Which item is donned first when entering a room with droplet precautions?

Prepare for the Nurse Aide I Module B – Infection Prevention Test. Leverage multiple choice questions, detailed flashcards, and comprehensive explanations. Ensure your readiness for the exam!

Starting with the gown creates the initial barrier between your clothes/skin and the environment, which is essential for any room with droplet precautions. Donning the gown first protects you as you put on the rest of the PPE, helping prevent contamination of yourself and of the other items. After the gown, you would secure the mask to cover the nose and mouth, then put on eye protection if there’s a risk of splashes, and finally don gloves last so your hands are protected when you handle the other PPE and surfaces.

If you tried to put on a mask or gloves first, you’d risk contaminating those items or your skin as you adjust everything else, which defeats the purpose of the protective barrier. So the gown is the first piece to don because it starts the sequence of creating a clean, protected barrier as you complete the rest of the PPE.