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PPE Donning & Doffing
Sequence

Master the correct order for putting on and removing personal protective equipment to prevent self-contamination.

NCLEX-RN

What Is PPE?

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is specialized clothing and equipment worn by healthcare workers to create a barrier against infectious agents and protect both the nurse and the patient.

Two Key Terms

Donning
The process of putting on PPE before patient contact. Done outside the patient room.
Doffing
The process of removing PPE after patient contact. Highest contamination risk, mostly done inside the room or doorway.

Why Order Matters

PPE is removed in the reverse priority of contamination. The goal is to remove the dirtiest items first while keeping your face and skin protected the longest.

1
Protect the face last. The mask comes off only after dirtier items are gone.
2
Hand hygiene is performed between steps and at the end.
3
Touch clean surfaces with clean hands and contaminated surfaces only with gloved or about-to-be-washed hands.

The Donning Sequence

1
Hand hygiene
2
Gown
3
Mask or respirator
4
Goggles or face shield
5
Gloves (last, pulled over gown cuffs)

The Doffing Sequence

1
Gloves
2
Goggles or face shield
3
Gown
4
Mask or respirator (remove outside room)
5
Hand hygiene

Donning vs. Doffing at a Glance

DONNING DOFFING 2. Gown 3. Mask 4. Goggles 5. Gloves 1. Gloves 2. Goggles 3. Gown 4. Mask Hand hygiene before AND after both

Gloves: First or Last?

A common point of confusion: gloves are last on, first off. They are the dirtiest item after contact, so they must be removed before you touch anything else.

DonningDoffing
Gloves positionLast (5th)First (1st)
Mask position3rdLast (4th)
Hand hygieneBefore donningAfter doffing

How to Apply It

1
Identify the precaution. Confirm contact, droplet, or airborne isolation before approaching.
2
Perform hand hygiene. Always the first action when donning.
3
Don in order: gown, mask, goggles, gloves.
4
Doff in reverse priority: gloves, goggles, gown, then mask outside the room.
5
Perform hand hygiene again after all PPE is removed.

Example 1: Order the Donning

A nurse is preparing to enter a contact-isolation room. She has already performed hand hygiene. What is the correct order to put on the remaining PPE?

Example 2: First Item to Remove

A nurse finishes caring for a patient on droplet precautions. Her gloves are visibly soiled. What is the first item she should remove, and where?

Example 3: N95 Respirator

A nurse leaves an airborne-isolation room wearing an N95 respirator. When should the respirator be removed?

Common Mistakes

✕ Mask off first
Removing the mask early exposes the face while hands are still contaminated.
✕ Gloves on too early
Donning gloves before the gown leaves cuffs exposed and unsealed.
✕ Skipping hand hygiene
Forgetting hand hygiene after doffing transfers pathogens onward.
✕ Removing respirator inside
Taking off an N95 in an airborne room exposes the nurse to aerosols.

Summary Table

StepDonning OrderDoffing Order
1Hand hygieneGloves
2GownGoggles
3MaskGown
4GogglesMask (outside room)
5GlovesHand hygiene

Question 1 of 5

When donning PPE, which item is put on last?

Question 2 of 5

During doffing, which item should be removed first?

Question 3 of 5

A nurse wearing an N95 respirator exits an airborne-isolation room. When should the respirator be removed?

Question 4 of 5

What is the very first action a nurse takes when donning PPE?

Question 5 of 5

Which statement about doffing PPE is correct?

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