Question

A nurse is wearing gloves while caring for a client. In which of the following situations should the nurse obtain a new pair of gloves?

1) Before entering the client’s room.
2) After touching the client’s intact skin.
3) After completing a task in the client’s room.
4) Before interacting with other healthcare providers.

Answer 1

A nurse should obtain a new pair of gloves after touching a client's intact skin, after completing a task in the client's room, and before interacting with other healthcare providers to prevent contamination and infection.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the context of health care settings, it is important for a nurse to obtain a new pair of gloves to maintain sterile conditions and prevent the spread of infection. In the provided scenarios, a nurse should obtain a new pair of gloves:

• After touching the client's intact skin: Even though the skin is intact, gloves should be changed after contact to prevent cross-contamination.
• After completing a task in the client's room: Gloves should be disposed of after the completion of a task to avoid spreading any potential contaminants to other areas or patients.
• Before interacting with other healthcare providers: Changing gloves before interacting with other healthcare providers is critical to prevent the transfer of microorganisms between healthcare workers and patients.

Note that putting on gloves before entering a client's room is not on the list above because gloves are typically donned after entering a patient's room and performing hand hygiene.

Proper hand hygiene, including thorough handwashing and changing gloves when necessary, is essential for preventing contamination and protecting both patients and healthcare workers from the transmission of infectious agents.