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What technique should be used for regloving?: Q & A
The experts research
What technique should be used for regloving? A controversy has recently developed in our operating room over gloving techniques. Our nurses all use closed gloving techniques. If they become contaminated during a procedure, the circulating nurse pulls the cuff of the gown down over the fingers when removing the gloves, and
A
The reason a controversy has arisen i n your operating room i s because this is a very controversial subject. There are two
distinct camps regarding regloving. One camp believes there i s less chance of contamination by using the closed glove method. The other camp believes that the nurse
the scrub nurse then uses closed technique
must completely regown and reglove. Be-
again. This has raised numerous questions
cause nurses who use the closed glove tech-
about contamination. I might add that the
nique routinely are not adept a t using the
nurses do not use open glove technique
open glove method, the potential for con-
well, and the likelihood of contaminating
tamination i s greater. W e have not been abfe to uncover any research that validates
the outer surfaces of their gloves is high. Several suggestions were made about handling
this problem. The first i s that each
nurse should practice open gloving until she i s dexterous and confident about her technique. The second i s that the nurse should ask the surgeon or his assistant to reglove her during the procedure rather than try i t herself. However, the nurses would like some
either belief,
but we have heard many
opinions. Until a valid research study has been done comparing methods
of regloving, we
believe it i s up to the OR supervisor t o conduct
her
own study
regarding these
techniques.
professional comparative information on this subject. Unfortunately the textbooks show how to glove with the closed method,
If your study shows that in pulling the gown down you are contaminating the
but not what to do when regloving (open/
gloving. The nurse must either employ the
closed). The nurses feel there is sufficient
open glove technique, have someone from
controversy to seek the expert's advice.
the scrubbed team glove her, or completely
hand, then here are your choices for re-
AORN Journal, April 1974, Vol 19, No 4
933
regown and reglove. The question then arises, if you regown and reglove, do you rescrub?
erally knows if they are in place and is alert to the problem if they slip off the cornea.
If the nurse i s required to use the open method of gloving, then she must be as adept a t doing this procedure as she i s at using the closed glove method.
An important plus feature of these lenses i s that they do not fog from the moisture under the mask.
We keep stressing that aseptic technique must be based on principle and must be practical to enforce and carry out.
Q
I am writing to inquire about the lia-
bility of surgery personnel wearing contact lenses while scrubbing. It i s my understanding that Nebraska has a law prohibiting the use of contacts in surgery. In the past, I have required my students to have glasses. Is this a valid requirement? You ask if it i s valid to have students in the operating room purchase regular glasses rather than wearing contact lenses. Several considerations prompt our reply. It i s not a valid requirement, and students, as others in the 'OR, should b e permitted to wear contact lenses,
A
Good vision i s a must in the OR for all involved in the procedure. At the present, surgeons, RNs, anesthesiologists, and others wear contact lenses when it i s their preference. A person wearing these lenses gen_
_
_
A consideration you may want to discuss with the students' instructor, as well as with any OR colleague beginning to wear contacts, i s this: when first becoming accustomed to contact lenses, there may be some tearing and a need for them to be removed after fairly short intervals of time. If possible, students, as others, should be assigned to scrub in shorter cases during this time, or assigned other duties in the OR until the stabilization period i s over, or continue to wear the regular glasses. W e are unaware of any state law prohibiting the wearing of contact lenses during surgery. It would b e hard to imagine a state legislature giving time to this matter when there are many issues of greater magnitude. However, if such legislation exists, we would appreciate being so advised and receiving copies of such legislation.
Rose Marie Mc Williams, RN and the Professional Ad visor y Committee
~
Aquamedics is new physician specialfy A team of physicians skilled in dealing with medical problems related to water has been named Aquamedics. The physicians primarily are a medical support team for undersea activities conducted by the Marine Biomedical Institute (MBl) of the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), according to the Medical Tribune. Physicians interested in joining the group will attend special classes, including a formal scuba diving course. Qualified Aquamedics will accompany members of MBI on monthly dives to provide immediate emergency medical aid. H G Love, Jr, MD, medical director of emergency services and a member of the UTMB department of surgery, is team leader. He predicts that the special training required of an Aquamedic "will add a new and unique dimension to the training of physicians."
