Gloving

• OPEN GLOVING


  A technique where sterile gloves are worn to ensure that supplies remain sterile
• Sterile gloves


  • Gloves, not a substitute for good hand hygiene, are worn only once and discarded appropriately according to agency policy
  • Gloves are worn during many sterile procedures to maintain the sterility of equipment and protect a client's open wound
  • Gloves are not necessary when care activities do not involve the possibility of soilage of hands with body fluids
• While wearing gloves, never do the following: Leave the patient's room, Write in the patient's chart, Use the computer keyboard or telephone in the nurses' station
• Open method


  Applying sterile gloves but not donning a sterile gown
• Closed method


  Requires that the nurse wear a sterile gown
• The Open Method is most frequently used outside the operating room
• Sterile gloves


  • Packaged with a cuff about 5 cm (2 in) and with the palms facing upward when the packaged is opened
  • The package usually indicates the size of the glove (example: Size 6 or 7 ½)
• Latex gloves


  More flexible than vinyl, Molds to the wearer's hands, Allows freedom of movement, Has the added feature of resealing tiny punctures automatically
• When to use latex gloves


  • Tasks that demand flexibility
  • Tasks that place stress on the material (eg, turning stopcocks, handling sharp instruments or tape)
  • Tasks that involve a high risk of exposure to pathogens (eg, in intensive care units, operating room, labor and delivery areas, infectious disease units and emergency departments)
• Vinyl gloves


  Should be chosen for tasks unlikely to stress the glove material, requiring minimal precision, with minimal risk of exposure to pathogens (eg, in ambulatory care settings, postoperative eye surgery units and outpatient psychiatric units)
• Latex allergy


  Healthcare workers have reported latex sensitivity with reactions ranging from local skin reactions to urticaria (hives) to systemic anaphylaxis
• The initial CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) recommendation for this universal precautions contributed to an increased use of latex gloves for patient care activities and the changes in the manufacturing process like the cornstarch powder or talc used to make gloves easier to put on
• Exposure to latex has many ways such as powder particles may be inhaled, be absorbed into skin or mucous membrane or enter the bloodstream
• Recommendations for latex allergy

  • Non latex gloves or powder free, low allergen latex gloves be available for employees
  • Nitrile gloves or gloves made of synthetic material that resembles latex but has no latex protein can also be used
• For patients with a latex allergy, a "latex safe" healthcare environment is essential. A latex safe environment involves removal or covering of any natural latex rubber item, having awareness of an allergy to latex is also important for safe home care
• DONNING AND REMOVING STERILE GLOVES (OPEN METHOD)


  A technique where sterile gloves are worn to ensure that supplies remain sterile