A medical gown, often categorized as an isolation or procedural gown, is a type of personal protective equipment (PPE) worn in healthcare settings. The primary function of this garment is to establish a physical barrier, shielding the wearer’s clothing and skin from potential contact with infectious liquids or solid materials. Gowns reduce the risk of transferring microorganisms between the wearer and the environment or a patient. They are an integral part of infection control strategy, providing broad protection against contamination during medical activities.
Preparation Before Donning
The process of putting on a medical gown begins with meticulous attention to cleanliness, which is fundamental to preventing infection transmission. You must first perform thorough hand hygiene, either by washing your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds or by using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. This ensures that the hands are clean before touching the gown, preventing the transfer of pathogens.
Before opening the gown, inspect the packaging and the gown itself. Look for any visible tears, holes, or signs of damage that could compromise the gown’s barrier integrity. A damaged gown cannot provide the intended level of protection and should be discarded immediately. Selecting the correct size is also important, as the gown must fully cover the torso from the neck to the knees and the arms to the end of the wrists to be effective.
Step-by-Step Gown Application
Once your hands are clean and the gown is inspected, carefully unfold it without allowing it to touch the floor or any contaminated surfaces. The gown should be oriented so that the opening is facing the back, allowing the solid front panel to cover the entirety of the wearer’s body. Slide your arms into the sleeves one at a time, taking care not to touch the outside surface of the gown with your bare hands.
After the arms are through, secure the gown at the neck to maintain continuous coverage. Reach behind your head and fasten the neck ties or adjust the neck closure so it fits snugly and prevents the gown from slipping down. Securing the neck first helps anchor the gown in place for the next step. Following this, the gown should be brought around the body to wrap the torso completely.
The next step is to secure the waist ties, ensuring the gown wraps fully around the back for maximum coverage. If the gown is a wrap-around style, you may need to pull the ties from the front around to the back to tie them together in a bow or knot. For isolation gowns, the ties are typically secured at the back to close the gap. The goal is to fully cover any exposed clothing from the neck down, as the front and sleeves of the gown are considered the primary zones of protection.
Completing the PPE Sequence
The medical gown is the first item applied in the widely recommended sequence for donning personal protective equipment. This order is deliberately structured to minimize the risk of self-contamination during the entire process. Following the gown, the next items in the sequence are typically the mask or respirator, and then the eye protection, such as goggles or a face shield.
The final step in the sequence is putting on the gloves, which must be done in a specific way to create a seamless barrier. The cuffs of the gloves need to be extended and pulled up over the cuffs of the gown’s sleeves. This technique ensures there is no exposed skin between the glove and the gown, eliminating a potential entry point for contaminants to reach the skin or clothing underneath.
The continuous barrier formed by overlapping the gloves and gown is a cornerstone of safe practice. Once all PPE is donned, a final check should be performed to confirm that the gown is properly tied and that the gloves fully cover the wrist openings. This complete ensemble provides the maximum level of protection for which the selected gown is rated, making the wearer ready to engage in their intended task.