Donning Sterile Gloves

1. While wearing sterile gloves, the nurse must keep the hands above their own waist at all times.

True

False

The nurse must consider anything below waist level contaminated, and should not allow the gloved hands to go below the waist level until ready to remove the sterile field.

Explanation

The nurse must consider anything below waist level contaminated, and should not allow the gloved hands to go below the waist level until ready to remove the sterile field.

2. To doff (remove) used sterile gloves the nurse should:

Pull both off from the inside edge, the nurse will wash their hands afterwards, so touching the gloves is not a concern.

Wash the gloved hands with soap and water before removing the gloves to remove blood or body fluids

Pull off the first glove by grasping slightly back from the wrist, turning it inside out, and wading the dirty glove into the still gloved hand.

Use clean tongs from the procedure tray to take them off so that the hands are not contaminated

The first glove is removed by pinching near the wrist on the outside of the glove, wading the now "inside out" glove into the still gloved hand. The second glove is removed by slipping a finger inside the wrist and turning the glove inside out, keeping the first glove contained in the second, so that the nurses bare finger does not touch the outside of the contaminated glove.

Explanation

The first glove is removed by pinching near the wrist on the outside of the glove, wading the now "inside out" glove into the still gloved hand. The second glove is removed by slipping a finger inside the wrist and turning the glove inside out, keeping the first glove contained in the second, so that the nurses bare finger does not touch the outside of the contaminated glove.

3. The first step in donning sterile gloves, after choosing the correct size is:

Wash hand with soap and water using good hand-washing technique

Use the folded cuffs in the wrapper to open the sides fully

Open the wrapper fully, touching only the outer 1inch edge of the paper

Fold the first flap of the outer wrapper away from you

All of these are correct steps in the gloving process; however the first step is always good hand-washing.

Explanation

All of these are correct steps in the gloving process; however the first step is always good hand-washing.

4. Sterile gloves must be worn for each of these procedures except:

Urinary Catheterization

Tracheostomy dressing change

Postpartum perineal care

Central line dressing change

Perineal care does not require a sterile field, or sterile gloves. The nurse should wear clean non-sterile gloves to provide personal care to a patient due to the risk of contamination with body fluids.

Explanation

Perineal care does not require a sterile field, or sterile gloves. The nurse should wear clean non-sterile gloves to provide personal care to a patient due to the risk of contamination with body fluids.

5. The outer boarder of the paper wrapper that holds the sterile gloves:

Is the preferred place to rest your sterile instruments so that can be picked up easily.

Is sterile, because it was inside the package with the gloves

Should extend over the edge of the table so the nurse won't touch the table by accident

Is not sterile 1 inch all the way around

The 1 inch boarder of the sterile wrapper is considered contaminated - and can be touched before gloving to center the wrapper on the table, but should not be touched after the sterile gloves are donned.

Explanation

The 1 inch boarder of the sterile wrapper is considered contaminated - and can be touched before gloving to center the wrapper on the table, but should not be touched after the sterile gloves are donned.

6. Which of the following would require the nurse put on a new pair of sterile gloves?

Picking up unused gauze from the central line dressing tray and dropping it on the table

Grasping the patients gown to move it out of the way

Tucking a drape under the patients hips using the inside of the drape cuff

Arranging the sterile supplies on the center of the sterile field

Touching the patient gown, bed-rails, or other non-sterile items will require the nurse to put on a new pair of sterile gloves. Dropping gauze off the sterile field make the gauze unsterile, but does not contaminate the gloves as long as the nurse does not pick it back up, keeping the gloved hands "inside" the drape cuff allows placement of the drape without contaminating the gloves, same as organizing the sterile supplies inside the sterile field.

Explanation

Touching the patient gown, bed-rails, or other non-sterile items will require the nurse to put on a new pair of sterile gloves. Dropping gauze off the sterile field make the gauze unsterile, but does not contaminate the gloves as long as the nurse does not pick it back up, keeping the gloved hands "inside" the drape cuff allows placement of the drape without contaminating the gloves, same as organizing the sterile supplies inside the sterile field.