title: Factors influencing glove use in student nurses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gloves can prevent infection but their use among student nurses is inconsistent.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore pre-registration student nurses' views of non-sterile glove use in clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online survey was conducted and focus groups carried out among third-year student nurses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The online survey showed that gloves were often worn inappropriately, while the focus groups revealed students conformed to their mentors' use of gloves.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Student nurses' decisions on wearing gloves seem to be based on the culture of the clinical care environment rather than trust policy. Glove overuse deprives patients of therapeutic touch and may lead to contact dermatitis in nurses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All student nurses must be able to identify clinical situations when gloves are not indicated, using appropriate risk assessment.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ratcliffe
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D017575:Gloves, Protective / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015279:Organizational Culture; D011159:Population Surveillance; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult