Gloving up question

[Homesick Gypsy]

I've noticed when I get my allergy shots that the nurse gloves up before she picks up the vial, syringe, etc. Today I noticed that AFTER she gloved up, she picked up the phone receiver to answer a call, then picked up a pen to write down a message, then proceeded to give the shot (to another patient). Another nurse had sneezed in the direction of the phone not 5 minutes before.

One day while about to receive my shots, she dropped one glove on the floor, retrieved it, put it on and started to pick up my vial. I asked her to re-glove.

I was always taught to not touch anything unsterile after gloving or if necessary to do so, to re-glove. Am I being too picky?

[Nesher, BSN, RN]

While I understand your concerns, giving an injection is not a sterile technique. Granted picking up a glove off the floor and then using it wouldn't be something I would advise...

[Homesick Gypsy]

Maybe I am being too picky. She always grabs my arm before she gives the injection, wiggles it around, gives the injection, and wiggles it some more. I've never seen her "technique" before and it doesn't make my injections less painful, but it does work for some patients. I suppose the alcohol would kill anything that might be on her glove.

I just couldn't go with the glove off the floor. No telling what was tracked in from other parts of the hospital....

[USA987, MSN, RN, NP]

While I understand your concerns, giving an injection is not a sterile technique. Granted picking up a glove off the floor and then using it wouldn't be something I would advise...

:yeahthat:

[SandraJean]

I would think the reason for her wearing gloves would be for HER protection against your body fluids.

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

Getting an injection is not a sterile procedure. Some of the people I work with do not even wear gloves...the gloves are to protect the person giving a shot.

Its like the syringes that are safty lock. Pain in the orifice but most are required to use them for insurance reasons, but the docs can choose if they want to or not. I pull the safty part off when I am setting up for the doctor, he does not want it on there but makes me use it.

[MissJoRN, RN]

Getting an injection is not a sterile procedure. Some of the people I work with do not even wear gloves...the gloves are to protect the person giving a shot.

QUOTE]

Exactly... but...

All those things mentioned are things that, if done without gloves, would require handwashing again before giving the injection. I assume this nurse did not wash her gloves before turning back to you?? Then she should have removed the gloves, washed her hands and donned a fresh pair (unsterile exam gloves from the box) All in all the best bet seems to be putting on the gloves at the very last minute before the stick, after everything is prepared, then ignore the phone for the next 5 seconds, remove gloves, wash ans move on.

Gloves are to protect the healthcare provider... but not at the risk of the patient! She gave an injection to another pt with the same gloves on?!

[Homesick Gypsy]

My concern about the "dirty" gloves is that she is making a hole (however small) in my arm, and injecting something I'm already allergic to. She swabs my arm, wipes my arm dry, and then gives the injection with one hand, while with her other hand she holds skin from my arm and jiggles it (supposedly makes it hurt less). Many times blood and/or what she has injected starts to leak back out of the injection site. She then swabs my arm again. Often the injection site from the week before has not entirely healed. It just seems like a lot of opportunities, if she has picked up something nasty on her glove, to transfer it to me. My allergist's office is within a large teaching hospital.

She does re-glove between patients.