How To Put On PPE In The Correct Order | Stay Protected

If you work with patients, personal protective equipment is part of daily life. Knowing how to put it on in the right sequence keeps droplets, body fluids, and other hazards away from your skin and clothing. When you follow how to put on ppe in the correct order every time, you lower the chance of self-contamination and keep everyone around you safer.

This guide walks through the standard donning sequence used in many hospitals and clinics, with practical details you can use on a busy shift. Local procedures may adjust small details, so always match these steps with the policy in your workplace.

What Personal Protective Equipment Includes

PPE is a group of items that create a barrier between you and infectious material. The exact set depends on the task, but the logic stays the same: protect the parts of your body most likely to be exposed.

Common items include:

• Disposable gloves.
• Isolation gown or apron.
• Surgical mask or particulate respirator such as an N95.
• Goggles or a face shield.
• Head cover and shoe covers in some settings.

Each piece does a specific job. Gloves shield your hands during procedures. A gown shields your arms and clothing. Masks and respirators protect your nose and mouth from droplets or airborne particles. Eye protection stops splashes and sprays from reaching your eyes.

The order matters because every added layer should sit over the one before it. That way, the parts that are most likely to collect contamination are also the parts that you remove last when you take PPE off.

Standard PPE Donning Order Step-By-Step

International guidance from groups such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) describes a standard donning sequence: hand hygiene, gown, mask or respirator, eye protection, then gloves. This section walks through each stage with detail you can apply in real work.

Step 1: Perform Hand Hygiene

Start with clean hands. Use an alcohol-based hand rub if hands are not visibly soiled, or wash with soap and water if they are. Rub all surfaces of your hands, including thumbs, fingertips, and between fingers, until they are dry.

This step removes organisms you would otherwise carry inside your gloves and onto the rest of your PPE.

Step 2: Put On The Gown

Pick a gown in the correct size so it covers from neck to knees and wrists, and wraps fully around your back. Place your arms into the sleeves, pull the gown over your shoulders, and tie or fasten it at the neck and waist.

Make sure cuffs sit at your wrist and the back is fully closed. If ties are difficult to reach, ask a colleague to secure them rather than leaving the gown hanging loose.

Step 3: Put On Mask Or Respirator

Next, protect your nose and mouth. For a surgical mask, secure ties or ear loops so the mask fits over the bridge of your nose and under your chin. Mold the metal strip snugly over your nose so air does not leak around the edges.

When you use a particulate respirator such as an N95, follow the fit procedure taught during your fit test. Place the respirator on your face, position the straps correctly, mold the nose piece, then do a seal check by gently inhaling and exhaling. You should not feel air leaking around the sides.

Step 4: Put On Goggles Or Face Shield

Eye protection sits over your mask or respirator. Place goggles or a face shield so they cover your eyes fully and sit comfortably. Check that you can move your head without the item slipping or leaving gaps.

The aim is to close the gap between the top of the mask and the eye protection so droplets cannot reach the eyes.

Step 5: Put On Gloves

Gloves go on last. Choose the correct size so they slide on smoothly but stay close to the skin. Pull each glove over the cuff of the gown so the wrist opening of the gown sits under the glove.

Look for tears or holes as you put them on. If you notice damage, change the glove right away before you touch any surfaces or patients.

Donning Sequence At A Glance

The table below summarizes the core sequence and the main checks for each step.

Step	PPE Item Or Action	Main Checks Before You Move On
1	Hand hygiene	All hand surfaces rubbed, product fully dry, no rings or watches in the way.
2	Gown	Neck and waist fastened, back closed, cuffs at wrists, length covers from neck to knees.
3	Mask or respirator	Over nose and chin, nose piece molded, straps placed correctly, seal check done for respirators.
4	Goggles or face shield	Eyes fully covered, sits firmly without wobbling, fits with mask or respirator.
5	Gloves	Correct size, cuffs cover gown wrists, no visible tears or holes.

