Should I have worn gloves?

[noyesno]

I am a nursing student. In clinical this past week I applied lotion to a 65 year old woman's back without wearing gloves. Her skin was intact so I thought it would be okay for me to rub in the lotion with my bare hands (I washed with hot soapy water before and afterwards).

Prior to doing this, I asked the RN I was following if she would wear gloves to rub in lotion and she said yes. She made it seem like it was not a requirement but rather her preference, so, I went ahead gloveless because I thought it would be more personal for this patient.

Afterwards, I asked a fellow nursing student what she would have done and she said she would have wore gloves.

Now, I am a little paranoid...

What would you have done?

[Up2nogood RN, RN]

I always wear gloves for backs/feet and I've found the lotion glides a lot easier.

[noyesno, MSN, APRN, NP]

These days, gloves are used for everything.

I would have worn them in your case. And I think you should have worn them.

Check your facility policy and procedure manual. Always follow it. If you don't, and get injured, you might very well be out of luck as far as facing any possible disciplinary action or winning a lawsuit against the employer.

I'm going to look this up in the hospital's policy and procedures next week. My nursing intervention and clinical skills (elkin, perry, potter) textbook shows a nurse massaging a patient's back WITHOUT gloves. I know I have to check to see what the facilities policy is though.

Thanks for you input. :)

[noyesno, MSN, APRN, NP]

If you already know what you will do, why did you ask?

I was still forming an opinion about my decision and what I would do next time.

I'm going to check with the policy and procedures for lotion application at the facility before lotioning again. If its approved to lotion without gloves I believe that's what I will be doing if the skin is intact.

Thanks for your question. :)

[noyesno, MSN, APRN, NP]

she was asking for general feedback.

after reading some responses that support her personal views, it sounds like it gave her the confidence to go forward.:)

leslie

Thanks Leslie!

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

I am a nursing student. In clinical this past week I applied lotion to a 65 year old woman's back without wearing gloves. Her skin was intact so I thought it would be okay for me to rub in the lotion with my bare hands (I washed with hot soapy water before and afterwards).

Prior to doing this, I asked the RN I was following if she would wear gloves to rub in lotion and she said yes. She made it seem like it was not a requirement but rather her preference, so, I went ahead gloveless because I thought it would be more personal for this patient.

Afterwards, I asked a fellow nursing student what she would have done and she said she would have wore gloves.

Now, I am a little paranoid...

What would you have done?

I am in school currently and in class we were told it's up to you. That as long as the skin was in tact we didn't need to be concerned and it is about personal preference. Our instructor said she personally doesn't for the same reason you gave.

Our hospitals policy supports this as well. :)

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

I wear gloves because I don't know if I will have a reaction to capsacin or whatever.

I do a fair number of menthol salycilate rubs and I don't need to smell like a locker room.

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

These days, gloves are used for everything.

I would have worn them in your case. And I think you should have worn them.

Check your facility policy and procedure manual. Always follow it. If you don't, and get injured, you might very well be out of luck as far as facing any possible disciplinary action or winning a lawsuit against the employer.

Agreed, however, but something as simple as a backrub on intact skin does mean you can use some personal/nursing judgement. We can think for ourselves, too.

For me, it depends on the condition of the skin. If it's intact, no biggie...not any different, IMO, from holdling someone's hand, and I don't put gloves on for that. Feet are different, to me, more chance of weird skin problems, etc, with feet.

As for the patient being able to tell if you have gloves on....of course they can. They don't all have their eyes shut. You can tell the difference between "rubber" and skin contact (can think of another situation where that would apply in real life but my mind is always in the gutter). I find that lotion doesn't soak in well if applied when using gloves, either, and you end up more smearing it around than anything.

[NGeorgia]

I would have worn gloves