Looking for opinions here on an *older* RN's habits

[GeminiTwinRN]

OK. I am a new nurse, and last night I was precepted by an *older* RN, who has many years of experience. I took 2 pts, and she took 2, then we admitted a transfer from CCU. (I work ICU step down). Anyway, she asked me to assist her in bathing a VERY LARGE woman before I even had a chance to assess my 2 pts. I agreed, because hey, I'm the new RN, and she needed my help. While bathing this woman (450 lbs), the older RN wasn't wearing gloves. I was. During the bath, the RN told me that *she* never wears gloves during pt. care because she believes it is de-humanizing to our pts. She said she came up during a time when gloves were considered a no-no. I wouldn't have minded her explaining herself, except that we were in the middle of the bath, and I felt like the pt. might think I was being de-humanizing to her because I had gloves on. Course, I didn't worry enough to take my gloves off, lol.

Thru the night, I swear, I never saw the RN wash her hands. Not even once. One of my pts. required trach care. We didn't have the appropriate shiley inner cannula in stock, so I donned my sterile gloves and proceeded to do the 1/2 saline, 1/2 peroxide scrub, and rinse in saline. After scrubbing, the RN said "here, let me show you my technique when inserting the cannula". I held out the cannula in my sterile gloves, and she took it from me in her bare hand, and inserted it. I was shocked. Remember, I have never seen her wash her hands! And I was looking. I watched her closely, just to make sure that she wasn't doing it when I wasn't looking, like in a pts. bathroom or something. She certainly didn't do it the entire 12 hr shift out in the sinks on the unit.

Now, if this lady wants to use her bare hands to wash a hoo-hoo, that's for her to decide. But I am looking for opinions here. I just can't imagine that in this day and age of super bacteria, that an RN wouldn't be careful of transmission from one pt to another with this practice. If she washed between pts. and used sterile gloves when appropriate, I would just shrug and think she's only endangering herself. BUT .... :trout:

Am I over-reacting here? Does it matter?

Keep in mind this RN was charge for the night, and is well-respected on the unit, loved by the pts, and I certainly have nothing negative to say about her other than this one issue! She was a wonderful, patient, considerate preceptor. I learned a lot from her. I don't want to sound like a know-it-all new grad, I'm honestly looking for opinions here.

[santhony44, MSN, RN, NP]

I'm a long time nurse of 25 years and it has nothing to do with her being on "older" nurse. It's more just simple laziness and ignorance. Back in the day yes we didn't always wear gloves during baths or even starting IV's. We did always wash our hands before care and after care also. I never changed out or did trach care without use of sterile technique either even 20 years ago. Most of the time unless it was something just horrid we didnt but times have changed! We now know much more in relation to infection control and nosocomial risks. What this RN is doing is outright dangerous and with neglect in my opinion. Also next time she ask you to assist with a bath, you need to assess your own patients first and if you have the time when your work is caught up then give this type of assistance...with gloves I may add lol.

I've been a nurse about the same length of time, and I agree. We didn't wear gloves for baths nor for starting IV's, and yes I was taught that we'd make the patient feel "dirty" if we wore gloves while bathing them. We did, however, wear gloves for trach care. I can't even imagine handling one barehanded.

We definitely learned handwashing, and how to don sterile gloves and how to do sterile procedures.

Most of us "oldies" had to learn to wear gloves while starting IV's or drawing blood but we did learn it.

[RN BSN 2009]

2 words

msra

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[Myxel67]

this is disgusting and osha needs to catch this person doing this. has she never heard of nosocomial infections? who knows how many germs she has spread to everyone she comes into contact with. plus some of those germs live on the phone at the desk that you all are using, door knobs, etc. i forget what that is called, maybe vectors? i don't think it is dehumanizing to wear gloves. it's as much for the patient's safety as it is for the nurse - and i have been in a position where i have explained that to patients if they ask why i am wearing gloves. she should be written up or something. this just isn't right.

fomites --these are inanimate objects that can harbor bacteria & viruses which can then be passed on to others. vectors are other life forms needed to help complete the life cycle of a pathogen. example: the anopheles mosquito is a malaria vector.