No time for gloves??

[Ocelot]

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??

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

When I was still in my first year of nursing, I had a pt w/ an abscessed AV fistula that ruptured. He had HIV. I could tell by the panic in his voice when he called out it was something major. He wasn't addicted to his call-bell.

I go in there and see blood spurting/pulsating straight up in the air. Instinct kicked in and I just threw my hand on it with as much of my weight behind me as I could. It was him who yelled at me to go get some gloves on. And of course I yelled for help so I could.

I'm glad the skin on my hands was intact, though.

I don't go around seeing what I can get away with, but in that case, I don't regret what I did.

[The Bell Jar]

This is why I usually try and keep a spare set in my pocket.I havent encountered any injury gushing blood yet,that would require me to act quickly and not use gloves-so maybe this practice is my good luck charm.I havent had to act gloveless yet *knock on wood*

[Texas Tornado]

I can only think of one major gloveless event.

Call light went off. I go in and see his O2 sats are at 70 and drop to 55 before I even get to his bed. Vent tubing was disconnected at pt trach. Without hesitation I reached in to sort it out. Unfortunately copious amounts of multicolor sputum were tangled throughout the velcro straps loosely holding the parts together. It only took seconds but by the time I got it sorted out and connected, both hands were slimed up with pseudamonus sputum. Although I handle sputum frequently, never before with bare hands - Yuck! :barf01:

Could I and should I have put on gloves? Well yes, but it was instinctual to just jump in.

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

We do trauma in my OR and I agree, it only takes a couple of seconds to put on gloves. I always have an unsterile pair in my pocket and there are boxes of them in each OR room. I always use them. Obviously, you always have to wear the sterile ones!

Actually, we would get written up for not using the proper PPE. Our bosses are adamant about using it.

[mid2348]

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?

I agree it surprised me so many said they will opt out on gloves. We just had a code last night and I took the 2 sec it takes to put gloves on. It's not worth the risk to yourself or family to skip PPE.

[MadisonsMomRN, BSN, RN]

I always try to wear gloves of course. I work in corrections... if we have an emergency, I am putting on gloves while I am running. Or if they are brought to medical we always get a heads up.

[MN BigJ]

It happens sometimes, not very often, maybe 1% or less of the time when you don't have gloves and things get nasty.

Once was when I went to meet a car in the garage and there was a kid that sliced his arm, was white as a ghost, unresponsive, and covered in blood. After that I always wear gloves to the garage.