Should staff wear gloves while feeding patients?

[rbuzzotta]

I work at an Adult Day Care Center as an RN. I always wear gloves while preparing the members food and also wear gloves while I assist in feeding some members. I can not find written documentation in the operating manual to support my claim that we should wear gloves while assisting feeding members.

OUr new director does not want us to wear gloves while assisting people eating. At times, we must literally touch the food (bread, sandwiches) and bring it to the members mouths (alzheimer member who have forgotten how to eat).

I continue to wear gloves despite her request as I feel it is a part of infection control. I wish I could find documentation to support my feelings. I tried the CDC website but haven't found anything.

Opinions please!!!

 

[disneynutt1225]

When I worked in daycare, we had to wear gloves when feeding the children. Whether it was the younger rooms where we had to physically feed them, or the older rooms where the food at least had to be served. Personally, I wouldn't even consider not doing it.

 

[Disney Doll]

You know, as a nurse, I have such mixed emotions about wearing gloves to do certain tasks.

I understand the infection control aspects. On the other hand, I think people crave human skin to skin contact and I think that always wearing gloves every time we touch a patient deprives them of that.

I think if you wash your hands before feeding someone, it should probably be enough. If you are going to be feeding someone who is isolated for an infectious disease, then wear gloves. If you go between patients, then wash your hands. But for the normal, non-infectious elderly person, why do you need gloves?? You're not going to die if a little of their saliva gets on your hand. Just wash your hands again, or carry a little of that portable anti-bacterial gel.

 

[rbuzzotta]

Good point. I am not so concerned about me catching anything as I am about them catching some sort of bacteria from me.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

As a cafeteria server in a middle school, I wear gloves as well to prepare and serve food.

I would think that the wearing of gloves is for YOUR protection and not the other way around in this setting.
Saliva is a bodily fluid which will carry an illness/infection/disease that may be passed to you.

As long as your hands are properly washed there is no real danger to a resident, unless you are sick of course.