Applying sterile gloves

Definitions & Key takeaways

Sterile gloves are a type of single-use glove that are free from germs and microorganisms. Healthcare providers apply sterile gloves to protect themself and prevent the spreading of infections while performing medical procedures, such as wound dressing. When applying sterile gloves, one must follow all the steps like washing hands appropriately and drying them up. Sterile gloves are put on by holding the glove by the cuff, and using the other hand to snap the fingers of the glove into place one at a time.

To take them off, you pinch the outside cuff of one hand without touching the wrist, and pull it off. Using the still-gloved hand, scrunch up the removed glove and envelop it in the gloved hand. Using the ungloved hand, reach under the cuff of the still-gloved hand, and pull the glove off. Discard the gloves appropriately, and wash your hands.

Watch video only
Hello. This video covers how to apply sterile gloves.
Normally you do everything on this list, but to keep things concise, this video will focus on the steps in blue and a summary, there are no shortage of glove sizes to choose.
Make sure your gloves are not too small or too large tight gloves, risk tearing and loose ones can be tough to work with.
Watch out for latex allergies if you or your patient has a latex allergy, don't wear latex gloves, ensure the glove packaging is in good condition and free of water stains.
Inspect your hands, looking for cuts or scrapes, cover those abrasions with a sterile transparent dressing and wash your hands.
Always keep your hands above your waist. Anything below your waist is considered not sterile, open the outer packaging first, then remove and open inner packaging.
Spread the packaging in front of you. Let the inner packaging serve as your sterile work surface.
Always assume the first inch from the edge of the packaging is not sterile. Pick up the glove for your dominant hand by the inner cuff with your non dominant hand, insert your dominant hand into the glove while keeping your thumb tucked in, pull the cuff down to below your wrists, using your freshly gloved dominant hand, insert your fingers under the cuff, insert your non dominant hand into the glove again, keeping your thumb tucked in.
Pull the cuff down to below your wrists. A lot of resources will say to hold your hands up, interlock your fingers and let the cuffs fall to your wrists.
But in reality, if you've sized your gloves right, they should be tight enough that this isn't possible time to take off your gloves, pinch the outside cuff of one hand without touching the wrist and pull it off, turning the glove inside out in the process, using your still gloved hand, scrunch up that soon to be discarded glove, enveloping it in your gloved hand with the ungloved hand carefully, reach under the cup of the gloved hand and pull the glove off, leaving it inside out.
Throw those gloves out and wash those bare hands. If you find that one of your fingers is not fully in place in the glove or the glove is slightly twisted around your hand or fingers, it's ok to touch your gloves together to fix them.
Remember both ear, gloves are sterile. You just can't touch your glove with skin.