Published Jul 29, 2008
sistasoul
722 Posts
Please help-
I am confused or I am interpreting the information on this board wrong.
When a patient is on airborne/droplet precautions would one not wear a gown and gloves as well as a mask/N95?
I have been reading where only a mask/N95 is required as PPE for airborne/droplet.
I work as an aide and we are required to wear gowns and gloves as well as a mask in airborne/droplet precautions. Do not see too many patients with airborne at my hospital.
What is the correct answer?
Thanks
NurseKatie08, MSN
754 Posts
only time i've gowned for airborne, that i can think of, is if the person was also on contact.
Virgo_RN, BSN, RN
3,543 Posts
Airborne and droplet precautions are two different things. They are both, however, transmission based precautions, meaning that in addition to standard precautions, the route of transmission is taken into consideration.
Droplet precautions are warranted when the infectious organism is exhaled in respiratory droplets, but then falls out of the air with the droplets. Generally, a mask is only needed when working within 3 feet of the person.
Airborne precautions are warranted when the infectious organism stays suspended in the air. Measles and TB are two examples. An N95 mask are the standard PPE for this.
ilstu99
320 Posts
Your facility's requirements for isolation gear may be different than the textbook requirements for the different kinds of PPE.
Any time ANY of our babies require isolation for ANYTHING, we do the whole she-bang. I would continue to do what your facility's protocol requires.
princezzzz
93 Posts
Airborne and droplet precautions are two different things. They are both, however, transmission based precautions, meaning that in addition to standard precautions, the route of transmission is taken into consideration.Droplet precautions are warranted when the infectious organism is exhaled in respiratory droplets, but then falls out of the air with the droplets. Generally, a mask is only needed when working within 3 feet of the person.Airborne precautions are warranted when the infectious organism stays suspended in the air. Measles and TB are two examples. An N95 mask are the standard PPE for this.
for airborne or droplets, if there a choice that includes mask, gloves and gown, should i choose it than mask (only).,,??