Avoid use of latex products if the nurse suspects development of a latex allergy. Report symptoms to your personal physician as soon as possible. If the nurse has a latex allergy, be sure to avoid contact with latex products, avoid those areas where inhalation of powder from latex gloves worn by others is likely, notify your employer, physician, dentist, and co-workers that you have a latex allergy, and wear a medical alert bracelet. Stay informed about latex allergy. AMSN supports nurses in the development of latex safety policies and procedures, regardless of the practice area, for those areas that do not currently have these in place.
Nurses have a responsibility to promote a latex-safe environment for both the patient and the nurse.
Nurses have a professional responsibility to stay informed about latex allergy and practice. Additionally, the nurse must be aware of organizational policies and procedures regarding the use of latex products and how to maintain patient safety for a known individual with latex allergy. Nurses have the responsibility to proactively limit patient contact or and avoid repeated self exposure to natural rubber latex through skin contact or inhalation. AMSN believes individual nurses must be accountable for remaining informed about latex allergy. Also, the nurse must adequately educate and inform Unlicensed Assistive Personnel about latex allergy and how this may affect the care delivery to assigned patient populations.