New Nurse Completely Surprised!!!

jalyc RN · May 5, 2010

It seems to me nurses now go to either one EXTREME or the other on gloves.

I started nursing in the '70's in all the critical care units and L&D. We wore gloves for deliveries, surgery, and dressing changes. Bodily fluids were half and half. I was told back then "Gloves are for nurses who are too lazy to wash their hands properly! You do not have the same tactile sensations through gloves."

Fingernails were your own and cut no longer than your fingertips.

In the 80's I cared for many AIDS patients while being told, "It's not contagious, so don't worry. There is NO need for any precautions other than the good ones you have been taught."

I gave meds/injections, cleaned butts, drew blood, and even started IV's on them with NO gloves and never caught anything. I have continued using no gloves, except for cleaning butts, colostomies, etc. I worked every floor in the hospitals as a float and then went to LTC for 15 years.

As far as state inspections go, I did my same protocols with med passes etc, and had no problems with the inspectors. I even did eye drops with no gloves and was told only "Now we pull the lower lid down rather than having them look up and holding the upper lid like you were taught." Not one word about not wearing gloves.

Like someone posted that the CDC even stated gloves are not always needed, I guess state agrees with the CDC. Food for thought. Even ABT and ABT soaps are being questioned now for creating 'superbugs'.

Like most personal preferences, there are two or three sides to this. Just do what your current employer wants.

studentinnursing · May 5, 2010

You are correct. Gloves are worn to protect you AND the patient. That said, I must admit that I have often been lax on this myself. Older nurses are the worst offenders. Esp when drawing blood or starting IVs. Bad habits are easily learned. I have cleaned patients and even done full baths sans gloves. As the above poster mentioned, we do have soap.
However, this is not the best practice and you are better off letting your coworkers think you are crazy and continue to wear gloves when needed.

I agree. Not a nurse yet, just got accepted for fall, but after taking Microbiology, I realize whole-heartedly it's pretty important not to cross-contaminate patients and inanimate objects. When you touch one patient without gloves on and then go on to the next room, equipment, or patient, whatever the first patient might have touched (and everyone who touched them) goes on to the nurse and the next patient and so on and so on, and as we all know the least effective antimicrobial is soap! I know that sounds a little phobic and may be a little extreme on the spectrum, but I am going to try to learn with gloves on. I have no experience and have wondered how hard it will be to put an IV in wearing gloves and lots of other things; I think if I learn with them, though, I'll get used to it. There is just too much antibiotic resistant bacteria nowadays, so I'd protect your patients and yourself; who cares what your coworkers think And, yes, way back when there were lots of things we didn't know, like no sterility whatsoever during childbirth, no corificeats for infants, but man learned from this and improved it, so not everything "new" to some should necessarily appear to be wrong.

Balder_LPN, LPN · May 5, 2010

I still think that wearing gloves is to protect me, but to also protect my patients. Am I crazy for thinking this???

Did I miss something in school? b/c unless they are sterile gloves, they are there to protect YOU, not the pt.

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · May 5, 2010

I used to work on a hospital mental health unit. When we got patients in we had to search their property, mainly for dangerous items. In the beginning we didn't always wear gloves while doing this. That changed because, as a former (male) unit LPN put it, "You will only grab a pair of wet panties out of a suitcase once before you decide to wear gloves."

queensgirl2054 · May 5, 2010

That sounds crazy to me I have been an lpn for 16 years here in new york, and you must always wear gloves when doing fingersticks.

Who?Me? · May 6, 2010

Okay-yuck and double yuck! No this is not the norm and you need to step up and protect yourself and your patients by wearing PPE. I don't know how receptive your nursing director is to suggestions, maybe there is a suggestion box if they are not open to your concerns (though they should be in that position) about there needing to be a refresher in PPE and protecting yourselves and the residents.

It is a huge fine if OSHA or the State walks in the door and sees this.

dnnc52 · May 6, 2010

We can't always change what our peers do or how they feel about safety. But we can at least take charge of our enviroment and take the steps to promote our own safety. After so many years as a nurse I have times and procedures when I always wear gloves, and there are times when I just wear them because I feel it's the right thing to do. But I do caution my co-workers of getting too trusting with our personal protecting equipment. We still must always use good old common sense and nothing beats HAND Washing!

calhirn · May 6, 2010

Good for you! You should always follow universal precautions, not only to protect yourself but your patients as well. I'm wondering what the infection rate is at your facility. Using gloves when drawing blood or starting IV's is a learned skill. I have been a nurse for 20 years and an MA before that and remember when I first learned it was difficult to transition from not wearing gloves to using them. That's just gross to think that a caregiver is not wearing gloves when wiping someones behind. Yes, they may wash their hands, but do they think of what is underneath their fingernails? Perhaps management needs to do some reteaching on this subject? :nurse:

my_jenni · May 6, 2010

Keep wearing those gloves, and setting a good example! I am an RN supervisor in a LTC facility, and know that in MD and PA, just failing to wipe down the glucometer with alcohol after use is a sentinel event. Can you imagine what the State would do if you didn't wear gloves either?

meadowsong, ASN, RN · May 6, 2010

I completely agree with myjenny! Keep setting a good example. You know when the correct time to wear gloves is, any time you have the potential to come in contact with body fluids.

I wear them for every single accucheck, insulin, injection, eye drop, taking someone to the bathroom (yes just taking them, because I've had "things" happen when I help take off bottoms) and so forth. It's just in my nature. I do not want to be the poor sucker that didn't and have something happen. I think sometimes they think I'm nuts, but I really do not care :lol2: I also have never been drawn into the terrible habit of doing anything out in the dining room or hall. I walk my behind down to their room. The extra exercise is lovely!

At our facility we have TMA's that work with us and a lot of times I see these bad habits rub off on them also. Which is why I love training at any opportunity I can get. It gives me a change to reiterate how important these habits are and what happens when we pick up bad ones. Plus, they know I always wear my own, so they see me practicing what I preach.

disgirlluvsdogs · May 6, 2010

Just do what you know is right. There is really a big difference on what we learn in nursing school and what we experience in real life nursing situations. ^^

"being a chill-pill at work is not a crime, it's a skill."

l150 · May 6, 2010

I am a fairly new nurse ( 1year) and I remember one of my teachers telling me that she would fail me b/c I used gloves to much. That being to turn, move pts up in the bed,etc. My response to her was that I don't know what these pts have. And that a pt can look perfectly normal but when you go touch them you can find a nice little surprise waiting for you. Has that never happened to her ? Needless to say I passed but, as someone said before please use your judgement, and don't worry about what other staff members say. You have to protect the pt, yourself and the family you go home to.