PPE Use in Healthcare Settings I: Donning

Before donning PPE, remove jewelry, tie hair back, and put away your mobile phone. Ensure adequate hydration and use the restroom. Perform hand hygiene as the final preparation step. Gather and inspect all PPE equipment for tears, holes, or damage. These pre-donning steps are critical to prevent exposure to pathogens and ensure proper protection.

The systematic sequence for donning PPE is: shoe covers first, followed by the gown, then mask or respirator, eye protection such as goggles or face shield, and finally gloves. This specific order is critical to avoid exposure to infectious agents. Following the institutional policy and maintaining this sequence ensures comprehensive protection during patient contact.

Select the appropriate gown size and type to cover your torso from neck to below the knees and arms to the wrists. Ensure the gown covers your back completely. Securely tie the gown at both the neck and waist to prevent gaps. Proper gown fit is essential for protecting against infectious agents and maintaining barrier integrity throughout patient care.

Place the mask or respirator to cover your nose, mouth, and chin adequately. Fit the flexible nose piece over the nose bridge and secure the mask on your head with ties or elastic. For respirators, perform a fit-check by inhaling to confirm collapse and exhaling to check for leakage around the face. Proper fit prevents pathogen exposure.

Don eye protection by grasping only the earpieces; never touch the front lenses to avoid contamination. Secure the face shield on your brow with the headband. Proper handling of eye protection prevents contamination of the lens surface and ensures clear vision during patient care while maintaining barrier protection.

Gloves must cover the gown cuffs to create a continuous protective barrier and prevent skin exposure at the wrist. Select gloves of appropriate type and size for proper fit and dexterity. This overlap ensures no gap exists between the gown and gloves, maintaining complete protection against infectious agents during patient contact.

Keep your hands away from your face and limit surfaces touched while wearing PPE. Change gloves immediately if they become torn or heavily contaminated, then repeat hand hygiene. These practices prevent self-contamination and reduce transmission of pathogens. Maintaining awareness of hand placement and glove integrity throughout patient care is essential for infection prevention.