After assisting a healthcare provider with a bedside procedure for a client on droplet and contact precautions, a licensed practical nurse (LPN) is ready to exit the isolation room. The LPN is currently wearing gloves, an isolation gown, a face shield, and a surgical mask. In what order should the LPN remove the personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent self-contamination? Arrange the actions in the correct chronological sequence from first to last.
- 1Remove the gloves by grasping the outside of one glove near the wrist and peeling it off.
- 2Remove the face shield by handling the clean headband or earpieces from behind.
- 3Untie the gown and pull it down and away from the neck and shoulders, rolling it inside out.
- 4Remove the surgical mask by grasping the bottom ties or elastics, followed by the top ties.
- 5Perform thorough hand hygiene using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Answer
The correct sequence for removing personal protective equipment is: first remove the gloves, then the face shield, followed by the isolation gown, then the surgical mask, and finally perform hand hygiene.
According to standard Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) infection control guidelines, the most contaminated items should be removed first. Gloves are removed first, followed by the face shield or goggles handled by their clean back straps. The gown is then removed by pulling it away from the body and rolling it inside out. The mask is removed last, touching only the ties or ear loops, to maintain respiratory and mucous membrane protection until all other contaminated items are discarded. Hand hygiene must always be the final step after all PPE has been removed.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Standard and Transmission-Based Precautions: PPE Doffing Sequence