A practical nurse (PN) completes care for a client placed on droplet and contact precautions. The PN is preparing to exit the client's room. Arrange the following steps for removing (doffing) the required personal protective equipment (PPE) in the correct chronological sequence.
- 1Grasp the outside of one glove at the wrist and peel it off, turning it inside out.
- 2Remove the face shield by handling only the headband or earpieces from behind.
- 3Unfasten the gown ties and pull the gown away from the neck and shoulders, rolling it into a bundle.
- 4Remove the surgical mask by grasping the bottom elastic ties, then the top ties.
- 5Perform hand hygiene using an alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
Answer
The correct chronological sequence for doffing PPE is: removing gloves, removing the face shield, removing the gown, removing the surgical mask, and finally performing hand hygiene.
The standardized CDC doffing sequence is systematically designed to remove the most heavily contaminated items first while maintaining critical protection for the mucous membranes until the very end. Gloves are removed first, followed by eye protection, the gown, and finally the mask, concluding with immediate hand hygiene.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Standard Sequence for Removing (Doffing) Personal Protective Equipment