Which barrier should be removed before temporarily leaving a patient to retrieve supplies?

The barrier that should be removed before temporarily leaving a patient to retrieve supplies is gloves. When healthcare providers need to leave the immediate area of a patient, especially in a clinical setting, the removal of gloves is essential to prevent cross-contamination.

Gloves are designed to protect the healthcare worker from exposure to potentially infectious materials and to prevent the transmission of pathogens during patient care. However, once a provider is leaving the patient area, the gloves should be removed appropriately to prevent unwanted transport of contaminants outside of the clinical area where they may come into contact with surfaces or other individuals.

Removing the gloves allows for a cleaner interaction with the surrounding environment and helps maintain infection control standards. Other barriers such as masks, gowns, and face shields are typically left in place to continue protecting both the healthcare worker and patient from aerosol transmission and other risks that remain while within the clinical setting.