4.3 PPE and Standard Precautions
Key Takeaways
- Standard precautions apply to every resident, every time, regardless of diagnosis.
- Choose PPE based on expected exposure, not on whether the resident looks sick.
- Gloves are needed for body fluids, non-intact skin, mucous membranes, and contaminated items.
- Remove PPE carefully to avoid touching contaminated surfaces.
- PPE mistakes often happen during removal, not just during care.
Standard Precautions
Standard precautions mean treating blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes as potentially infectious. They apply to all residents.
| Exposure Risk | PPE Often Needed |
|---|---|
| Urine, stool, blood, drainage | Gloves |
| Splash risk | Gloves, gown, mask, eye protection |
| Contact with contaminated linen | Gloves if soiled |
| Routine conversation | Usually no PPE beyond hand hygiene |
| Isolation room | Follow posted precautions |
Gloves
Wear gloves for perineal care, catheter care, drainage bag emptying, wound drainage contact, oral care with secretions, and handling soiled linen.
Change gloves when moving from dirty to clean tasks. Do not wear the same gloves down the hallway, to the clean linen cart, or to another resident.
Gown And Mask
Use a gown when clothing may become contaminated. Use mask and eye protection when splashing or droplet exposure is possible.
For isolation rooms, follow the sign and facility policy. If the sign is unclear, ask the nurse before entering.
Removing PPE
PPE removal should keep contaminated surfaces away from your body. A common principle is dirty-to-dirty, clean-to-clean.
For gloves, grasp the outside of one glove with the other gloved hand, peel it off inside-out, hold it in the remaining gloved hand, then slide clean fingers under the remaining cuff and remove inside-out.
PPE On The Skills Test
One possible mandatory first task includes donning PPE, emptying a urinary drainage bag, measuring and recording urine output, removing PPE, and handwashing.
That task combines infection control, measurement, resident dignity, and documentation. Practice it as a complete flow.
When should a CNA wear gloves?
A CNA finishes emptying a urinary drainage bag. What should happen after glove removal?