TOPIC: GLOVING

PCI: ALMEDILLA, MARY JEAN M.

DEFINITION:
Gloving is a sterile or cleanly fitted covering for the hands, usually with a separate sheath for each
finger and thumb. Clean gloves are worn to protect healthcare personnel from urine, stool, blood,
saliva, and drainage from wounds and lesions of patients and to protect patients from healthcare
personnel who may have cuts. Sterile gloves are worn when there is contact with sterile instruments
or a patient's sterile part.
PURPOSE:
● To provide a barrier that prevents the transfer of microorganisms to the surgical site.
● To protect the operator from exposure to patient blood and exudate during the
procedure.

Sterile gloves may be donned by the OPEN METHOD or the CLOSED METHOD.

✔ The open method is most frequently used outside the operating room because the
closed method requires that the nurse wear a sterile gown.
✔ Gloves are worn during many procedures to enable the nurse to handle sterile items
freely and to prevent clients at risk (e.g., those with open wounds) from becoming
infected by microorganisms on unsterile gloves or the nurse’s hands
✔ Sterile gloves are packaged with a cuff of about 5 cm (2 in.) and with the palms facing
upward when the package is opened. The package usually indicates the size of the glove
(e.g., size 6 or 7 1/2 or small, medium, or large).
(OPEN METHOD) (CLOSED METHOD)
Sterile gloves are available to protect the nurse from contact with blood and body fluids.
✔ Latex and nitrile gloves are more flexible than vinyl, mold to the wearer’s
hands, and allow freedom of movement.
✔ Since latex should be avoided due to possible allergies, wear nitrile gloves
when performing tasks:
(a) That demands flexibility,
(b) That places stress on the material (e.g., turning stopcocks, handling sharp
instruments or tape), and
(c) That involves a high risk of exposure to pathogens.
✔ Vinyl gloves should be chosen for tasks unlikely to stress the glove
material, requiring minimal precision, and with minimal risk of exposure
to pathogens.

Dos and Don’ts of Glove Use

✔ Work from “clean to dirty”
 ✔ Limit opportunities for “touch contamination” - protect yourself, others, and the
environment – Don’t touch your face or adjust PPE with contaminated gloves – Don’t
touch environmental surfaces except as necessary during patient care PPE Use in
Healthcare Settings
✔ Change gloves – During use if torn and when heavily soiled (even during use on the
same patient) – After use on each patient
✔ Discard in appropriate receptacle – Never wash or reuse disposable gloves PPE Use in
Healthcare Settings

PROCEDURE:
DONNING AND REMOVING GLOVES (OPEN METHOD)

PURPOSES
● To enable the nurse to handle or touch sterile objects freely without contaminating them
● To prevent transmission of potentially infective organisms from the nurse’s hands to
clients at high risk for infection.
● To protect the operator from exposure to patient blood and exudate during the procedure.

EQUIPMENT:
✔ Sterile gloves of the appropriate size

ASSESSMENT:
❖ Assess the situation to determine the necessity for sterile gloves. In addition, check the
patient’s chart for information about a possible latex allergy. Also, question the patient
about any history of allergy, including latex allergy or sensitivity, and signs and
symptoms.

EXPECTED OUTCOME
❖ The expected outcome achieved when putting on and removing sterile gloves is that the
gloves are applied and removed without contamination. Other outcomes that may be
appropriate include the following: the patient remains free of exposure to infectious
microorganisms, and the patient does not exhibit signs and symptoms of a latex allergy
 response.

IMPLEMENTATION:
❖ Preparation Ensure the sterility of the package of gloves.

Performance
1. Prior to performing the procedure, introduce yourself and verify the client’s identity
using agency protocol. Explain to the client what you are going to do, and why it is necessary.
2. Perform hand hygiene and observe other appropriate infection prevention
procedures.
3. Provide for client privacy.
4. Open the package of sterile gloves.

✔ Place the package of gloves on a clean, dry surface.

Rationale: Any moisture on the surface could contaminate the gloves.
✔ Some gloves are packed in an inner as well as an outer package. Open the outer
package without contaminating the gloves or the inner package.
✔ Remove the inner package from the outer package.
✔ Open the inner package as in step 4 or according to the manufacturer’s directions.
Some manufacturers provide a numbered sequence for opening the flaps and folded
tabs to grasp for opening the flaps. If no tabs are provided, pluck the flap so that the
fingers do not touch the inner surfaces.
Rationale: The inner surfaces, which are next to the sterile gloves, will remain sterile.

5. Put the first glove on the dominant hand.

 ✔ If the gloves are packaged so that they lie side by side, grasp the glove for the dominant
hand by its folded cuff edge (on the palmar side) with the thumb and first finger of the
non-dominant hand. Touch only the inside of the cuff.
Rationale: The hands are not sterile. By touching only the inside of the glove, the nurse avoids
contaminating the outside.
✔ If the gloves are packaged one on top of the other, grasp the cuff of the top glove as
above, using the opposite hand.
✔ Insert the dominant hand into the glove and pull the glove on. Keep the thumb of the
inserted hand against the palm of the hand during insertion.
Rationale: If the thumb is kept against the palm, it is less likely to contaminate the
outside of the glove.

✔ Leave the cuff in place once the unsterile hand releases the glove.
Rationale: Attempting to further unfold the cuff is likely to contaminate the glove.
6. Put the second glove on the non-dominant hand.
✔ Pick up the other glove with the sterile gloved hand, inserting the gloved fingers under
the cuff and holding the gloved thumb close to the gloved palm.

✔ Pull on the second glove carefully. Hold the thumb of the gloved first hand as far as
possible from the palm.
Rationale: In this position, the thumb is less likely to touch the arm and become
contaminated.
✔ Adjust each glove so that it fits smoothly, and carefully pull the cuffs up by sliding the
fingers under the cuffs.
7. Remove and dispose of used gloves.
 ✔ There is no technique for removing sterile
gloves that are different from removing unsterile gloves.
If they are soiled with secretions, remove them by
turning them inside out.
✔ Perform hand hygiene.
8. Document that the sterile technique was used in the
performance of the procedure.

EVALUATION
❖ The expected outcome is met when gloves are applied and removed without
contamination. Other expected outcomes are met when the patient remains free of
exposure to potential infection using microorganisms and does not exhibit signs and
symptoms of a latex-allergy response.

REFERENCE:
KOZIER AND ERB'S FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING (8TH EDITION)