Medical School with Latex Gloves?

[peters_bb]

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I'm allergic to latex and this worries me because latex seems to be a prominent part of medical school. Latex gloves are all around, and when you have to use your hands, you're expected to glove up. Furthermore, I want to go in to emergency surgery, and hospitals mainly have latex gloves. I don't think they keep a plentiful, easily available supply of non-latex gloves for their surgeons. Sometimes I wonder if it would possible to use a plastic bag material for gloves, like the gloves the people who work at Subway wear. I just thought of this issue because of an interview I recently had in which my interviewer questioned me if I was handicapped. I did not inform him that I'm allergic to latex, which I think is perhaps a major disability for medical school. I don't know why my interviewer asked me if I was handicapped, but maybe he could tell my skin was allergic to latex. I'm thinking of proving to medical schools that I'm disease-free, and then asking them for permission to not wear gloves at all when I have to use my hands. I don't know, I'm troubled by this whole thing.

I tried to convince my interviewer that I am not handicapped, but I sensed he didn't quite believe me.

 

[DoctorPardi]

The OR I work at uses absolutely no latex gloves. They use those weird blue gloves for non-surgical things and during surgery they have non-latex surgical gloves they use too.

Also at this hospital the nurses are always asking what size and type gloves the surgeons wear, even the residents so I think whatever you prefer will be available.

 

[OSUdoc08]

I'm allergic to latex and this worries me because latex seems to be a prominent part of medical school. Latex gloves are all around, and when you have to use your hands, you're expected to glove up. Furthermore, I want to go in to emergency surgery, and hospitals mainly have latex gloves. I don't think they keep a plentiful, easily available supply of non-latex gloves for their surgeons. Sometimes I wonder if it would possible to use a plastic bag material for gloves, like the gloves the people who work at Subway wear. I just thought of this issue because of an interview I recently had in which my interviewer questioned me if I was handicapped. I did not inform him that I'm allergic to latex, which I think is perhaps a major disability for medical school. I don't know why my interviewer asked me if I was handicapped, but maybe he could tell my skin was allergic to latex. I'm thinking of proving to medical schools that I'm disease-free, and then asking them for permission to not wear gloves at all when I have to use my hands. I don't know, I'm troubled by this whole thing.

I tried to convince my interviewer that I am not handicapped, but I sensed he didn't quite believe me.

Every medical school and hospital is required to supply non-latex gloves. You can use vinyl or nitrile gloves.

Why would you not wear non-latex gloves? This doesn't make any sense.

No, you can't just not use gloves.

By the way, allergies are not a handicap. Sorry.

 

[thesauce]

I'm allergic to latex and this worries me because latex seems to be a prominent part of medical school. Latex gloves are all around, and when you have to use your hands, you're expected to glove up. Furthermore, I want to go in to emergency surgery, and hospitals mainly have latex gloves. I don't think they keep a plentiful, easily available supply of non-latex gloves for their surgeons. Sometimes I wonder if it would possible to use a plastic bag material for gloves, like the gloves the people who work at Subway wear. I just thought of this issue because of an interview I recently had in which my interviewer questioned me if I was handicapped. I did not inform him that I'm allergic to latex, which I think is perhaps a major disability for medical school. I don't know why my interviewer asked me if I was handicapped, but maybe he could tell my skin was allergic to latex. I'm thinking of proving to medical schools that I'm disease-free, and then asking them for permission to not wear gloves at all when I have to use my hands. I don't know, I'm troubled by this whole thing.

I tried to convince my interviewer that I am not handicapped, but I sensed he didn't quite believe me.

In anatomy lab, everyone has the option of using the nitrile gloves instead. I noticed that there are several non-latex options in the ER and I suspect that surgeons have the same options as well. Medical school can accommodate this kind of disability so try not to worry too much about it. Good luck to you.

 

[Thundrstorm]

I think I smell a troll. Worrying about latex gloves is normal, but stating that he is disease free and wants to go bare-handed, or use plastic restaurant gloves... come on people. Maybe his interviewer could tell his skin was allergic?

 

[peters_bb]

In anatomy lab, everyone has the option of using the nitrile gloves instead. I noticed that there are several non-latex options in the ER and I suspect that surgeons have the same options as well. Medical school can accommodate this kind of disability so try not to worry too much about it. Good luck to you.

I know there probably are options for the latex-impaired, but I don't want preferential treatment, and I don't want to have to hassle people. I don't understand why, if you're disease-free, you can't just work bare-handed. In the old days surgeons used to do that. I understand for anatomy lab that there are nitrile gloves, but for day-to-day procedures, like drawing blood or administering an IV, it seems that latex is all there is. I don't like to think of myself as handicapped.

 

[SailCrazy]

I think I smell a troll. Worrying about latex gloves is normal, but stating that he is disease free and wants to go bare-handed, or use plastic restaurant gloves... come on people. Maybe his interviewer could tell his skin was allergic?

I have the same suspicions!

 

[JonnyG]

more and more hospitals are going latex free because of the allergy. Its simpler for them because they dont know if a patient is allergic.

 

[peters_bb]

Oh ok, thanks.

 

[sscooterguy]

I know there probably are options for the latex-impaired, but I don't want preferential treatment, and I don't want to have to hassle people. I don't understand why, if you're disease-free, you can't just work bare-handed. In the old days surgeons used to do that. I understand for anatomy lab that there are nitrile gloves, but for day-to-day procedures, like drawing blood or administering an IV, it seems that latex is all there is. I don't like to think of myself as handicapped.

