Isn't it mandatory to use gloves when drawing blood?

[Lorix2]

I'm curious to know as the nurse drawing my grandmother's blood in her nursing home did not use a glove, nor did she wash her hands (in our presence anyway) before or after (in our presence).

When I was leaving and walking down the hall, another nurse was drawing blood from another patient in the hallway without gloves also. Both were doing a finger stick on my GM and the other patient.

This is in MA, so I don't know if it varies state to state, but it isn't sitting well with me for obvious reasons.

Thank you.

 

[Buckalew11]

Yes, I believe it is. Crazy for anyone to draw blood with no gloves. Obviously anyone with access to the needles (& in a hospital/nursing home type setting) should know this.

And actually, I'd report this--both the no gloves and the no hand washing.

Your post is upsetting in the least.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

YES YES YES!!!! They shoud be wearing gloves!!

 

[golfgal]

In reality, the gloves are more to protect the person TAKING the blood then giving the blood. If the site of the needle stick was cleaned, the probability of an infection from the gloveless person is very, very small and probably no different then a person wearing gloves since the gloves are not sterile.

 

[Lorix2]

I knew they should be wearing them and when I told my GM I was going to talk to someone, she got very upset and told me "not to cause trouble" because it simply would embarrass her but it's bothered me since saturday.

Whom should I call about it? Should it be enough to call the home or contact an agency that governs those things in which case, who is that?

I'm afraid if I called the supervisor of the home, they may not do anything about it.

 

[Lorix2]

golfgal -100% about the person taking the blood wears gloves for their protection, but say they don't wear a glove and the nurse has an open wound and blood contacts blood, the risks far outweigh the benefits of using gloves as protection to both parties.

 

[grlpwrd]

I'm curious to know as the nurse drawing my grandmother's blood in her nursing home did not use a glove, nor did she wash her hands (in our presence anyway) before or after (in our presence).

I volunteer at a nursing home that accepts patients who have been abused at other nursing homes. Not implying anything, but if the staff does this type of thing I wonder about other aspects of care that they are not complying (with).

One thing is for sure... thank goodness you are there for your GM and being her biggest advocate.

 

[bicker]

In reality, the gloves are more to protect the person TAKING the blood then giving the blood.

That was my first instinct, but actually, that's not the case. The gloves are substantially to protect the person having the blood taken from whatever the person taking the blood did previously, perhaps even taking blood from someone else.

 

[eeyore kelly]

In Lousiana we have a department of health and hospitals, that is who I would call

 

[golfgal]

That was my first instinct, but actually, that's not the case. The gloves are substantially to protect the person having the blood taken from whatever the person taking the blood did previously, perhaps even taking blood from someone else.

I still have to disagree with this. The gloves are in a box, in the room (thinking of a dr's office) where all the germs are flying around from the person that was in there before you. The nurse in the nursing home could have just as easily put the gloves on outside the room, touched the doorknob that the person before used right after they sneezed out their flu germs. Even if she put the gloves on in the room, all the germs in the air are still there. They are not sterile and provide no real protection to the person getting the shot, giving blood, etc. Yes, if the person taking the blood happens to have an open sore, they will give some protection against direct contact, but the nurse could have easily touched that spot with the other glove while putting on her gloves and therefore eliminating any protection the gloves may have given. Gloves are NOT sterile and therefore do not protect against giving infections to the person getting the procedure.

 

[Disney Doll]

In actuality, gloves do little to protect the person taking or giving the blood. Think about it...if the person taking the blood gets stcuk, with or without gloves on, they are still going to have a neddle stick. Take my word for it...needles penetrate gloves!

What concerns me more about your post is the lack of handwashing.

Someone who washes thier hands for 30 seconds before & after a procudre is affording the patient almost as much protection as not washing their hands and wearing gloves.

Call the adminitsrator of the nursing home and share your concerns with them. If you get no satisfaction, call the state board of health. In CT, if your facility gets reported to the state, they are required to come out and do a surprise inspection.

 

[bicker]

The gloves are in a box, in the room (thinking of a dr's office) where all the germs are flying around from the person that was in there before you. The nurse in the nursing home could have just as easily put the gloves on outside the room, touched the doorknob that the person before used right after they sneezed out their flu germs. Even if she put the gloves on in the room, all the germs in the air are still there. They are not sterile and provide no real protection to the person getting the shot, giving blood, etc.

