PPE Question

[LNS95, BSN]

Hi! I'm taking the NCLEX Tuesday (extremely nervous) and I know the basics for PPE but I'm confused with goggles/shields (what's considered "splashes"). For instance, on some websites it gives examples like for trach suctioning (with no infection) goggles/shields and a mask are required due to splashes, however we've always just been taught sterile gloves with suctioning. Can someone explain the situations when I should put down mask & goggles (aside from infections)?

Another example would be bathing someone on contact precautions (wouldn't usually wear a mask but might for this?).

Thanks!

[IJEOMA12]

Any procedure that requires spill or splashes, you use goggles, shield and gown. For example, deep suctioning or wound care would require those because, there is a possibility that spill from procedure can spill on you. In the case of airborne, you use n95 and clients use mask only when going out for a procedure like living their rooms to an xray appointment then, you have to put mask on them as a way to protect other people around. Dor droplet precaution, mask is required. I hope this helps.

[RNNPICU, BSN, RN]

One thing to remember with questions like this is to try and not think what you do at work or what you did in clinicals, or if you are working your hospital does.

For questions like this you have to answer like the NCLEX. As you are studying, you have to consider you are in the perfect world don't try and analyze well what if...., think basic and not well maybe....

[pro-student]

On 6/1/2020 at 1:14 PM, RNNPICU said:

One thing to remember with questions like this is to try and not think what you do at work or what you did in clinicals, or if you are working your hospital does.

This is a really important point to remember. For NCLEX, anytimne there is a risk of splashes, you want to protect your face and eyes. (In real life, many nurses don’t but this is NCLEX and teasing what you should do.) Remember, with PPE your assuming blood or body fluids are infectious since we can’t know for sure (e.g. - why we wear glove with all potential body fluid exposure and not only if someone has a known infection).