Gloves? Is this acceptable?

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Specializes in med surg.

I know we are suppose to use gloves for everything. And I always put gloves on as soon as i go into the room , but I have seen many nurses not use gloves if they are just passing a oral med. Is this acceptable? In reality you are not touching the patient, you scan his band, scan the med and put it in the med cup. I can see why they wouldn't use gloves, it seems it would be easier to open those dang pills without them! But isnt this frowned upon?

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
I know we are suppose to use gloves for everything...

...I have seen many nurses not use gloves if they are just passing a oral med. Is this acceptable?

No, not for everything, newnurse Fresno. Wearing gloves is a universal precaution when there's a possibility of exposure to body fluids.

I have never seen a nurse wear gloves to pass oral meds.

Edit: Okay- that's not counting meds that can also be absorbed through the skin.

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We actually aren't supposed to wear gloves for everything.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

What type of patient population do you care for -- that requires you to wear gloves for everything? There are lots of situations for which gloves are not needed.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

We're actually NOT supposed to don gloves for "everything" -- we are to don when reasonably expecting to touch bodily fluids.

I mean way to make someone think you think they are dirty, if you can't be 6 ft away from them sans gloves.

Plus, it's a HUGE waste of money... not to mention bad for the environment, to throw away that much superfluous nitrile.

I only don gloves for room entry if the pt is on iso.

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Specializes in med surg.

Well I guess I was misinformed or under the impression we put gloves on when entering the room. That's the impression I was getting from my preceptor.

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
We're actually NOT supposed to don gloves for "everything" -- we are to don when reasonably expecting to touch bodily fluids.

I mean way to make someone think you think they are dirty, if you can't be 6 ft away from them sans gloves.

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.
Well I guess I was misinformed or under the impression we put gloves on when entering the room. That's the impression I was getting from my preceptor.

Respectfully, I'm confused. You have ADN, RN next to your user name. This is nursing 101 - surely you've had countless infection control inservices/clinical encounters that would have addressed this?

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Specializes in med surg.

Yes and they always have us put on gloves for patient contact. First nursing shift where I'm at...do I need gloves to pass this med? Preceptor said yes always put your gloves on. Although I've seen other pass oral meds with out. Guess I was just a little confused on the norm. Kind of sorry I asked now

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Specializes in RETIRED Cath Lab/Cardiology/Radiology.

You have asked an honest question, and one that probably many people have wondered about but refrained from asking!

With all due respect, although nursing school may teach "best" practice, reality is that practice varies at each facility, even with each person -- within Infection Control guidelines.

Review your facility's Infection Control Policy, and keep your practices within those guidelines.

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Yes and they always have us put on gloves for patient contact. First nursing shift where I'm at...do I need gloves to pass this med? Preceptor said yes always put your gloves on. Although I've seen other pass oral meds with out. Guess I was just a little confused on the norm. Kind of sorry I asked now

Why are you sorry?

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I always put on gloves when entering a room. It's not just for protecting myself from anything. It's for protecting the patient from me.

I know many disagree with me on here. I don't care. I always wear gloves. Including when passing meds.

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