Donning: The Trained Observers’s Role in Donning

With donning, the goal is to minimize the amount of direct contact assistance you provide. If you do provide assistance in doffing, remember always to disinfect your gloves. This hand hygiene step must be followed every time you touch possibly contaminated equipment. Hand hygiene may seem time consuming, but it is critical for safety and a good method of pacing the doffing process.

The Trained Observer’s role in the donning process has three major components. First and foremost, you are to guide the healthcare provider through donning according to the checklist. All instructions from the checklist need to be verbally confirmed – closing the communications loop – before they are acted on. Assuring successful completion of each donning step is one of your major roles.

Second, as you are both in a clean area, you may, if needed, assist the health care provider in donning their PPE as necessary. Third, to ensure safety, continually scan your colleagues’ PPE and the environment for possible contamination risks during donning.

The checklist is a memory aid that structures the donning process. Its details are important, but they are not your only focus. The big picture here is keeping your colleague, and yourself, safe by identifying and avoiding contamination risks.