Final answer:
When exiting a patient's room after wearing PPE, the nurse should remove the gloves first, followed by the gown or apron, mask or respirator, and finally, eye protection. This helps prevent the spread of infection.
Step-by-step explanation:
When exiting the room after caring for a patient while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), the nurse should remove the PPE in a specific order to minimize the risk of contamination. The first PPE item to be removed should be the gloves. This is because the gloves are most likely to be contaminated and removing them first reduces the risk of spreading any potential pathogens.
After removing the gloves, the nurse should then remove the gown or apron, followed by the mask or respirator. Finally, the nurse should remove the eye protection, such as goggles or face shield.
By following this order (gloves, gown, mask, eye protection), the nurse can effectively prevent the spread of infection and ensure a safe transition from the patient's room.