Surgeons in the olden days also used to kill more people then they helped. People used to go to hospitals to die. Everyone used to call Lister an idiot, even though he had people clean their hands to protect the patient. Also, even if you are so called disease free, you have bacteria in your hands, in the cracks, and under your fingernails. Gloves are there to protect you as well as the patient. Any one can use latex free gloves, not just if you or your patient is allergic. And finally, I don't know what programs you've been to, but most med students and doctors in the United States don't do day to day blood draws or administer IV's, unless its a central line and in that case you have to be sterile. Sure you learn to do blood draws, and maybe also get comfortable doing them, but I haven't seen one program where you do it every day.

 

[tigress]

lol this guy is totally a troll

But, in case anybody really is worried about this issue -- many hospitals these days are completely latex-free, for the safety of the patients, and I really think almost all hospitals will be within a few years.

My husband has a latex allergy and it has not been a problem in med school. Everybody had to provide their own gloves for gross anatomy, anyway. Any other situation he's been in he's just made sure to have a few pairs of gloves in his pocket just in case others aren't available. He hasn't started rotations yet, but because of what I said above about hospitals going latex-free, I don't foresee this being a problem. Unfortunately, the less-well-funded hospitals tend to still have a ton of latex (because latex-free is more expensive). And basic science labs seem to have almost all latex, in my experience. At least it's possible now. My mother knows somebody who had to actually stop practicing as a dentist about 15 years ago because she developed a latex allergy.

 

[BaylorGuy]

lol this guy is totally a troll

But, in case anybody really is worried about this issue -- many hospitals these days are completely latex-free, for the safety of the patients, and I really think almost all hospitals will be within a few years.

My husband has a latex allergy and it has not been a problem in med school. Everybody had to provide their own gloves for gross anatomy, anyway. Any other situation he's been in he's just made sure to have a few pairs of gloves in his pocket just in case others aren't available. He hasn't started rotations yet, but because of what I said above about hospitals going latex-free, I don't foresee this being a problem. Unfortunately, the less-well-funded hospitals tend to still have a ton of latex (because latex-free is more expensive). And basic science labs seem to have almost all latex, in my experience. At least it's possible now. My mother knows somebody who had to actually stop practicing as a dentist about 15 years ago because she developed a latex allergy.

I agree here...i dont know about most hospitals, but i wouldnt be suprised if a majority have access to both latex and non-latex gloves.

For gross anatomy, i have heard that it is better to use the big blue nitrile gloves (some call them super-hero gloves considering they go up to your freaking elbow). Why you may ask?? apparently it cuts down on the smell of formalin or phenol or whatever preservative the school uses.

As for surgery gloves, those gloves can be both latex or nitrile. The reason why nurses ask what kind of gloves you want is because they individually sized (I.E. 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, etc...not small, medium, large). Surgery gloves tend to have a little more flour/cornstarch in them....why? i dont know

After working in a lab for the better part of a year, its possible to get a latex allergy, especially after fiddliing with it day after day after day. i sometimes get mild rashes on my hands, but nothing that requires me to stop what i'm doing....its ust really irritating at times.

 

[tigress]

After working in a lab for the better part of a year, its possible to get a latex allergy, especially after fiddliing with it day after day after day. i sometimes get mild rashes on my hands, but nothing that requires me to stop what i'm doing....its ust really irritating at times.

This is how my husband developed his allergy, after about 1.5 years full time in the lab. He went to the dermatologist, who started asking about lotions and soaps and things. My husband said, "I think the most pertinent detail here is that I work in a laboratory," after which the doctor said "ahhhh" and diagnosed him with a latex allergy on the spot 😛 After switching to nitrile his bloody hands cleared up (well, with the help of steroid cream at first)!

BaylorGuy, I'd suggest using nitrile whenever possible if you're having any sort of rashes. It can progress fairly rapidly, and not only is it incredibly painful on the hands, but it can progress to a respiratory/anaphalactic reaction as well, which is dangerous.

 

[finch]

In addition to gloves, doesn't a lot of medical equipment also have latex in it? I know that my orthodontist gave up practice a few years ago because her latex allergy became too severe to deal with. I don't think that gloves were her only problem (I'm pretty sure she would have just bought latex-free)- I was under the impression that most of the equipment in her office also had latex in it. Its possible that I was mistaken, though.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Can someone ban this troll before we get any more of his stupid posts? I mean so far we've gone through acrobatics, STD's and now latex gloves......

 

[futuremd22283]

Many hospitals will not be able to go completely latex free merely because of financial reasons. However, all hospitals are required to be able to create a latex free environment for employees or patients with an allergy. Whenever we get a patient w/ an allergy to latex, we have latex free carts that we place right outside of the patient's room. Whenever anyone wants to do anything in that patient's room, they have to be certain that all equipment is latex free. It is a very effecient and convenient way of keeping things safe. As far as employees go, the hospital is required to supply the employee w/ an allergy with the proper equipment to keep them safe. Hope this helps.

 

[C.P. Jones]

Why would you not wear non-latex gloves? This doesn't make any sense.

b/c non-latex gloves suck...they are really thick, and offer less control, and they don't stretch well

 

[DropkickMurphy]

I actually prefer nitrile gloves.....but for really messy trauma you can't beat the super thick latex gloves.

 

[prana_md]

Can someone ban this troll before we get any more of his stupid posts? I mean so far we've gone through acrobatics, STD's and now latex gloves......

But if you combined them, there's a lot of folk who would pay money to talk about *that*

non-latex options are everywhere in the hospital ... they're usually some bright color so you can identify them easily. kits, ie chest tube trays, etc, will have a list of what is and isn't latex in them. I think latex sensitivity is pretty common ... maybe a recessive gene expressing itself among trolls?

 

[DropkickMurphy]

I was thinking the same thing- that the combination of latex, STD's and acrobatics sounds like an interesting idea for a porno......albeit a very strange one.