Yesterday during my clinical, I was interviewing a HIV positive patient. Half way through, the primary nurse asked me to talk with her in the hall, and when we spoke she told me to wear gloves whenever I was with the patient or touching things in his environment.
The patient didnt have any open open cuts or bodily fluids out, and I didn't have any cuts and was just talking with the patient. There weren't any signs saying to use any special precautions either...
I personally don't think that situation neccesitated the need for gloves, but I was hoping to get someone else's opinion on this. :)
Also I'm a student, and the nurse was really adamant on the gloves so I didn't really ask questions.
From what I learned in nursing school, this amounts to discrimination. We were told we could not gown up to enter the room of an HIV+ patient unless we gowned up for every single patient...and we all know how hot those gowns get.
Like Penelope, I graduated from nursing school in 2004, so caring for HIV/Aids patients has been part of my entire nursing career. I agree with the *many* previous posters who have commented that universal precautions protects us from the possible (but not probable) transmission of HIV.
Like Penelope, I graduated from nursing school in 2004, so caring for HIV/Aids patients has been part of my entire nursing career. I agree with the *many* previous posters who have commented that universal precautions protects us from the possible (but not probable) transmission of HIV.
Like Penelope, I graduated from nursing school in 2004, so caring for HIV/Aids patients has been part of my entire nursing career. I agree with the *many* previous posters who have commented that universal precautions protects us from the possible (but not probable) transmission of HIV.
I would also highly recommend How to Survive a Plague by David France. It's mostly patient centered, and focuses on people with HIV/AIDS and how much of what we know now, and many of the medicines we use to treat HIV, we have because people in those early days did not stop demanding better from government and medicine, even as they were literally dying on the FDA's doorstep. It's riveting....and heartbreaking.
Like Penelope, I graduated from nursing school in 2004, so caring for HIV/Aids patients has been part of my entire nursing career. I agree with the *many* previous posters who have commented that universal precautions protects us from the possible (but not probable) transmission of HIV.
You're right, this is a really good book, but just for those who are unaware, since it's publication several aspects, particularly the discussion of Gaëtan Dugas as "patient zero" have been debunked as a result of more advanced and in depth scientific analysis. And the Band Played On is an early work and is truly a valuable and seminal work, and definitely earns it's place in the canon of literature about HIV/AIDs, however, there are more contemporary publications which provide more accurate information about the history of HIV and it's transmission. This is said not to denigrate Shilt's work in any way, only to caution readers that others have had the gift of time and scientific analysis with which to publish more accurate information. Much more is understood now than was understood when Shilt's wrote his account. Still, a very recommended read.
I would also highly recommend How to Survive a Plague by David France. It's mostly patient centered, and focuses on people with HIV/AIDS and how much of what we know now, and many of the medicines we use to treat HIV, we have because people in those early days did not stop demanding better from government and medicine, even as they were literally dying on the FDA's doorstep. It's riveting....and heartbreaking.
I am just echoing all the previous posters here. I take care of HIV pos patients all the time, as well as people who are at high risk of having HIV with a currently unknown status. I do gynecologic and sexual health, so my care routinely involves contact with high risk body fluids.
A persons HIV status has absolutely zero impact on my interactions with them. NOT TO MENTION that people who have reached and maintained an undetectable viral load appear to be unable to transmit the virus.
Patients with an unknown status are the real transmission risk. If anything, you can be more cavalier with a successfully treated HIV pos patient, compared to the general population, because they are likely to be closely monitored and/or treated for things like hepatitis and other communicable disease.
(Obviously I am NOT advocating substandard precautions haha! just making a point)
In terms of gloving overall- obviously degree of gloving will vary according to the care setting and patient population. But your intact skin is more than adequate protection for most non-messy nursing care, and puttering around with gloves on just makes you more likely to contaminate your face, pens, computer etc. Plus you are promoting bacterial growth on your moist, hot hands if you aren't ungloving and sanitizing frequently.
There is nothing wrong with gloving while in a patient's room. You may enter "just to talk" but then something happens. You have no idea when and where bodily fluids can occur. We see so many patients that the risk of exposure to bodily fluid is obviously higher than average. While NO, "just talking" in a patient room does NOT require gloves (regardless of HIV status) there is also nothing "wrong" with gloving. You will "make the patient feel bad" is not a valid argument to me. We're at a hospital, people are going to be wearing gloves, staff is trying to protect the patient and themselves. That trumps them "feeling bad" about the gloves. So... no it's not standard protocol when just entering a room (if not on precautions) but it's also not complete ridiculousness to glove. We all have a comfort level and some is lower than others. Basically, you do you.
ps. I feel better knowing the patients HIV status than not knowing. At least if HIV +, I know what I'm working with. With most patients I just don't know what diseases they have!
Amazing how everyone here is so bent on attacking the nurse who gave her that instruction, where is the professional treatment towards one another/The name calling too ,was awful ..."ignorant,gets people so "angry,outdated practice," as if we are all so perfect here.
dbabz
157 Posts
From what I learned in nursing school, this amounts to discrimination. We were told we could not gown up to enter the room of an HIV+ patient unless we gowned up for every single patient...and we all know how hot those gowns get.