I am in need of clarification regarding the use of sterile gloves when doing a PICC dressing change and site care. The INS procedure for sterile PICC site care and dressing change calls for the clinician to put on sterile gloves then remove the old TSM dressing and complete site care and redress the PICC site. My question is this. If using sterile gloves to remove the TSM and stabilization device and then continuing with site care and dressing replacement, aren't the sterile gloves contaminated by the old TSM that is being removed? I am seeing nurses in my hospital doing 3 things--wearing one pair of sterile gloves to do the entire procedure including removing the old TSM and completing site care and dressing change, OR using clean gloves to remove the old TSM dressing and then switching to sterile gloves to complete the sterile site care and dressing OR using sterile gloves to remove the old TSM and then removing those gloves and putting on new sterile gloves to complete site care and dressing change. In your opinion and based on INS Standards of Care, what is the correct uses of sterile gloves? Thank you for your input.
There is a new edition of the INS Policy and Procedure book just released. It clearly states hand hygiene, clean gloves to assess and remove old dressing, hand hygiene again, then sterile gloves to apply the new dressing. I have used 2 pair of sterile gloves in the past - one pair to clean with the skin antiseptic and apply skin protectant, then a second pair to apply the new stablization device and dressing. Lynn
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861