Removing Personal Protective Equipment

Written by Hollie Finders, RN
Hollie Finders is a registered nurse with years of experience working in the health care field. She has degrees in both biochemistry and nursing. After working with patients of all ages, Hollie now specializes in pediatric intensive care nursing. Hollie’s LinkedIn

Procedure

Equipment needed: trashcan, biohazard container

With both hands still gloved, grasp the glove at the palm of your non-dominant hand and pull the glove off, turning it inside out in the process.
Hold that glove in the center of your gloved hand.
Using your non-gloved hand, insert two fingers underneath the cuff of the glove.
Carefully pull the glove off, while turning the glove inside out. The other glove should be enclosed inside this glove.
Dispose gloves in the proper biohazard container.
Remove goggles.
Untie the disposable gown at the neck and the waist.
Grasping the inside of the gown near the neck ties, pull the gown down off of one arm and slide the arm out.
Repeat procedure for remaining arm.
Touching only the inside surface of the gown, roll the gown to enclose the contaminated side.
Dispose the gown in the proper biohazard container.
Remove the mask by untying the bottom ties and then the top ties, or remove the elastic bands from around the ears.
Dispose of the mask into the trashcan.
Perform hand hygiene.

Important Information

It is important to follow the correct procedure while removing personal protective equipment to avoid contaminating your skin or clothing. The most common source of contamination in this process stems from improper removal of gloves [1]. Gloves are often the most soiled piece of equipment. To avoid contaminating your skin or the other equipment worn, gloves should always be removed first. Then remove the goggles, gown, and mask, in that order.

Disposable equipment should not be reused. These items should be discarded into the proper receptacles: mainly biohazard containers or waste bins. Reusable items, on the other hand, should be properly decontaminated and stored according to facility policy. As a reminder, use of personal protective equipment does not take the place of proper hand hygiene. Always thoroughly wash and dry your hands after removing and disposing of the equipment.

References

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26457544

More Resources

Making an Occupied Bed

If a patient is bedridden or on bedrest, the bed linens will need to be changed while the patient is in the bed. For safety reasons, the nurse’s aid should avoid making an occupied bed if the patient is able to get out of bed. Bed linens should be changed according to the facility’s policy or anytime they are wet or soiled.

Measuring the Respirations

Respiration is a vital sign that is measured frequently in the healthcare setting. Taking this measurement requires no equipment and relatively little time. However, it is a measurement that must be taken accurately, as a change in respiration may indicate the worsening of a patient’s condition.

Measuring the Radial Pulse

The radial artery, located in the wrist, is easy to feel and an efficient location to measure heart rate. Changes to the rhythm or strength of the radial pulse can indicate heart disease, damage to the arm, or body fluid status. It is important to remember to check the radial pulse on both sides as differences between left and right can indicate injury or disease processes.

Perineal Care of the Female Resident

Perineal care should be performed during a bath, after using the bedpan, and/or after incontinence. Proper technique is important for maintaining hygiene, preventing infection, and avoiding skin breakdown. Because of the close proximity between a woman’s urethra, vagina, and anus, it is essential to only wipe in a front to back motion. Wiping in the opposite direction is associated with a greater risk for developing a urinary tract infection.

Fowler’s Position

Fowler’s position is used when a patient is eating, is having difficulty breathing, or is ordered by a doctor. This position is easily recognized because the patient will be sitting “straight up.” Semi-Fowler’s is sitting “half-way up,” and is used when patients cannot be laid flat, but wish to be in a more relaxed position than Fowler’s.

Assisting the Resident to Transfer from the Bed to a Chair or Wheelchair

It is important to remember on which side to place the chair when assisting a patient in transferring. Putting the chair on the resident’s unaffected side allows the resident to lead with his or her strong extremity. This eases the procedure for the resident and reduces the risk of falling.