Infection control question...

[luvmy2angels]

I work in LTC and we have been told that we are NOT allowed to wear gloves in the dining room, this includes while clearing dirty dishes/napkins. Reasoning: it is not conducive to creating a "home like" atmosphere. We don't wear gloves at home when serving our family so there fore we are NOT allowed to wear gloves in the dining room. Do I not have the right to protect myself and family from infections?? Our resident use utensils after picking their noses, don't wash hands after using bathroom etc....I work in personal care. Is this legal for them to restrict our use of PPEs???

[CodeteamB]

Dude, just wash your hands afterwards. When you are at the bank, the grocery store, the playground with your kids you are all touching things that have been touched by people with unknown and, likely, less than stellar hygiene. Handwashing is your friend, paranoia about infection is not.

[chrisrn24]

I worked as a waitress for several years and never once donned gloves to clear plates, wipe tables, etc.

If you have a concern about one person in particular bring it up to your boss. But remember you are probably more likely to give the residents an illness than them giving you something.

[chrisrn24]

Dude just wash your hands afterwards. When you are at the bank, the grocery store, the playground with your kids you are all touching things that have been touched by people with unknown and likely less than stellar hygiene. Handwashing is your friend, paranoia about infection is not.[/quote']

Yep this too!

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Our resident use utensils after picking their noses, don't wash hands after using bathroom etc....

Yep, this is likely. This is also true of things you touch at the grocery store, the movie theater, the gym, the mall, etc.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Unless they are bleeding all over their food, there is no reason for you to wear gloves in the dining room.

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

The only person I've ever seen wearing gloves in the dinning room during meal time is our cataclysmically OCD 90 year old resident.

[Sun0408, ASN, RN]

I feel the same as the other posters.. It's not like you are giving baths, doing personal care, or wound dressing changes in the dinning room..

[canned_bread]

Woah! Now, I don't think they could legally restrict PPE, but they can surely make your time hell. I would wash my hands, and cover all wounds with a new occlusive dressing prior. Chances of anything going wrong in the dining room is quite small.