What is required for closed gloving when relieving a surgical technologist?

For closed gloving when relieving a surgical technologist, it is essential to use a sterile gown and gloves that are opened on a separate table. This approach ensures that the surgical team maintains a sterile environment, which is crucial in an operating room setting. The process of closed gloving involves putting on gloves over a gown without exposing the hands to gloved surfaces, thereby reducing the risk of contamination.

Having a sterile gown readily available is important because it provides complete coverage of the arms and body, while the separate table allows for a more organized and sterile setup, within which the surgical personnel can safely dress without risking contamination from other surfaces or instruments in the main instrument table. This practice highlights the importance of maintaining strict sterility standards in the operating room, which is key to preventing infections and ensuring patient safety during surgical procedures.

In contrast, simply using gloves alone or relying on a gown from the main instrument table would not provide the required level of sterility or safety, and the notion that preparation is not necessary undermines the critical protocols that are in place to protect patients and staff during surgical interventions.