Peri-care without gloves?

[lightwing]

I just shadowed for a private in-home position for a quadriplegic gentleman to observe his morning routine.  I found it odd that the peri care (and in fact, all care) is being done without gloves.  The man himself is very cognizant and particular about all his care- he is the one who hires his own staff and is a strong self-advocate.  The caregiver I was shadowing simply said that gloves aren't used because there would be so many glove changes necessary, so instead the routine is to wash hands at different stages.  My impression was that this was not her idea, but rather she was instructed by the client to do it this way.  So, I'm curious to know if this is an appropriate/accepted technique in the larger community.  I've been taking caregiving positions for several years, with diverse clients, but this is a first for me.
 

[KalipsoRed21, BSN, RN]

Lost in current education today, hand washing is more important AND effective than wearing gloves. In my home health position there were a lot of wound care that I did without gloves, but I washed my hands. 

[mtmkjr, BSN]

8 hours ago, KalipsoRed21 said:

Lost in current education today, hand washing is more important AND effective than wearing gloves. In my home health position there were a lot of wound care that I did without gloves, but I washed my hands. 

Yes indeed. And it was ingrained in me as a child when my mom would tell me there's nothing that can't be washed off. Said in the context of changing/washing my little baby brothers dirty diapers or any number of "ew!" moments

I believe it's true to this day, assuming there are no cuts or open sores of course.

I wear gloves more because I don't want to raise eyebrows (patients or coworkers), and for boundary reasons as others have mentioned, not for my own protection.

I believe hand washing has given me more protection in my nursing career than wearing gloves has.

 

[guest1143647]

I can’t believe some people are justifying this.

We have to follow standard precautions in homecare too. I am not wiping poop without gloves. Come on now…..

I don’t care if it is a private client. 

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

I was taught skin to skin contact was beneficial for the patient so unless there was likely to be contact with bodily fluids don't wear them.  So, wear gloves for peri-care or oral care but not for back rubs...yes we did back rubs in the day! 

Honestly though in our sue-happy climate not to mention the hyperfocus on sexual misconduct thanks to some high profile cases there's no way I am touching anyone's genitals without wearing gloves. More to protect myself than the patient.