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How to Don Sterile Gloves PDF Print E-mail

If you dont follow this procedure, you are not wearing sterile gloves. A good review for first response providers. Use the PDF version to hang up next to the sink, There are two techniques for donning sterile gloves, "Closed Donning" and "Open Donning". Regardless of which one you use, it is vital that all surface powder be removed from powdered gloves after donning.

There are two techniques for donning sterile gloves, "Closed Donning" and "Open Donning". Regardless of which one you use, it is vital that all surface powder be removed from powdered gloves after donning. This can be done with either sterile water from a pour rinse, or a sterile wipe.

Donning Closed Gloves

1. Peel open the outer pack from the corners. The inner pack is sterile.
 Gripping it through your gown, open it to display the gloves.


2. With your gown covering your fingers, use your right hand to remove the left glove. Hold your left hand palm up, fingers straight. Lay the glove on your left wrist, and grip the cuff with your left thumb.



3. Place your right thumb inside the top cuff edge. Make a fist with your right hand and stretch the glove over your left fingertips.




4. Keeping your left fingers straight, pull down the glove.



5. Repeat the above procedure to don the other glove, that is: use your gloved left hand to lay the right glove on your right wrist. Slide your left thumb inside the top of the cuff, make a fist, and stretch the cuff over your right fingertips. Pull down the sleeve and glove together.


Donning open Gloves


1. Pick up the cuff of the fight glove with your left hand. Slide your right hand into
 the glove until you have a snug fit over the thumb joint and knuckles.

Your bare left hand should only touch the folded cuff - the rest of the glove remains sterile.



2. Slide your right fingertips into the folded cuff of the left glove. Pull out the glove and fit your right hand into it.




3. Unfold the cuffs down over your gown sleeves. Make sure your gloved fingertips do not touch your bare forearms or wrists.


Glove Removal

The key to removing both sterile and non-sterile gloves is
"Dirty to Dirty - Clean to Clean",

that is, contaminated surfaces only touch other contaminated surfaces: your bare hand,
 which is clean, touches only clean areas inside the other glove.



1. Take hold of the first glove at the wrist.




2. Fold it over and peel it back, turning it inside out as it goes. Once the glove is off, hold it with your gloved hand.



3. To remove the other glove, place your bare fingers inside the cuff without touching the glove exterior. Peel the glove off from the inside, turning it inside out as it goes. Use it to envelope the other glove.



How to put on Sterile Gloves
Wearing sterile gloves is part of aseptic hand hygiene, since the hands can never be sterile

Preparation for putting on surgical gloves

Gloves are cuffed to make it easier to put them on without contaminating them. When putting on sterile gloves, remember that the first glove should be picked up by the cuff only. The second glove should then be touched only by the other sterile glove.

Step 1
Prepare a large, clean, dry area for opening the package of gloves. Either open the outer glove package and then perform a surgical scrub or perform a surgical scrub and ask someone else to open the package of gloves for you.

Step 2
Open the inner glove wrapper, exposing the cuffed gloves with the palms up.

Step 3
Pick up the first glove by the cuff, touching only the inside portion of the cuff (the inside is the side that will be touching your skin when the glove is on).

Step 4
While holding the cuff in one hand, slip your other hand into the glove. (Pointing the fingers of the glove toward the floor will keep the fingers open.) Be careful not to touch anything, and hold the gloves above your waist level.

NOTE: If the first glove is not fitted correctly, wait to make any adjustment until the second glove is on. Then use the sterile fingers of one glove to adjust the sterile portion of the other glove.

Step 5
Pick up the second glove by sliding the fingers of the gloved hand under the cuff of the second glove. Be careful not to contaminate the gloved hand with the ungloved hand as the second glove is being put on.

Step 6
Put the second glove on the ungloved hand by maintaining a steady pull through the cuff.

Step 7
Adjust the glove fingers until the gloves fit comfortably.
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Gloves play a dual role in the healthcare environment

- they act as a barrier to give personal protection and help

prevent the transmission of infection.


Key Points

  • Only wear gloves when necessary.
  • Gloves should be worn when in direct contact with blood, body fluids, nonintact skin or mucous membranes.
  • Glove usage is not a substitute for thorough hand hygiene.
  • Gloves should be changed after every task intended or episode of patient care.
  • Hands should be washed thoroughly before donning gloves and after gloves have been removed.
  • It is important to ensure that gloves fit correctly.
  • Sterile surgeons gloves are expensive and should not be used for noninvasive aseptic procedures where sterile examination gloves would be adequate.
  • Vinyl gloves are not a satisfactory substitute for latex gloves for contact with blood or blood-stained body fluids.
  • Gloves should not be washed, or decontaminated using alcohol rubs/gels
  • Powdered gloves must not be used within the health care setting.Individuals who are sensitised to natural rubber latex proteins and/orother chemicals in gloves need to be tested for latex allergies.