Question regarding sterility and dressing changes

[irish_std/n]

Today I was changing a dressing on one of my patients, a post removal of BCC with skin graft. The charge nurse happened to walk by, saw my dressing trolley and told me that I didn't need to wear sterile gloves for dressing changes, that I should just wear ordinary gloves.. I have always been taught to wear sterile gloves when carrying out wound care.

whats the correct way...to sterile glove or not to sterile glove??

[Antikigirl, ASN, RN]

If I am doing full sterile technique I am using sterile gloves, if I am not doing the full sterile technique but clean technique then I use normal gloves.

Sterile gloves are expensive (why I don't know I absolutely hate them..they rip, they don't fit well, they stink..LOL!) so you will find some folks reminding you that if you use them in excess you are costing the hospital and consequently the patients more money. It is the same with using red bio bags...it is VERY VERY expensive to dispose of those, so it is basically a cost containment thing typically.

The thing is though, you have a choice in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for your and your pts safety...you can feel free to use whatever you deem approprite in a given situation. OSHA mandates that right to choose! So if you feel you want to use that...you can simply say this is your choice in PPE.

[beautifulb]

If the order is for a sterile dsg. change then I use sterile gloves.

[irish_std/n]

If the order is for a sterile dsg. change then I use sterile gloves.

what if theres no order either way? often the orders don't get that specific over here!

[irish_std/n]

The thing is though, you have a choice in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for your and your pts safety...you can feel free to use whatever you deem approprite in a given situation. OSHA mandates that right to choose! So if you feel you want to use that...you can simply say this is your choice in PPE.

Thanks for the great advice!

[Antikigirl, ASN, RN]

what if theres no order either way? often the orders don't get that specific over here!

A nurse is trained and our profession gives us the choice on what we feel is the best and safest course of action within certain protocols at any facility. At ours, if there isn't a specific order for sterile technique you have to use your best judgement and be able to quantify the reason. I mean, you don't see cath orders saying "use sterile technique" but any nurse would tell you that is par for the course! So you use your best judgement within the rules of your facility and the prescribing MD (some have standing orders so check that out).