Gloves Necessary For SQ Injections?

[VivaLasViejas]

This is going to sound like the dumbest question in the universe coming from an experienced nurse, but my ALF just had its annual corporate (not State) QA survey, and we got written up for not using gloves when giving insulin injections:uhoh3:

Now, I've been giving insulin for over a decade, but I was never taught to wear gloves for this---IMs, yes, and fingersticks, definitely, but SQ injections?? Naturally, I've never taught my staff to wear gloves for this purpose either..........so what say you all? Am I nuts for giving insulin without gloves, or is corporate all wet on this one? And how do I form a plan of correction when I think they're full of it? Inquiring minds want to know!

[West_Coast_Ken, BSN, RN]

Hmm, gloves don't protect you from needle sticks.

Actually, I've read where the thought is if it's a dirty stick the gloves can have a bit of a squeegee effect so they might not stop a stick, but they might help limit the contamination factor. It would be nice to see some actual research on this but regardless, I'm wearing gloves for all injections.

[elizabeth321]

I started allergy shots a few weeks ago and none of the 3 women who've given me my shots have ever worn gloves. One of them always wipes the little drop of blood that comes up with her hand. Grosses me out now that I think of it because I have to wonder if she wipes somebody elses blood off and then wipes mine without washing her hands.

Good point...don't forget we also wear gloves to protect the patients.

Liz

[arizonanurse]

Interesting...I have never worn gloves for SQ injections. Never thought to, never seen another nurse do so. I do wear gloves when doing a fingerstick, and when taking off dirty linens. For drawing blood or starting an IV, I wear gloves but cut off one finger to feel the vein (I know, I know...).

[newbiern2006]

Interesting...I have never worn gloves for SQ injections. Never thought to, never seen another nurse do so. I do wear gloves when doing a fingerstick, and when taking off dirty linens. For drawing blood or starting an IV, I wear gloves but cut off one finger to feel the vein (I know, I know...).

I recently was taught how to do IVs by the IV nurse where I work. She taught me to open all my supplies, put on the tourniquet, feel all the veins, cleanse the one I want to access, and THEN glove up. I've only missed a couple of really tiny veins so far, so it's working well, and the patient and I are both protected. Something else interesting I read at work last night was that it's very important to wash well BEFORE putting on the gloves, something I've already been doing, but with the hand sanitizer, not soap and water. I've always thought it was counterproductive to stick one's unwashed hands into a box of gloves, contaminating the outside of the gloves, and now I know I wasn't being paranoid. Another poster said something about this in another thread about cupfeeding newborns.

[Chaya, ASN, RN]

Yes for gloves; slight but definite potential for exposure to bodily fluids.

[deehaverrn]

First of all about the nurse who fell and was refused compensation..i think that all states have worker's compensation laws, so check it out..i know my state says that even if it is the workers fault for not following a policy, the employer still has to pay..the system is really completely flawed and more for the employer and insurance co. than to protect the worker, but still...check it out

Next, one thing that has always bothered me, when the employee health nurse comes to our unit to give flu shots, hepatitis vaccines or ppds, she always wears gloves, but she never changes them or washes her hands between people. I think she should do both..remove gloves, wash hands, then reapply gloves. I mean, I work with these people, but I don't want anything they might have..you know? Everyone acted like I was insulting them when I voiced my concerns, so now I always make sure I'm "too busy" when she's making unit rounds, and I go to her office instead so I can be sure she's at least freshly gloved.

As far as using gloves for all injections, that wasn't how I was taught either. I do for IMs but not SQ now I guess I'll consider it. I'd definitely do it if I had open scratches or anything on my hands. But I am a fanatic about washing between all patients, so I guess the extra protection might be good.

[Larry in Florida]

First of all about the nurse who fell and was refused compensation..i think that all states have worker's compensation laws, so check it out..i know my state says that even if it is the workers fault for not following a policy, the employer still has to pay..the system is really completely flawed and more for the employer and insurance co. than to protect the worker, but still...check it out

Next, one thing that has always bothered me, when the employee health nurse comes to our unit to give flu shots, hepatitis vaccines or ppds, she always wears gloves, but she never changes them or washes her hands between people. I think she should do both..remove gloves, wash hands, then reapply gloves. I mean, I work with these people, but I don't want anything they might have..you know? Everyone acted like I was insulting them when I voiced my concerns, so now I always make sure I'm "too busy" when she's making unit rounds, and I go to her office instead so I can be sure she's at least freshly gloved.

As far as using gloves for all injections, that wasn't how I was taught either. I do for IMs but not SQ now I guess I'll consider it. I'd definitely do it if I had open scratches or anything on my hands. But I am a fanatic about washing between all patients, so I guess the extra protection might be good.

You are correct always glove. You must glove for all injections including Sq. You must glove if even giving a glass of water.

[hispanicpanic]

Maybe I work with a different pt population but if I'm touching people I'm wearing gloves. I've got one word for you...Scabies.