If your setting adds head covers or shoe covers, these usually go on after hand hygiene and before the gown, or directly after the gown depending on local rules. Always follow the order written into your own infection prevention protocol.

Preparing To Put On PPE Safely

Good preparation makes the donning sequence smoother and cuts down on mid-procedure adjustments that can break aseptic technique. Before you start, pause for a short check.

Check The Signage And Required Level Of Precaution

Outside the room or care area, read the sign that lists the level of precautions: standard, contact, droplet, airborne, or a combination. Each level has a set of required items, often shown on a poster at the point of care.

Compare that list with the items in front of you so you do not walk into the room missing a gown, eye protection, or the right type of respirator.

Gather The Correct Sizes And Types

Take a moment to pick PPE items that fit. Gloves that are too small tear easily. A gown that is too short leaves your clothing exposed. A respirator must match the model you were fit tested for; swapping to an untested model can break the seal.

Lay the items out in donning order when possible: hand rub, gown, mask or respirator, eye protection, then gloves. This small habit reminds you of the correct sequence even during a hectic shift.

Create A Clean Donning Area

Use a designated donning area whenever your facility provides one. Keep that space free of waste bins, used PPE, and personal items like phones or food. Those objects can pick up contamination and distract you while you put your PPE on.

If space is tight, keep at least one surface clear for clean PPE only. Do not rest clean items on beds, chairs, or other high-touch surfaces that might already be contaminated.

Prepare Yourself Physically

Remove jewelry that sits on your hands or wrists, tie long hair back, and make sure your clothing allows the gown to close fully. These small steps prevent gaps and snags once you start donning.

Check that you feel ready to enter the care area. If anything feels off with your PPE fit, fix it here instead of after you have made contact with a patient.

How To Put On PPE In The Correct Order Step Guidance

At this point, the sequence itself should feel clear: hand hygiene, gown, mask or respirator, eye protection, then gloves. This section adds small technique tips that make that order easier to follow under pressure.

Hand Hygiene Techniques That Stick

Use enough hand rub to wet all hand surfaces. Rub palms together, then the backs of hands, between fingers, around thumbs, and across fingertips. Friction plus contact time gives best results. Stop only when the skin feels dry.

If you must wash with soap and water, wet your hands first, add soap, and rub using the same pattern for at least 20 seconds before rinsing and drying with a single-use towel.

Getting A Reliable Gown Fit

When you slide your arms into the gown, keep your hands held slightly forward so the sleeves do not catch on clothing. Ask for help with ties if you cannot reach them without twisting your body awkwardly.

Check that there are no gaps at the sides or back. If the gown does not reach fully around, swap it for a larger size; layering a second gown over an undersized one often leaves seams and folds that are hard to manage during doffing.

Mask And Respirator Checks

Place the mask or respirator on your face before touching straps or ties. For masks with ties, secure the top tie first above the ears, then the bottom tie at the neck. For ear-loop masks, adjust the loops so they sit flat without twisting.

With a respirator, keep strap order consistent every time. After you mold the nose piece, place one strap high on the crown of your head and the other at the base of your neck. Perform a user seal check every time you don the respirator, not just during formal fit testing.

Stable Eye Protection

Goggles and face shields should not press painfully on your nose or ears. If they do, you may re-adjust before patient contact or swap to a different model. Loose eye protection can slip when you turn your head or lean forward.

Check for fogging once your mask or respirator is in place. A small amount of fog at first is common, but heavy fogging that blocks vision means you may need to adjust the nose seal or change to a different combination of PPE.

Glove Technique And Changes

Slide gloves on slowly, pulling each cuff over the gown sleeve so there is no skin showing at the wrists. Avoid snapping the glove edges, which can flick contamination into the air in later use.

Change gloves between patients and between tasks on the same patient when recommended. Do not clean disposable gloves with alcohol hand rub; this damages the glove material and gives a false sense of safety.

Following how to put on ppe in the correct order becomes easier when each of these small habits turns into routine muscle memory.