934
AORN Journal, April 1974, Vol 19, N o 4
What technique should be used for regloving? A controversy has recently developed in our operating room over gloving techniques. Our nurses all use closed gloving techniques. If they become contaminated during a procedure, the circulating nurse pulls the cuff of the gown down over the fingers when removing the gloves, and
A
The reason a controversy has arisen i n your operating room i s because this is a very controversial subject. There are two
distinct camps regarding regloving. One camp believes there i s less chance of contamination by using the closed glove method. The other camp believes that the nurse
the scrub nurse then uses closed technique
must completely regown and reglove. Be-
again. This has raised numerous questions
cause nurses who use the closed glove tech-
about contamination. I might add that the
nique routinely are not adept a t using the
nurses do not use open glove technique
open glove method, the potential for con-
well, and the likelihood of contaminating
tamination i s greater. W e have not been abfe to uncover any research that validates
the outer surfaces of their gloves is high. Several suggestions were made about handling
this problem. The first i s that each
nurse should practice open gloving until she i s dexterous and confident about her technique. The second i s that the nurse should ask the surgeon or his assistant to reglove her during the procedure rather than try i t herself. However, the nurses would like some
either belief,
but we have heard many
opinions. Until a valid research study has been done comparing methods
of regloving, we
believe it i s up to the OR supervisor t o conduct
her
own study
regarding these
techniques.
professional comparative information on this subject. Unfortunately the textbooks show how to glove with the closed method,
If your study shows that in pulling the gown down you are contaminating the
but not what to do when regloving (open/
gloving. The nurse must either employ the
closed). The nurses feel there is sufficient
open glove technique, have someone from
controversy to seek the expert's advice.
the scrubbed team glove her, or completely
hand, then here are your choices for re-
AORN Journal, April 1974, Vol 19, No 4
933
regown and reglove. The question then arises, if you regown and reglove, do you rescrub?
erally knows if they are in place and is alert to the problem if they slip off the cornea.
If the nurse i s required to use the open method of gloving, then she must be as adept a t doing this procedure as she i s at using the closed glove method.
An important plus feature of these lenses i s that they do not fog from the moisture under the mask.
We keep stressing that aseptic technique must be based on principle and must be practical to enforce and carry out.
Q
I am writing to inquire about the lia-
bility of surgery personnel wearing contact lenses while scrubbing. It i s my understanding that Nebraska has a law prohibiting the use of contacts in surgery. In the past, I have required my students to have glasses. Is this a valid requirement? You ask if it i s valid to have students in the operating room purchase regular glasses rather than wearing contact lenses. Several considerations prompt our reply. It i s not a valid requirement, and students, as others in the 'OR, should b e permitted to wear contact lenses,
A
Good vision i s a must in the OR for all involved in the procedure. At the present, surgeons, RNs, anesthesiologists, and others wear contact lenses when it i s their preference. A person wearing these lenses gen_
_
_
A consideration you may want to discuss with the students' instructor, as well as with any OR colleague beginning to wear contacts, i s this: when first becoming accustomed to contact lenses, there may be some tearing and a need for them to be removed after fairly short intervals of time. If possible, students, as others, should be assigned to scrub in shorter cases during this time, or assigned other duties in the OR until the stabilization period i s over, or continue to wear the regular glasses. W e are unaware of any state law prohibiting the wearing of contact lenses during surgery. It would b e hard to imagine a state legislature giving time to this matter when there are many issues of greater magnitude. However, if such legislation exists, we would appreciate being so advised and receiving copies of such legislation.
Rose Marie Mc Williams, RN and the Professional Ad visor y Committee
~
Aquamedics is new physician specialfy A team of physicians skilled in dealing with medical problems related to water has been named Aquamedics. The physicians primarily are a medical support team for undersea activities conducted by the Marine Biomedical Institute (MBl) of the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), according to the Medical Tribune. Physicians interested in joining the group will attend special classes, including a formal scuba diving course. Qualified Aquamedics will accompany members of MBI on monthly dives to provide immediate emergency medical aid. H G Love, Jr, MD, medical director of emergency services and a member of the UTMB department of surgery, is team leader. He predicts that the special training required of an Aquamedic "will add a new and unique dimension to the training of physicians."
934
AORN Journal, April 1974, Vol 19, N o 4