HOW TO USE STERILE GLOVES IN NURSING

PUTTING ON STERILE GLOVES AND REMOVING SOILED GLOVES

When applying and wearing sterile gloves, keep hands above waist level and away from nonsterile surfaces. Replace gloves if they develop an opening or tear; the integrity of the material becomes compromised; or the gloves come in contact with any nonsterile surface or nonsterile item.

EQUIPMENT

• Sterile gloves of the appropriate size

ASSESSMENT

• Assess the situation to determine the necessity for sterile gloves.

• Check the patient’s medical record for information about a possible latex allergy.

• Question the patient about any history of allergy, including latex allergy or sensitivity, and signs and symptoms that have occurred. If the patient has a latex allergy, anticipate the need for latex-free 

gloves.

NURSING DIAGNOSIS

• Risk for Infection

• Ineffective Protection

• Risk for Latex Allergy Response

PLANNING

• The gloves are applied and removed without contamination.

• The patient remains free of exposure to infectious microorganisms.

• The patient does not exhibit signs and symptoms of a latex allergy 

response.

IMPLEMENTATION

1. Perform hand hygiene

2. Identify the patient. Explain the procedure to the  patient.

3. Check that the sterile glove package is dry and unopened. Also note expiration date, making sure that the date is still valid.

4. Place sterile glove package on clean, dry surface at or above your waist.

5. Open the outside wrapper by carefully peeling the top layer back. Remove inner 

package, handling only the outside of it.

6. Place the inner package on the work surface with the side labeled ‘cuff end’ closest to the body.

7. Carefully open the inner package. Fold open the top flap, then the bottom and 

sides. Take care not to touch the inner surface of the package or the gloves.

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The inner surface of the package is considered sterile. The outer 1-inch border of the inner package is considered contaminated. The sterile gloves are exposed with the cuff end closest to the 

nurse.

8. With the thumb and forefinger of the nondominant hand, grasp the folded cuff 

of the glove for the dominant hand, touching only the exposed inside of the 

glove. 

9. Keeping the hands above the waistline, lift and hold the glove up and off the inner package with fingers down. 

Be careful it does not touch any unsterile object.

10. Carefully insert dominant hand palm up into glove and pull on glove. Leave the cuff folded until the opposite hand is gloved.

11. Hold the thumb of the gloved hand outward. Place the fingers of the gloved hand inside the cuff of the remain-

ing glove. Lift it from the wrapper, taking 

care not to touch anything with the gloves or hands.

12. Carefully insert nondominant hand into glove. Pull the glove on, taking care that the skin does not touch any of the outer surfaces of the gloves.

13. Slide the fingers of one hand under the cuff of the other and fully extend the 

cuff down the arm, touching only the sterile outside of the glove.

Repeat for the remaining hand.

14. Adjust gloves on both hands if necessary, touching only sterile areas with other sterile areas.

15. Continue with procedure as indicated.

Removing Soiled Gloves

16. Use dominant hand to grasp the opposite glove near cuff end on the outside exposed area. Remove it by pulling it off, inverting it as it is pulled, keeping the contaminated area on the inside. Hold the removed glove in the remaining gloved hand.

17. Slide fingers of ungloved hand between the remaining glove and the wrist. Take care to avoid touching the outside surface of the glove. Remove it by pulling it off, inverting it as it is pulled, keeping the contaminated area on the inside, and securing the first glove inside the second.

18. Discard gloves in appropriate container. 

19. Perform hand hygiene.

EVALUATION

• Gloves are applied and removed without contamination.

• Patient remains free of exposure to potential infection-causing microorganisms.

• Patient does not exhibit signs and symptoms of a latex-allergy 

response.

DOCUMENTATION

1. It is not usually necessary to document the addition of sterile items 

to a sterile field. 

2. Document the use of sterile technique performed for any procedure using sterile technique.