Adjusting PPE Order For Different Tasks And Settings

While the core sequence stays stable, certain tasks bring in extra items or small variations. Local infection prevention teams adapt national guidance to match the risks in each unit, such as intensive care, emergency departments, or long-term care homes.

When You Use A Particulate Respirator

In airborne isolation rooms or during aerosol-generating procedures, a particulate respirator replaces the surgical mask. The donning order still starts with hand hygiene and gown, but extra care goes into the respirator seal check.

If you wear a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR), your facility may set a slightly different order for hood, belt, and tubing. Always follow the product instructions and local procedure for these systems, as the components interact with other PPE items.

Head Covers, Shoe Covers, And Aprons

Some tasks add head covers or shoe covers to reduce contamination on hair and footwear. Facilities may place these either right after hand hygiene or just after the gown. The goal is to add them before the mask or respirator, so straps sit correctly and do not tangle with elastic from head covers.

Plastic aprons may sit over a gown when splash risk is high. In that case, the apron usually sits on top of the gown and under the gloves, so your glove cuffs still cover the outer layer at the wrist.

Extended Use And Reuse Policies

During supply constraints, some facilities introduce extended use or limited reuse of respirators or eye protection. These policies come with detailed instructions on how many times an item may be used and how to store it safely between uses.

Even when items are reused, the donning sequence still respects the same basic order. For example, you might put on a stored respirator after hand hygiene, then don a fresh gown, eye protection, and gloves. Always follow written local guidance for reuse to avoid unsafe improvisation.

PPE For Non-Clinical Staff

Cleaners, porters, and other non-clinical staff may use a trimmed PPE set. They still need a clear order so they can remove waste, clean rooms, or transport specimens without self-contamination.

Use the same structure: hand hygiene, gown or apron, mask if required, eye protection if splashes are possible, then gloves. Training and posters should reflect the tasks these staff members actually carry out.

Common PPE Donning Mistakes And How To Avoid Them

Even experienced staff can slip out of sequence during a busy shift. Recognizing common errors helps you spot and correct them early before they lead to exposure.

Frequent Errors Around Hand Hygiene

One of the most frequent problems is skipping hand hygiene or giving it only a quick rub that misses thumbs and fingertips. Another is touching personal items like phones after cleaning hands and before donning PPE.

Place hand rub dispensers at the donning area entrance and remove distractions nearby. Short visual prompts on the wall can reinforce the correct technique in a few words.

Mask And Respirator Problems

Common issues include loose masks, straps crossed over each other, or respirators worn with facial hair that disrupts the seal. Staff may also touch the front of the mask to adjust it once inside the patient room.

Fit testing programs and short refresher sessions help. Local leaders can keep a supply of mirror tiles near donning stations so staff can check the fit quickly before entering the room.

Gown And Glove Gaps

When gown cuffs sit above the wrist or glove cuffs sit below them, a small strip of skin may stay exposed. This often happens when gloves are put on before a gown is fully adjusted or when sleeve length does not match the wearer.

Before you enter the room, sweep your eyes from neck to feet and look for any exposed skin or clothing between PPE layers. Adjust now rather than during the procedure.

Summary Table Of Mistakes And Fixes

The next table groups some of the most common donning mistakes with quick actions that correct them.

Common Mistake	Why It Raises Risk	Quick Fix
Skipping hand hygiene before donning.	Microbes on hands spread to gloves and other PPE layers.	Place hand rub at entry; build a “stop and clean” pause into routines.
Loose mask or failed respirator seal check.	Leaks let droplets or airborne particles reach nose and mouth.	Repeat donning, adjust nose piece, and repeat seal check before entry.
Gown not tied at back or too short.	Clothing and skin stay exposed to splashes and contact.	Switch to correct size; ask a colleague to secure ties before entry.
Gloves worn under gown cuffs.	Fluids can run onto wrists and forearms during care.	Pull glove cuffs over gown cuffs; re-check wrists before contact.
Touching face or mask with gloved hands.	Transfers contamination from gloves to face area.	Pause task, change gloves, clean hands, and readjust PPE correctly.

