What is the correct sequence for donning PPE before resident care under standard precautions?

• A. Hand hygiene, gown, mask, eye protection, and gloves, in that order.
• B. Gown, mask, eye protection, gloves, and hand hygiene.
• C. Hand hygiene, gloves, gown, mask, eye protection.
• D. Hand hygiene, gown, gloves, mask, eye protection.

Answer: (A)

Donning PPE in the right order is about building a clean-to-dirty barrier so you don’t contaminate yourself or the resident. Start with hand hygiene because clean hands are the foundation—anything you touch after this will be protected by the rest of your PPE. Next, put on the gown to protect your clothing and skin from potential splashes or contact with contaminants. Then don the mask to guard your nose and mouth from inhaling or spreading droplets. If there’s a risk of splashes to the eyes, add eye protection after the mask. Finally, put on the gloves to shield your hands during resident care and to prevent touching other PPE with unclean hands. Gloves are last so you don’t contaminate the other PPE while putting them on, and you know your hands are clean before handling the gloves.