Gloves or not for IV meds?

[Shibby3]

So in my 3rd year of nursing we have a class simulation on how to be supportive and informative "buddy nurses" as nursing has the inevitable duty of educating student nurses. In this simulation I was to pretend to be a buddy nurse to a 2nd year student and guide my student in administering IV antibiotics.

As we were about to administer it we both put on gloves, which the educator then walked in and questioned why we were wearing gloves. On my clinical placements I was always instructed to wear gloves giving medication through the IV, blood present or not.. The educator argued that unless it was not a one way valve cannula, or if there was no blood/bodily fluids present there is no need to wear gloves in this situation. I would partially agree with this, however I would rather my student always wear gloves in this situation than not wear them when it is necessary. I was a little bit annoyed at this, is it really that necessary to savour the resources of gloves to put a student at risk?

So who wears/doesn't wear gloves in this situation and why?

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

I normally wouldn't. You're not dealing with blood/body fluids. You're dealing with a port that's upstream of the cath. You're not uncapping the port are ya? No? Then clean the port per instructions... and go from there. Now if the clinical site requires that gloves be worn, then wear them.

As long as you're able to maintain a good aseptic technique, the port will remain clean regardless of you wearing gloves. Here's another issue: Depending upon the drug, I'd consider gloves to minimize my exposure to the agent, not the patient. Make sense?

[IVRUS, BSN, RN]

So in my 3rd year of nursing we have a class simulation on how to be supportive and informative "buddy nurses" as nursing has the inevitable duty of educating student nurses. In this simulation I was to pretend to be a buddy nurse to a 2nd year student and guide my student in administering IV antibiotics.

As we were about to administer it we both put on gloves, which the educator then walked in and questioned why we were wearing gloves. On my clinical placements I was always instructed to wear gloves giving medication through the IV, blood present or not.. The educator argued that unless it was not a one way valve cannula, or if there was no blood/bodily fluids present there is no need to wear gloves in this situation. I would partially agree with this, however I would rather my student always wear gloves in this situation than not wear them when it is necessary. I was a little bit annoyed at this, is it really that necessary to savour the resources of gloves to put a student at risk?

So who wears/doesn't wear gloves in this situation and why?

When exposure to blood or body secretion is possible, wear gloves.

When giving an IV medication, or hanging an IV bag, I don't wear gloves either. If I touch or accidently contaminate a portion of the tubing, like the spike, it's just as contaminated with my glove as it would be with my hand. And gloves can increase the possibility of contamination IF the gloves aren't form fitting.

Hope this helps.

[meltnpointofwax]

I wear gloves no matter what I'm doing in a patient's room. The main reason is because I also work as a tech in a hospital and every day I see people go from changing a messy diaper to touching handrails, IV poles, remotes, the patient, etc.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

I don't wear gloves when giving IVP meds or hanging bags. It's a needless system, (at least where I am at) and I clean all the ports with alcohol really good.

[CrunchyMama, ASN, RN]

I wear gloves doing anything! We're taught to do so, so therefore I do. I can never imagine not wearing clothes....it has become such a habit. I feel safer wearing them.

[blackandyellow]

The hospital I work in I never see people wear gloves but when I do anything I always wear them. I don't know what my hands are touching and who's hands have been there with what on them before.

[Seas]

I don't wear them when doing y-port IVP, IVPB, or regular IV fluids. I wear them when I am working on a saline-locked IV line.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

I see no reason to. Walk in. Ask name and DOB. Find line. Swab port with alcohol. Insert needleless device. Squirt. Judge for effect. Exit.

Now, I don't touch bodies or products from them without gloves. I won't even touch their hands without gloves. Mostly because it makes me feel too personal with them. I know that's weird, but whatever. There is the whole body funk element though.

I see no need to do it on an IV line.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

IV and central lines no. If I am drawing bld from a central line yes. Art line yes, but just hanging a bag or pushing a med, no way.

[CrunchyMama, ASN, RN]

Oops....meant to say GLOVES not clothes, lol! Actually can't imagine walking around the hospital naked either!

[msjellybean]

Only time I wear gloves with IVs are when I'm hanging blood, drawing labs, or hanging/pushing chemo. It's really useless to do so otherwise.