JCAHO, gloves and oral meds

[nurseinprogress2010]

I am a student nurse. I cannot find where to research JCAHO standards. I know of the website www.thejointcommission.org but I cannot find the answer to my question. What does JCAHO state regarding the wearing of gloves during preparation of oral medications? Where can I find the answer to this and any other questions I would have regarding JCAHO standards? Thank-you!

[nurseinprogress2010]

please any suggestions or guesses! Thanks anyone for some help!!

[GMG RN]

did u look in your perry and potter skills book under medication administration? Im pretty sure you use gloves. Some medications can penetrate your skin and cause you (the nurse) some effects (chemo drugs, sulfadiazine). I would wash my hands and put on gloves, its just sanitary and sounds like the most reasonable answer

[GMG RN]

Just looked into my Perry and Potter skills book, it says "Use good medical aseptic technique: perform hand hygiene before preparing a dose of medication. AVOID TOUCHING TABLETS AND CAPSULES. Use sterile technique for parenteral medications.

Hope this helps!!

[liljoe]

I'm guessing the answer is in your class materials (textbook, study guide, etc.) Scan your assigned reading for "JCAHO."

A copy of JCAHO standards needs to be purchased, or e-access needs to be purchased. Access might be available at the same online site you can access scholarly journals through your school library though.

BTW JCAHO has standards sets that are different per setting, e.g., infection control standards are different for Home Care versus Hospital. So there isn't going to be a one-size fits all "JCAHO answer" to this specific "What does JCAHO state..." question IMHO.

Standards Information

[Woodenpug, BSN]

The above post says it well.

[resumecpr]

If your clinical is in a hospital, check their policy binder.

[tainted1972, ASN, RN]

The only time you have to put on gloves is if you are going to touch the actual medication.

when giving oral medication you open the package so that it falls into the cup without touching it. If you Have to touch a pill .. put on gloves

hope this helps

[mentalhealthRN]

I have seen many nurses touch patients meds with bare hands and not only is this a JAHCO violation but even before that--this is just nasty! Gross! I don't want anyone touching the pills I am putting in my mouth and I wouldn't ask my patient to do this either. The one I have seen the most is when the nurse with push all the pills right out of the blister pack into the med cup without touching them but then they need a tums/calcium (in a nursing homemost get these) and they pour them into their had and sometimes break with with their hands. This practice is just gross to me. So though it is a JAHCO reg it should first be common sense.

[Woodenpug, BSN]

O.K., I wash my hands before reaching into the glove box. I'm sure my co-workers do the same. Is my gloved hand any more clean than my washed hands? The thought of touching p.o. meds is so nasty, that I do not touch asa, for me. Still, let's get real, the glove box is nasty and gloves only protect me and my next patient. Unless, you feel that p.o. med pass should be a sterile procedure. And please cite the Joint Commission reference. It's all too easy to say this or that authority says this, without actually producing the evidence.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Way back in the day before we had gloves we were taught how to pour meds without touching them. I don't use gloves for meds because it seems like a waste. I've never heard of a JCAHO recommendation to use gloves, except with chemo- and that was from OSHA.