- Email: [email protected]
Gloves and Glutaraldehyde
JUNE 2001, VOL 73, NO 6 I, E T T E R S
GLOVES AND GLUTARALDEHYDE
Author‘s response. Glutaraldehyde is a toxic product that can cause harm to staff members handling glutaraldehyde solutions. Gloves that are impervious to glutaraldehyde should be worn when working with this solution. Continually evolving research and product development may provide additional alternatives for the protection of health care workers. The suggestion to request that the glove manufacturer provide testing methods and results about the suitability of their gloves for chemical protection and the recommended time they can be expected to be safely worn when working with glutaraldehyde is well taken, and AORN thanks the author of this letter for her suggestions. CAROL PETERSON RN, MAOM, CNOR PERlOPERAnVE NURSE SPECIALIST FOR NURSINQPRACTICE AORN CENTER
n reference to the answer to a question in “Clinical Issues” (March 2001, page 701), the author responded that neoprene gloves should not be worn when working with glutaraldehyde solutions. Testing of Allegiance’s Duraprene synthetic (ie, neoprene) surgical gloves showed no permeation by glutaraldehyde even after eight hours of continuous contact. In fact, Table G of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) publication Recommendationsfor Chemical Protective Clothing, found at http://www.cdc.gov lnioshlcgpc.htm1, provides that natural (ie, rubber), neoprene, nitrile, and polyvinyl chloride gloves may be worn for protection against glutaraldehyde for short time periods. Because of variations in formulation, polymer film integrity, and processing, different manufacturers’ gloves (even of the ZERO BALANCING same material) may demonstrate very different permeation resistow do zero balancing, a ance to the same chemical. As a hands-on bodywork system result, a note to Table G of the designed to align the energy NIOSH publication cautions the body with physical structure, reader to check with the protecand perioperative nursing fit tive clothing supplier to obtain together? As I sat down to conadditional information and use sider this topic for a zero ballimitations of the product in makancing certification essay, the ing the most appropriate choice. mail arrived. In it is the Your readers should not simply November 2000 AORN Journal assume that a particular glove mawith the article “Minimizing terial will provide or fail to provide preoperative anxiety with alterappropriate protection; instead, ask native caring-healing therapies” the glove supplier for the test (page 838). It describes several method, chemical concentration of techniques, such as aromatherathe chemical of interest, and testing py, music therapy, guided results for that specific glove. imagery, and touch (ie, tactile) DEBORAH DAVIS therapies. The article says that TECHNICALDIRECTOR combining these types of highALLEQIANCEHEALTHCARE touch holistic therapies with MCGAWPARK, ILL high-tech surgery provides bal-
H
1028 AORN JOURNAL
anced care to surgical patients. It is heartening to me to see this type of article in current nursing journals. I have long thought that Western medicine, including nursing, is too focused on curing the disease by treating the symptoms, rather than teaching and assisting the patient to heal. Thank you for printing this type of article, so that we, as nurses, can see how many complementary therapies may serve our patients well. DIANA (DEE) FRIZZELL RN, CNOR MD REISTERTOWN,
THE VALUE OF TEAMWORK
I
enjoyed the “Editorial” in the September 2000 issue (page 372), and I could not believe how true the description was of the surgical unit environment. We have had our share of problems in the workplace, but my coworkers and I love the OR and believe it is a great place to work. We want to provide the best care possible for our patients. Thank you for sending the message about the value of teamwork as well as of a supportive environment. ANGELA BUTTON RN Gusoow, KY
FTE CALCULATIONS
I
just wanted to take a moment to compliment Pamela S. Hunt, RN, MSN, on her article “Speaking the Language of Finance,” which appeared in the April 2001 issue of the AORN Journal (page 774). Specifically, Ms. Hunt’s explanations and examples associated with the fulltime equivalent calculations and
GLOVES AND GLUTARALDEHYDE
Author‘s response. Glutaraldehyde is a toxic product that can cause harm to staff members handling glutaraldehyde solutions. Gloves that are impervious to glutaraldehyde should be worn when working with this solution. Continually evolving research and product development may provide additional alternatives for the protection of health care workers. The suggestion to request that the glove manufacturer provide testing methods and results about the suitability of their gloves for chemical protection and the recommended time they can be expected to be safely worn when working with glutaraldehyde is well taken, and AORN thanks the author of this letter for her suggestions. CAROL PETERSON RN, MAOM, CNOR PERlOPERAnVE NURSE SPECIALIST FOR NURSINQPRACTICE AORN CENTER
n reference to the answer to a question in “Clinical Issues” (March 2001, page 701), the author responded that neoprene gloves should not be worn when working with glutaraldehyde solutions. Testing of Allegiance’s Duraprene synthetic (ie, neoprene) surgical gloves showed no permeation by glutaraldehyde even after eight hours of continuous contact. In fact, Table G of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) publication Recommendationsfor Chemical Protective Clothing, found at http://www.cdc.gov lnioshlcgpc.htm1, provides that natural (ie, rubber), neoprene, nitrile, and polyvinyl chloride gloves may be worn for protection against glutaraldehyde for short time periods. Because of variations in formulation, polymer film integrity, and processing, different manufacturers’ gloves (even of the ZERO BALANCING same material) may demonstrate very different permeation resistow do zero balancing, a ance to the same chemical. As a hands-on bodywork system result, a note to Table G of the designed to align the energy NIOSH publication cautions the body with physical structure, reader to check with the protecand perioperative nursing fit tive clothing supplier to obtain together? As I sat down to conadditional information and use sider this topic for a zero ballimitations of the product in makancing certification essay, the ing the most appropriate choice. mail arrived. In it is the Your readers should not simply November 2000 AORN Journal assume that a particular glove mawith the article “Minimizing terial will provide or fail to provide preoperative anxiety with alterappropriate protection; instead, ask native caring-healing therapies” the glove supplier for the test (page 838). It describes several method, chemical concentration of techniques, such as aromatherathe chemical of interest, and testing py, music therapy, guided results for that specific glove. imagery, and touch (ie, tactile) DEBORAH DAVIS therapies. The article says that TECHNICALDIRECTOR combining these types of highALLEQIANCEHEALTHCARE touch holistic therapies with MCGAWPARK, ILL high-tech surgery provides bal-
H
1028 AORN JOURNAL
anced care to surgical patients. It is heartening to me to see this type of article in current nursing journals. I have long thought that Western medicine, including nursing, is too focused on curing the disease by treating the symptoms, rather than teaching and assisting the patient to heal. Thank you for printing this type of article, so that we, as nurses, can see how many complementary therapies may serve our patients well. DIANA (DEE) FRIZZELL RN, CNOR MD REISTERTOWN,
THE VALUE OF TEAMWORK
I
enjoyed the “Editorial” in the September 2000 issue (page 372), and I could not believe how true the description was of the surgical unit environment. We have had our share of problems in the workplace, but my coworkers and I love the OR and believe it is a great place to work. We want to provide the best care possible for our patients. Thank you for sending the message about the value of teamwork as well as of a supportive environment. ANGELA BUTTON RN Gusoow, KY
FTE CALCULATIONS
I
just wanted to take a moment to compliment Pamela S. Hunt, RN, MSN, on her article “Speaking the Language of Finance,” which appeared in the April 2001 issue of the AORN Journal (page 774). Specifically, Ms. Hunt’s explanations and examples associated with the fulltime equivalent calculations and