When should a nurse aide change their gloves?

Changing gloves between different care tasks or after contact with bodily fluids is essential for preventing the spread of infection and ensuring the safety of both the nurse aide and the residents they serve. This practice, known as 'gloving,' helps to maintain a barrier against pathogens that may be present on the skin or in bodily fluids, which can pose a risk of cross-contamination.

For example, if a nurse aide provides personal care to a resident and then attends to another task, such as helping another resident with a different type of care, changing gloves before proceeding to the next task reduces the risk of transmitting any contaminants from one resident to another. Similarly, after any contact with bodily fluids like blood or urine, gloves should be discarded and replaced to maintain hygiene and protect against potential exposure to infectious agents.

In contrast, changing gloves only after an hour of work, only when torn, or before serving food does not adequately align with the protocols for infection control. Infection prevention guidelines emphasize the importance of glove changes based on the nature of tasks and exposure to potential contaminants rather than set time intervals or limited scenarios.