A nurse is caring for a client who is on isolation precautions. Which of the following pieces of personal protective equipment should the nurse remove first?

A. Eyewear: Eye protection should be removed after the gown and gloves to prevent contamination from contact with surfaces or clothing. Removing it too early could expose the nurse to infectious materials on the hands or clothing. B. Gown: The gown should be removed after gloves to avoid transferring contaminants from the gown to clean hands. Proper technique includes turning the gown inward and rolling it away from the body. C. Mask: The mask is removed last to maintain protection while other contaminated PPE is being removed. This prevents inhalation of droplets or contact with respiratory secretions during the removal process. D. Gloves: Gloves are the most contaminated piece of PPE and should be removed first to prevent the spread of infectious material to other surfaces or to the nurse’s skin. Proper glove removal reduces cross-contamination risk during the rest of the PPE doffing process.