I.C. and Glove use

[Rizpah]

I have a friend that recently started a new position in home health and made an observation regarding glove use. She says that she has watched the nurses that she is following give IM injections without using gloves! and at some sort of health fair where they were performing blood glucose checks, the supervisor told them they should not be changing gloves so often - every 15 minutes is enough. I think some remedial infection control training is in order here. Problem is, one of the offenders is the supervisor.

Has something in Universal precautions changed that I'm not aware of? I don't think so! A drop of blood is a drop of blood is a drop of blood.......

[TazziRN, RN]

Are these older nurses? I don't glove up for injections.

[renerian, BSN, RN]

I have never done an injection without gloves.............the HH policy your company has might say how to administer an injection. What is the policy?

renerian

[jmgrn65, RN]

I don't usually glove for injections either. wash my hands.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

The Joint Commission AND DPH standards of practice mandate the wearing of gloves any time there might be contact with bodily fluids. Since there is the potential of that with both an injection and blood glucose testing with a glucometer, you MUST wear gloves when performing either of these two things AND change your gloves and wash your hands in between patients.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

If we wear gloves any time there might be contact with body fluids, we'll never take them off. I try to live with a happy medium.

[Cattitude]

I do wear gloves w/injections. I was taught that they are an extra layer of protection especially if by chance there is a needlestick. Say perhaps there's a drop of blood on the needle and you have gloves on and prick your finger.

The glove acts as a mini barrier and "wipes" off the drop somewhat before the needle sticks you. Not foolproof by any means just a little extra protection.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Gloves will not protect against a needle stick. If there is any blood on the needle and you get stuck, the glove WILL NOT protect you against anything. Any stick with a used needle should be treated as a medical emergency. Call your supervisor and have her call the local hospital ER to tell them you are coming post stick and will require prophylactic medicines based on their policies and protocols.

Anyone who gives care such as injections, IVs,glucometer checks and the like is just foolish to go gloveless.

[MadisonsMomRN, BSN, RN]

I ALWAYS wear gloves when the potential for contact with body fluids is evident.

[Cattitude]

Gloves will not protect against a needle stick. If there is any blood on the needle and you get stuck, the glove WILL NOT protect you against anything. Any stick with a used needle should be treated as a medical emergency. Call your supervisor and have her call the local hospital ER to tell them you are coming post stick and will require prophylactic medicines based on their policies and protocols.

Anyone who gives care such as injections, IVs,glucometer checks and the like is just foolish to go gloveless.

I never said they protect you completely against a needlestick, I'm not a dummy. I said it's a little extra insurance. A TEENSY TINY bit, that's all. Of course any stick should be treated as an emergency.

If you read through my post what I *did* say was the gloves could wipe off any residual blood on the outside of the needle and that COULD decrease the possibiltiy of transmitting a disease if a stick were to occur. That's what I was told by the ID nurse at my old hospital. It's all speculative of course but if wearing glove can help then why not? If I had to choose between a needle sticking my plain finger and a needle first having to penetrate a glove, I'll take the latter.

Also, checked up on WHO and OSHA, they both say that it's not necessary to wear gloves with injections unless a lot of blood is expected. I guess it's just personal preference.

[clemmm78, RN]

I had to do a day of doing sticks for glucose and I tried to wear gloves. I can wear them for cleaning patients, pericare, etc, but I am not comfortable at all wearing them for things like finger sticks.

I've also never worn them for injections. When I still worked in the hospital, I did start wearing them for IVs but that was so awkward.

[LaRN]

I had to do a day of doing sticks for glucose and I tried to wear gloves. I can wear them for cleaning patients, pericare, etc, but I am not comfortable at all wearing them for things like finger sticks.

I've also never worn them for injections. When I still worked in the hospital, I did start wearing them for IVs but that was so awkward.

yes they are awkward, mostly because the gloves most places use are cheap and hang off due to serious misfit. I'm sorry, I can't start an I.V. with a freddy krooger hand.