Donning techniques - sterile gloves

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.

Open Donning

1. Pick up the cuff of the right 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.

More about gloves: What You Should Know