No time for gloves??

Nurses General Nursing

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I have a question? I'm entering nursing school in spring '08 so maybe I'm naive about things. A woman that is in LPN school, who has been an EMT for 15 years, told me that I was being naive believing there is always an opportunity to use gloves while treating patients. She told me that stuff like that in hospitals during trauma situations only happened in the movies. Frankly, I didn't believe her so I asked someone else that I know...a woman that has been an RN for 20 years in the ICU field. This woman agreed that gloves and PPEs were not always an option. Any thoughts??

:confused:

I carried a pair in my pocket also.

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Gloves should be handy in your pocket, I haven't had such an emergency I couldn't at least put one on.

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Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

I am a glove freak. I carry my size and just the kind I like in a fanny back around my waste. Even in an emergency I can slap those things so fast your head would spin. Also if you read the CDC reports there are many unusual HIV seroconversions,such as from chapped or dry skin. Also if you are wearing gloves and do get a needle puncture the gloves clean the needle on the way in (yikes) and lessens your risk of bloodborne pathogens. I also do not want to get Hep C. You can figure out a way to make it work. The other issue here is that if you do not follow standard precautions and you were to get some kind of pathogen your employer could say you did not follow the protocol and therefore we are not liable!!!

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Specializes in Oncology.

I can't believe how many people say they'd rush in without gloves on. Weren't you guys taught to protect your own health before all else?

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Specializes in onc, M/S, hospice, nursing informatics.

We had a nurse enter her patient's room to find that she had vomited all over herself and subsequently stopped breathing. There were no gloves in the room, so the nurse began chest compressions without gloves with this vomit all over the patient.

All I can say is NEVER, EVER, NO WAY, NO HOW!!! :no:

Perhaps if I had to stop some major bleeding, I'd grab a jacket or something, anything to put over it. I even carry gloves in my car for just that purpose (and used them not too long ago in a motorcycle accident where the guy was bleeding). But probably only to save my child would I do much of anything without gloves.

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER.

I'm sorry to hear that someone said that to a student! I've been in nursing for about 10yrs. I'm working nights in a trauma center ER. The only time I can think of when I might not grab the gloves is out at triage with small children. I have been known to hold pressure while Mom or Dad gets control of themselves. My thinking,.which is totally flawed,..is that most two yr olds are probably pretty safe. My own experience tells me that all two yr olds aren't safe! Wear your gloves, always, without exception if bodily fluids are involved!

Not sure what your friend is talking about with traumas,.I know ahead of time the trauma is coming and what the injuries are. I'm gowned, masked, shoe covered, gloved and leaded before the pt even hits the trauma bay!

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma.

I also work in the Emergency Room and I have yet to see a situation that would require me to not to have enough time to put gloves on. I would never risk myself or my family by possibly exposing myself to something. After years of experience you can pop those things on in about 2.5 seconds and it is well worth it.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

Yep, just keep some gloves in your pocket and it shouldn't be an issue. I always keep gloves in my pocked when ambulating a post cath pt, for instance. We could be halfway down the hallway when their clot pops, and I wouldn't be able to get to gloves quickly enough to put pressure on their groin. Keeping a pair in my pocket, I can slip em on fast, and apply pressure.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Been a nurse for 16 years and yes, in 16 years, I have had the misadventure of not having gloves handy. However, that said, I then try to correct the situation: either by carrying gloves on me or having an additional glove box holder installed.

I currently work in hemodialysis and have had two pts die in front of my eyes due to bleeding out - it ain't pretty. My pt population is high risk because they have usually had multiple transfusions and many are or have been IVDA. I do try to always wear gloves.

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Specializes in Emergency.

thank you, thank you!! just for the record, i plan to glue a pair of gloves to me. i wanted your input because i just knew this wasn't the absolute norm. it was presented to me like it happens "more often than anyone would imagine" and i just couldn't for the life of me think why!

i also thought of the patient's safety as well? thanks again all!!

:thankya:

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I wouldn't say it happens "more often than anyone could imagine" but there are cases that it happens, (like a baby flying out--no time to even grab gloves if they were in your pocket) you have to make a choice. *I* am occasionally willing to risk getting my hands yucky. If you're not, so be it.

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma.

Farmer Jane, It's more than just "getting your hands a little yucky" It's about safety, yours and the patients.

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