Which patient care task requires the nurse to wear barrier gloves?

• A. Emptying the urinary catheter drainage bag for a client with Alzheimer's disease
• B. Giving a routine oral medication
• C. Assisting with a hair wash
• D. Administering an IV push medication

Answer: (A)

Barrier gloves are used whenever there is potential contact with bodily fluids to prevent infection spread. Emptying a urinary catheter drainage bag involves handling urine, a body fluid that can carry pathogens, so wearing barrier gloves protects your hands and helps prevent cross-contamination. The other tasks do not routinely require barrier gloves for standard care: routine oral medications involve no exposure to body fluids, assisting with a hair wash typically involves washables and water rather than body fluids, and administering an IV push is a different procedure with its own precautions.