Applying Sterile Gloves
Key Points
- Sterile gloves are manufacturer-sterilized and packaged to remain pathogen-free until opened correctly.
- Sterile gloves are used for invasive procedures or sterile-site/body-cavity contact (for example central-line dressing changes and urinary catheter insertion).
- Only the inner cuff area may be touched during initial glove pickup to protect sterility.
- Hands must remain above waist and in visual field after donning to avoid sterile break.
Equipment
- Sterile glove package in correct size
- Clean and dry work surface
- Backup sterile glove pair in case sterility is broken
- Hand hygiene resources
Procedure Steps
- Perform hand hygiene and confirm sterile-procedure indication.
- Choose correct glove size (snug fit without excessive tightness).
- Place package on a clean, dry surface and don away from an already-established sterile field when possible.
- Open glove package using outside flaps (top flap away from body, bottom flap toward body, then side flaps) and keep inner package on a clean, dry surface at waist level; maintain awareness that 1 in (2.5 cm) border is nonsterile.
- With nondominant hand, pick up opposite glove by touching only inner cuff.
- Insert dominant hand into first glove with fingers flat and thumb tucked, keeping glove above field/work surface (about 12-18 inches from table) without contacting nonsterile surfaces.
- Keep gloved hand above waist.
- With gloved dominant hand, slide four fingers under cuff of second glove (thumb extended away), lift it from package, and avoid touching nonsterile wrapper surfaces.
- Insert nondominant hand into second glove while preventing glove contact with bare skin.
- Adjust finger fit as needed and interlock gloved fingers briefly to seat gloves while maintaining hands above waist and within visual field.
Common Errors
- Touching outer glove surface with bare hand → sterility break.
- Lowering gloved hands below waist → gloves become nonsterile.
- Reaching outside visual field while gloved → unrecognized contamination risk.
- Continuing after sterility break without replacement gloves → unsafe procedure conditions.
Related
- preparing-and-maintaining-a-sterile-field - Sterile glove use depends on field-setup and sterility-preservation rules.
- asepsis-in-nursing-care - Foundational aseptic principles guide sterile and clean technique choices.