Protecting the hands that heal: Best practices for gloving and hand hygiene

Overview

Understanding the evidence for protective glove use and hand health is a critical role for perioperative professionals. Advancing awareness through product selection, policy development, and practice ensures perioperative staff are protected from occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens as well as from latex allergies, dermatitis, and other harms that can pose risks to hands if not addressed correctly. This continuing education program will present a brief overview of harms associated with incorrect glove use and hand hygiene. An overview of the trends in best practice for optimal glove use will be discussed as well as the requirements and evidence-based practices that support these practice trends. Key activities perioperative nurses and other professionals should engage in to promote correct glove use and hand health will also be discussed.

Objectives

Upon completion of this continuing education activity, the participant should be able to:

1. Discuss the harms associated with glove failures and poor hand health.
2. Describe the trends in best practice related to surgical gloving.
3. Discuss regulatory guidelines, professional association recommendations, and relevant research related to safe glove use and hand health.
4. Identify the product selection criteria perioperative nurses should advocate for in glove selection that provides protection and promotes hand health.

Intended audience

This continuing education activity is intended for a perioperative nurse, or other healthcare professional who wants to learn more or needs to gain knowledge and skills regarding hand health, surgical gloving and glove selection.

Teaching methodologies

This continuing education activity is governed by principles of adult learning and consists of written content with illustrations to complement the narrative. Learner comprehension will be assessed through post-test questions following the content.

Accreditation information

California Board of Registered Nursing

Pfiedler Education is a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP14944, for 2.0 contact hours.

Obtaining full credit for this offering depends upon attendance, regardless of circumstances, from beginning to end. Licensees must provide their license numbers for record keeping purposes

The certificate of course completion issued at the conclusion of this course must be retained in the participant’s records for at least four (4) years as proof of attendance.