A practical nurse (PN) has completed wound care for a client on contact and droplet precautions. Arrange the following steps for removing personal protective equipment (PPE) in the correct chronological order to minimize the risk of self-contamination.
- 1Remove and discard gloves by grasping the outside of one glove at the wrist.
- 2Remove the face shield or goggles by handling only the back of the headband or earpieces.
- 3Untie the gown, pull it down from the shoulders, and roll it inside out into a bundle.
- 4Remove the surgical mask by handling only the ties or elastic bands.
- 5Perform hand hygiene using an alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
Answer
The correct sequence for doffing PPE is to first remove the gloves, followed by the face shield, then the gown, then the mask, and finally perform hand hygiene.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines dictate that PPE should be removed in a specific order that minimizes the risk of cross-contamination. Gloves are the most contaminated and are removed first. The face shield is removed next by handling only the clean headbands. The gown is then removed and rolled inside out to contain pathogens. The mask is removed last because it protects the respiratory tract from potential exposure during the removal of the other items. Finally, hand hygiene is universally required to remove any residual pathogens.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Standard Sequence for Removing (Doffing) Personal Protective Equipment