What precaution should a nurse take when handling nitroglycerin ointment?

When handling nitroglycerin ointment, the use of gloves before administration is a critical precaution. Nitroglycerin is a potent vasodilator that can be absorbed through the skin, which means handling the ointment without gloves could lead not only to unintentional exposure of the nurse to the medication but also potentially result in adverse effects from the drug. By applying gloves, the nurse protects both themselves and ensures that the full dose of the medication is delivered to the patient, without any risk of contamination or misapplication.

It's important to recognize that while washing hands thoroughly after application is a good practice, it does not prevent the risk of absorbing the medication during application. Cleaning the application site with alcohol wipes may be part of some protocols, but it is not as directly relevant to the safe handling of the ointment itself as wearing gloves. Lastly, storing the ointment in direct sunlight is not advisable because it can degrade the effectiveness of the medication; however, this precaution does not pertain to the immediate handling of the ointment.