PPE Flashcard 1

C. Rationale: Masks can be irritating sometimes, especially to healthcare workers who are new to using them or people who react to them. Masks are worn to cover the nose and mouth. Healthcare providers tend to uncover the nose because it can be irritating but should avoid this practice because it defeats the purpose of wearing the mask.

A. Rationale: Engineering controls are things put in place to prevent exposure. The use of safety needles is an engineering control that removes the need to recap needles. Sharps boxes are another type of engineering control.

A. Rationale: The sclera can be a route of bloodborne pathogen transmission because of its thin layer, the same as with open wounds and mucosal surfaces. Protective eyewear is designed to enclose the eyes to reduce the risk that pathogens from body secretions and blood would enter the eyes.

A. Rationale: Gloves are the most commonly required type of PPE. Recapping needles poses a risk of exposure. Eyeglasses by themselves are not protective unless eye shields are attached to them to protect the sides.

C. Rationale: The proper way to don personal protective equipment (whichever elements are being used) is gown, shoe covers, mask, goggles, face shield, cap, and then, lastly, gloves. This logical order prevents the possible source of infection from spreading from the healthcare worker to the patient, which would be most likely via the hands. Additionally, the hands will be in close contact with the patient compared to other parts of the body.

A. Rationale: PPE should be removed outside the patient’s room. The proper way to remove personal protective equipment is gloves, cap, face shield, goggles, gown, shoe covers, and mask. This logical order prevents the spread of infectious materials from the patient to the healthcare worker. The hands would have been in close contact with the patient and are the most likely to be contaminated. Therefore, gloves should be removed first to lessen the risk of contaminating the remaining PPE. Alcohol based hand sanitizer can be used to clean the hands as each additional PPE component is removed.

A. Rationale: Gowns add another layer of protection to the whole body. Non-absorbent gowns work well to protect the provider.

B. Rationale: The final step in proper hand hygiene is to dry the hands with a clean towel, preferably a disposable towel. Hand hygiene with soap and water is best performed with hot water. Scrubbing is recommended for at least 20 seconds. It is a best practice to touch surfaces such as faucets and door handles with a paper towel to avoid hand contamination.

A. Rationale: Change gloves between patient encounters. Sometimes it is also necessary to change heavily contaminated gloves while working with a single patient to prevent cross-contamination of body sites or medical equipment.

B. Rationale: It is prudent to change the pair of heavily contaminated gloves even while caring for a single patient to prevent any cross-contamination of equipment, body sites, or to others as well.