Regular observation rounds and short feedback conversations help teams fix these patterns early. Many facilities use checklists based on national guidance, such as the CDC PPE sequence poster or the WHO how to put on and remove PPE posters, to keep practice aligned with evidence.

Building Safe PPE Habits In Your Workplace

PPE technique improves with repetition and clear feedback. Written procedures alone rarely change practice; staff need time, space, and encouragement to turn the correct order into routine behavior.

Use Posters And Visual Cues

Place clear, uncluttered posters at every donning station. Use images that match the exact products used in your facility so staff can recognize them quickly.

Keep wording short and direct, with one line for each step. When products change, update the poster at the same time so visual cues always match what staff see on the shelf.

Run Short Practice Sessions

New staff and learners benefit from brief donning and doffing drills. A senior nurse, infection prevention practitioner, or educator can walk them through the sequence in a low-stress setting.

Practice sessions should simulate real tasks: entering a room, doing a simple procedure, and then leaving and removing PPE. This helps learners understand how donning order connects to safe removal.

Use A Buddy System For High-Risk Tasks

During high-risk procedures or outbreaks, a buddy can observe while you don and doff PPE. This person spots broken ties, gaps, or missed steps and gives immediate feedback before exposure occurs.

Buddies can use a short checklist that mirrors local policy so feedback stays consistent between shifts and units.

Key Takeaways: How To Put On PPE In The Correct Order

➤ Follow the sequence: hand hygiene, gown, mask or respirator, eye protection, gloves.

➤ Prepare a clean donning area with the PPE items laid out in order.

➤ Check fit for gown, mask or respirator, and eye protection before entry.

➤ Pull glove cuffs over gown cuffs so no skin stays exposed at the wrists.

➤ Use posters, drills, and buddies so the correct order becomes routine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Always Need To Wear Every Piece Of PPE In This Order?

No. The order here assumes you need a gown, mask or respirator, eye protection, and gloves. Some tasks require only gloves, or gloves plus a mask. In those cases, follow your local sign or protocol.

When more than one item is needed, keep the same logic: hand hygiene first, body and clothing protection, then face and eye protection, and gloves last.

What Should I Do If My PPE Feels Wrong After I Enter The Room?

If you spot a problem such as a slipping mask, exposed wrist, or loose gown, step back from the patient zone. Leave the room if you can do so safely, then remove PPE in the correct removal order and start again.

Do not try to fix major fit problems by touching the front of your mask or pulling at your gown while standing close to the patient.

Can I Double-Glove When Using PPE?

Double gloving is common in some procedures, such as surgery, but not in every care setting. If your local policy allows it, you usually put on the inner glove as part of the standard donning sequence.

The outer glove then goes on just before the task starts and comes off first during removal, followed by the inner glove at the usual point in the doffing order.

How Often Should Staff Receive Training On PPE Order?

Most facilities include PPE donning and doffing in initial orientation, then refresh skills during regular updates or when guidance changes. High-risk units may drill more often.

Short, focused refreshers at the bedside or during safety huddles help staff keep the sequence fresh without long classroom sessions.

What If Different Guidelines Show Slightly Different Orders?

Different posters may place items such as head covers or aprons in slightly different positions, but the main pattern stays stable: hand hygiene, body protection, face and eye protection, then gloves.

When a national body and your local policy differ, follow the policy your facility has formally adopted while sharing any concerns with your infection prevention team.

Wrapping It Up – How To Put On PPE In The Correct Order

Safe use of personal protective equipment starts with a clear, repeatable sequence. When you prepare the right items, clean your hands carefully, and follow the same donning order every time, you cut down the risk of self-contamination and protect patients, colleagues, and visitors.

The sequence itself is short, but the habits around it matter just as much: correct sizing, careful fit checks, clean donning spaces, and a culture where staff feel able to pause and fix problems. When those pieces come together, PPE becomes a reliable daily barrier rather than a hurried formality.