursing.

It is so annoying, I have not seen occupational health other than for my vaccinations. It has taken me 2years to even be referred to occ health. No one has been helpful, I feel like I have been left on my own until I just fall in a hole and say I give up on nursing. I was 18 when I started as a HCA and I am now 25, I am so strong willed that I won't give in.

I have contacted RCN for advice. I've got some samples on order from some glove companies, so surely the head of nursing and programme lead cannot just kick me off the course.... Can they?

A type 4 allergy involves a delayed skin rash with blistering and oozing of the skin, also the swelling of hands and wrists. A reaction can take anything from 6 hours to 4 plus days

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Specializes in Critical care.
I have contacted RCN for advice. I've got some samples on order from some glove companies, so surely the head of nursing and programme lead cannot just kick me off the course.... Can they?

I think you've got a fair case to fight your corner with what you've told us here. People work in the NHS with latex allergies, there are nurses working with BBVs such as HIV. The university's occy health cleared you to start placements, they should be able to support you to continue placements with adequate latex free gloves.

Let us know how you get on :)

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