Medline Challenges U.S. Hospitals to Help Soothe Healthcare Workers’ Hands in 10-Day Hand Care Challenge

Survey finds only 4 percent of nurses are content with the condition of their hands while on the job

Mundelein, Ill., Feb. 23, 2015 – Healthcare workers, if you have dry, irritated skin as a result of frequent hand washing and sanitizing, raise your hands.

Today, Mundelein, Ill.-based medical supplier Medline Industries, Inc. asks hospitals across the U.S. whose nurses struggle with dry, irritated skin on the job, to try its Restore™ nitrile exam gloves coated with colloidal oatmeal and take a hand care challenge.

The Restore nitrile glove is designed to help soothe healthcare professionals’ hands by helping to maintain the skin’s moisture to prevent and protect dry skin. It is made with colloidal oatmeal, a USP skin protectant drug that can temporarily protect and help relieve minor skin irritation and itching from rashes or eczema, as indicated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Hands are a caregiver’s most valuable set of tools, but they often become the most vulnerable tools as a result of constant hand washing, scrubbing and sanitizing,” says Martie Moore, R.N., MAOM, CPHQ, chief nursing officer, Medline. “This challenge is a simple way to bring greater attention to the important link between hand hygiene compliance and skin care.”

Click To Tweet: Learn why skin care and hand hygiene compliance should go hand-in-hand at www.medline.com/restore-gloves

Positive Results and Feedback

Preliminary results show Restore nitrile gloves resonate with nurses. Medline, in collaboration with Scrubs magazine, recently challenged a panel of nurses from across the country to see if Restore nitrile gloves could help soothe and soften their hands. After 10 days, here’s what they had to say:

• Overall, 74 percent experience problem hands frequently or at least several times per week.
• 78 percent said their hands felt soft at work after wearing Restore nitrile gloves. Prior to the challenge, only 1 percent had said their hands felt soft at work.
• 70 percent said their hands felt moisturized as a result of wearing Restore nitrile gloves. Prior to the challenge, no participants felt their current gloves made their hands feel moisturized.
• 82 percent were content with the condition of their hands at work after wearing Restore nitrile gloves. Prior to the challenge, only 4 percent were content with the condition of their hands at work.
• Additionally, 92 percent said they would recommend the Restore nitrile gloves to others.

Click to Tweet: #RestoreChallenge survey says 74 percent of nurses experience problem hands at least several times per week

This past fall, nurses from ProHealth Waukesha Memorial Hospital in Waukesha, Wis., also trialed Restore nitrile gloves and the feedback was overwhelming.

“Hand hygiene is non-negotiable. It’s the number one thing healthcare workers can do to prevent the spread of infection and keep patients safe,” says Barb Olstad, BSN, MS, RNC, clinical manager, Waukesha Memorial Hospital. “When nurses’ hands hurt from irritated or dry skin, maintaining moisture and relief in a pair of gloves can definitely help the well-being of staff and that’s what we found while using Restore.”

For Softer, Smoother Skin among Staff, Take the Challenge!

Nurses have spoken and the results are strong. It’s now time for facilities to try out Restore nitrile gloves. Join the Hand Care Challenge at: www.medline.com/restorechallenge. Facilities will need to take a 10-day break from the usual gloves they don and replace them with the Restore nitrile glove, to experience how Restore nitrile gloves can help soothe and moisturize clinician hands. After 10 days, tell us what you think—send us your feedback and any photos.

A number of skin studies have examined how clinician hands compare to those who don’t participate in frequent hand washing and conclude that healthcare workers are vulnerable to dry skin more than any other group of professionals.

In an informal poll from Medline University, more than 70 percent of nurses said they would be more compliant about hand hygiene if their hands felt better.

“From assessing a patient to consoling family members, hands are critical and we need to change our thinking about how to protect them,” says Moore. 

For guidelines or more information on the hand care challenge, go to: www.medline.com/restorechallenge.

About the Restore Nitrile Exam Glove with Colloidal Oatmeal

As part of a patented technology designed to protect and nourish the skin, Restore nitrile gloves are coated with colloidal oatmeal. The layer of colloidal oatmeal between the skin and the glove contributes to a more comfortable and moisturizing environment where sweating and irritation can be common. Learn more at: http://www.medline.com/restore-gloves.

About Medline

As the nation's largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of quality medical supplies and services, Medline offers healthcare products and services that drive value through tailored solutions across the continuum of care. Named one of the country’s "Best and Brightest Companies to Work For,” the company is headquartered in Mundelein, Ill. and has more than 1,200 dedicated sales representatives to support its broad product line and cost management services. For more information on Medline, go to www.medline.com or www.medline.com/social-media to connect with Medline on a variety of social media channels.