Page 195 - Essentials of Nursing Leadership and Management, 5th Edition

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182 unit 3 | Professional Issues CikguOnline
table 12-2
Latex Equipment
Emergency Equipment Personal Protective Equipment Office Supplies Hospital Supplies
Blood pressure cuffs Gloves Rubber bands Anesthesia masks
Stethoscopes Surgical masks Erasers Catheters
Disposable gloves Goggles Wound drains
Oral and nasal airways Respirators Injection ports
Endotracheal tubes Rubber aprons Rubber tops of multi-dose vials
Tourniquets Dental dams
IV tubing Hot water bottles
Syringes Baby bottle nipples
Electrode pads Pacifiers
Adapted from OSHA latex allergy: osha-slc.gov/SLTC/latexallergy/index; and OSHA latex alert: cdc.gov/niosh/latexalt?

Latex allergy should be suspected if an employee ■ Use latex-free procedure trays and crash carts.
develops symptoms after latex exposures. A com- ■ Use nonlatex gloves for activities that do not
plete medical history can reveal latex sensitivity, involve contact with infectious materials.
and blood tests approved by the U.S.Food and Drug ■ Avoid using oil-based creams or lotions, which
Administration are available to detect latex antibod- can cause glove deterioration.
ies.Skin testing and glove-use tests are also available. ■ Seek ongoing training and the latest informa-
Compete latex avoidance is the most effective tion related to latex allergy.
approach. Medications may reduce allergic symp- ■ Wash, rinse, and dry hands thoroughly after
toms, and special precautions are needed to prevent removing gloves or between glove changes.
exposure during medical and dental care. ■ Use powder-free gloves.
Encourage employees with a latex allergy to wear a
In spite of all precautions, what do you do if you
medical alert bracelet.
develop a latex allergy? At this point, never wear
Decreasing the potential for development of latex
latex gloves. Be aware of the following precautions
allergy consists of reducing unnecessary exposure to
(nursingworld.org/dlwa/osh/wp7):
NRL proteins for health-care workers. Many
employees in a health-care setting,such as food han-
■ Avoid all types of latex exposure.
dlers or gardeners, can use alternative gloves. If an
■ Wear a medical alert bracelet.
employee must use NRL gloves, gloves with a lower
■ Carry an Epi-kit with auto-injectible epinephrine.
protein content and those that are powder-free
■ Alert employers and colleagues to your latex
should be considered. Good housekeeping practices
sensitivity.
should be identified to remove latex-containing dust
■ Carry nonlatex gloves.
from the workplace. Employee education programs
to ensure appropriate work practices and hand wash- OSHA “right to know” laws require employers to
ing should be encouraged. Identification of employ- inform health-care workers of potentially danger-
ees with increased potential for latex allergies is not ous substances in the workplace. For continuing
possible. However, clinical evidence indicates that information on latex allergies, see the NIOSH
certain workers may be at greater risk, including home page at cdc.gov/niosh
those with histories of allergies to pollens, grasses, Patients as well as workers are at risk and should
and certain foods or plants (avocado, banana, kiwi, be screened for allergies. Patients with a history of
chestnut) and histories of multiple surgeries. hay fever, food allergies (especially to bananas, avo-
Decrease the potential for latex allergy problems cados, potatoes, tomatoes), asthma, or eczema can
(cdc.gov/niosh/98-113): be at risk.Taking a thorough health history is vital.
Treat any indication of potential latex sensitivity
■ Evaluate any cases of hand dermatitis or other seriously (Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and
signs or symptoms of potential latex allergy. Associates, 2001). As of 2006, most health-care