Gloving up?!?

[scrubs2716]

I see many nurses in the "real world" not use gloves when admnistering IV therapy via ports. I know that they are using the plastic cannulas so there is no risk of "stick" injury but is this "safe" for the RN? Obviously, if the pt was neutropenic or immunocompromised in some way this would be horrible but is this the way the real world works? I admit I haven't gloved up a few times...2222222

[Otessa, BSN, RN]

Universal precautions. To protect the patient and the nurse. Any port or IV that is accessed deserves the use of gloves.

[Xbox Live Addict]

I see many nurses in the "real world" not use gloves when admnistering IV therapy via ports. I know that they are using the plastic cannulas so there is no risk of "stick" injury but is this "safe" for the RN? Obviously, if the pt was neutropenic or immunocompromised in some way this would be horrible but is this the way the real world works? I admit I haven't gloved up a few times...2222222

ANY time you have access to another person's body fluids you should glove up. This is not only to protect the patient from iatrogenic infection (and the risk of sepsis, especially with an IV access) but to protect yourself. You aren't likely to acquire HIV this way, but hepatitis is much more easily spread, and you will be living with that for the rest of your life.

In my work, not only do we wear gloves, but chemically-treated lab coats and face shields as well. This is required even for a fingerstick.

[RNBelle]

i admit - i never use gloves when giving iv meds through an iv line while other fluids are infusing - and actually i never learned that in school or have seen it done. now if my only acess is an INT/hep-lock i might. i give my meds at the farthes port away from the patient. its just me and the IV fluid (NS, LR, etc). i use gloves when there is more of a risk of me coming in contact with body fluids. as for gloving up with immunocompromised patients - handwashing is the key - the gloves are not sterile so that does nothing for the patient if you dont wash your hands before putting on gloves.

[Bella36RN]

When I administer IV "pushes" I do not glove up...nor have I ever seen one glove up when doing such. when it comes to everything else...i pretty much glove it up!!!!

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

In my work, not only do we wear gloves, but chemically-treated lab coats and face shields as well. This is required even for a fingerstick.

That sounds like overkill to me, and very uncomfortable for the patient and nurse. I don't understand why it would be necessary.

[Xbox Live Addict]

That sounds like overkill to me, and very uncomfortable for the patient and nurse. I don't understand why it would be necessary.

It is an FDA regulation that we do this. We are not a clinic in any case.

[Xbox Live Addict]

It is an FDA regulation that we do this, and the staff doesn't argue. No one wants to risk being exposed to HIV or hepatitis C.

[CooL B8B]

I have learned from nursing school that everytime we give IV meds, we have to don gloves mainly to protect the patients and ourselves. It is also our hospital policy but for sure not everyone does it.

[Ms Kylee]

I glove up for everything.. even taking vitals...

[not now, RN]

I only glove up if I'm a risk of coming in contact with body fluids. If I'm hanging a PB on fluids that are up and running I'm not putting on gloves. Why should I if I'm connecting the tubing to a port that's higher than the pump?

[flightnurse2b, LPN]

i think part of the rationale with that, even if you are using a needless system is that you can contaminate the port with your hands and those germs can sometimes get into the tubing and then into the patient.

i personally do not touch a patient without gloves on for any reason. i put them on before i swab the port to inject or hang anything.