Trach suctioning without gloves??

Specialties Home Health

Published

I've been a Peds nurse in the home health setting for a year now and the handful of times I've actually worked with other nurses in this setting, I've noticed they routinely suction (not in an emergent situation) without donning gloves. Is this normal in the home care setting?? I am a total germaphobe (I know, great career choice, right?), so I know I am a bit more cautious and follow infection control guidelines religiously by nature but it just seems a bit counterproductive to introduce bacteria into our already compromised patients airways, right?

Anyone care to shed some light on this situation?

I would always wear gloves to do this, if the family doesn't want to bother with that, that's on them.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I would always wear gloves to do this, if the family doesn't want to bother with that, that's on them.

That's pretty much my stance. I equate it to me wearing gloves to change diapers but most parents don't

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Specializes in Pediatric Oncology, Pediatric Neurology.
I would always wear gloves to do this, if the family doesn't want to bother with that, that's on them.

Yep!! It's our licenses on the line. Wanted to also add, the homes I work in also have pets and just think of all the fun germs they bring into the house- onto the couches, floors, etc...I've seen parents sitting with their hands on the floor then suctioning without gloves right after 😳 I've used those opportunities to educate my families on hand hygiene if they're not willing to glove up. I can live with clean bare hands as opposed to Fido's leftover business going into my patients upper airway.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Anecdotally speaking my patients with in-home skilled nursing services only get sick when they pick up a bug from an inpatient stay at the hospital. It used to amaze me that a 3-year old would climb all over the client's bed for some hugs with the type of nasal secretions and lack of hygeine you expect someone of that age to possess, and less than sterile appearing vent tubing for those who still like the old fashioned re-usable type, the kind you find hanging over a shower curtain rod to dry.

3 or 4 days in the hospital they'd get the latest and greatest nasty that took weeks to resolve!

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Specializes in PICU.
In the home it's clean not aseptic/sterile. Just washed hands & clean non-sterile gloves for trach suctioning. For scheduled trach change clean technique using sterile drape, gloves, lubricant, kit.

Trach ties are not sterile

Why the sterile drape and gloves? Trach changes are clean technique. In over 10 years of changing trach in a hospital setting I have never heard of sterile supplies for a trach change. Just curious astto the rationale. respiratory trach is dirty. AS soon as you touch the trach coming out you are dirty, as well as taking off the ties.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Why the sterile drape and gloves? Trach changes are clean technique. In over 10 years of changing trach in a hospital setting I have never heard of sterile supplies for a trach change. Just curious astto the rationale. respiratory trach is dirty. AS soon as you touch the trach coming out you are dirty, as well as taking off the ties.

It's clean technique. The kit just happens to come with a sterile drape, etc.

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I've only done in an emergent situation. (Ex:Pt starts coughing formula through trach)

I've seen nurses and parents do it I've seen nurses leave the cath hanging on the suction machine touching everything, being contaminated by everything (biggest pet peeve)

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Specializes in PICU.
It's clean technique. The kit just happens to come with a sterile drape, etc.

Interesting. Neat to see what is out there, Do you know what company makes these kits? I am intrigued.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Interesting. Neat to see what is out there, Do you know what company makes these kits? I am intrigued.

We also had them in school. School was Kimberly Clark. I believe it's CareFusion the makers of LTV vent series

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Specializes in Pediatric Oncology, Pediatric Neurology.
We also had them in school. School was Kimberly Clark. I believe it's CareFusion the makers of LTV vent series

We currently use those on my Peds private duty cases as well and they also come with the less-than-sturdy sterile water "containers" for passes, brings back nightmares from nursing school.

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

The thin cardboard with essentially a Baggie inside. Oh so much fun!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

i worked in private duty as well and we never wore gloves while trach suctioning.... the parent (who was also a peds nurse) didn't find it necessary since all the catheters had sleeves on them. this child would cough and gag suddenly and quickly though so many times there wasnt a chance to don gloves. just had hand sanitizer less than a foot a way at all times!

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