When is it appropriate to wear a gown and gloves during resident care?

• A. When you anticipate contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, contaminated equipment, or non-intact skin.
• B. When resident offers a handshake.
• C. Always after washing hands.
• D. Only when feeding residents.

Answer: (B)

Wearing a gown and gloves is about protecting yourself and the resident whenever you expect to come into contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, contaminated equipment, or skin that isn’t intact. The correct choice describes donning PPE in those situations where exposure to fluids or contaminated items could occur. A handshake, by itself, doesn’t involve exposure to fluids or contaminated materials, so gloves and a gown aren’t routinely required for that interaction. Remember that PPE use is based on the likelihood of exposure during a task, not on a social gesture or a fixed after-washing rule. Use gloves and/or a gown during procedures or care activities that could cause splashes or skin or clothing contamination, and remove them with proper hand hygiene once the task is done.