Poor sanitary practices don't obviate the value of sterile gloves when used properly. Contrary to popular opinion, that which gloves are intended to protect folks from don't "fly around". As you indicated, some things are naturally airborne, and therefore most people have sufficient immunity from. The gloves are intended to protect folks from transmission of agents that people don't naturally have sufficient immunity from.

 

[clarabelle]

In nursing school I was taught that the gloves were to protect me -not the patient.
Handwashing was to protect the patient.
I would call the nursing administrator.

 

[catherine]

The lack of handwashing is of far greater concern than the fact that the nurse did not wear gloves. Lots of nurses that I work with don't wear gloves for this type of procedure, however they all wash their hands!

 

[golfgal]

Poor sanitary practices don't obviate the value of sterile gloves when used properly. Contrary to popular opinion, that which gloves are intended to protect folks from don't "fly around". As you indicated, some things are naturally airborne, and therefore most people have sufficient immunity from. The gloves are intended to protect folks from transmission of agents that people don't naturally have sufficient immunity from.

The whole point of my argument is that the gloves are NOT sterile, period. Unless they are packaged in sterile conditions and opened in sterile conditions they have as many germs on them as the surrounding air. The gloves used by most medical personnel are not sterile.

 

[6_Time_Momma]

There are nurses where I work who don't wear gloves when doing a needles stick. Drives me crazy! I would never in a million years do one without gloves!!

 

[Horseshoes]

Sometimes its easier to feel for the veins without the gloves on, especially in older patients with very small, thin veins. Not saying that as a valid reason for not wearing gloves but it could be a possibilty.

ALso, the hospital were I work, there is antibactieral hand lotion at the doorway of every room, that certainly doesnt replace hand washing, but maybe this nurse had just used it. Just a thought.

 

[mudnuri]

When my mom was just in the hospital, they had upside down cans of antibacterial foam at the doorway to every room. Everyone that entered the rooms- would hit the nozzle and wipe their hands with it. I believe this was in exchange for handwashing- which didnt sit well with me.

My mom had her blood drawn one morning when I was there, the nurse started to prep moms arm without gloves, and being me- I said- "you ARE going to put on gloves correct???" She looked at me like I had 10 heads, but she put em on. Worst part- this is the University of Vermonts teaching hospital! If they're not doing it at this hospital, these new nurses/docs aren't learning it..

My great aunt had an ostomy bag for awhile and one time a nurse came to clean/change it- without gloves, I went right down to the hospitals CEO, and let her know what I thought about that!....needless to say- NOBODY came in without gloves again

Brandy

 

[taximomfor4]

We have to wash our hands (nursing school, in clinicals at the hospital) with soap and water for 30 seconds every FIFTH time or so. The in between times, we can do the 30-second washing OR use antibacterial gel which is either right outside or right inside every room or otherwise nearby. Of course, if our hands have goo on them of some sort, we would have to scrub with soap and water to rinse the goo off, but otherwise, the antibacterial gel we are given is a legal substitute for the 30-second traditional handwashing, and much quicker for nurses who are always hurrying.

We, too, learned that we MUST wear non-sterile gloves to protect ourselves if coming in contact with patient body fluids, or EVERY time we enter a patients room IF we have any open cuts, sores, hangnails, torn cuticles, etc. So if that nurse did not have any open skin on her hand, she may have not been mandated to wear gloves.

I tell my family and friends, though, that if a nurse comes in to care for you or a loved one and you did not SEE them wash their hands, ask them to. They may say they already did, but if you did not see them, you can just let them know it would give you peace of mind to witness it. I have had patients ask me to do it in front of them, and it only takes a few seconds to squeeze some hand gel on my hands and swipe it around my hands.

Beth

 

[princess momma]

Another thing is the privacy issue with the nurse drawing blood in the hallway! A huge no-no! In WI there must be a posted sign in the nursing home instructing you on how to contact the state to make complaints. If I were you I would contact the administrator or the director of nursing and they would most likely have to conduct an investigation.

But you do have to consider how your grandmother feels about it. Is she happy and safe there? It's her home and maybe she would rather you just let it go. She's had so much taken away from her and if you made a big issue out of it you could make her feel so much worse.