When should a nurse wear gloves while caring for clients?

Wearing gloves during oral hygiene is essential for several reasons. When providing oral care, there is a risk of exposure to bodily fluids such as saliva, which can carry pathogens. Gloves serve as a barrier to protect both the nurse and the patient from potential transmission of infections.

Additionally, wearing gloves helps maintain a clean environment, especially in the presence of any oral lesions or open sores in the patient, which could increase the risk of cross-contamination. This practice is part of standard precautions in infection control, ensuring that healthcare workers minimize risks to themselves and their clients during procedures that involve contact with mucous membranes or bodily fluids.

While gloves are also important for other tasks such as administering medications, taking vital signs, and in some cases, during conversations when there's a risk of exposure, the most critical time among the given choices is during direct care activities that involve bodily fluids, like oral hygiene.