atex allergies are widespread and significant. The cause of latex allergy is a protein allergen from the natural latex from the rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis. This allergen is found in persons with significant cumulative latex exposure. Hospital health care workers and individuals undergoing repeated surgeries (especially early in life) are at risk for developing latex allergy (Reddy, 1998). Thus, the hospital setting is an environment in which life threatening allergic reaction is likely to occur. At a suburban community hospital in the Northeast, the employee health nurse identified an increasing number of employees experiencing reactions to latex gloves. With the knowledge of the growing number of latex allergies among hospital workers and patients, and the serious consequences of latex allergies, the employee health nurse recognized the need to institute a hospital wide change. Working with the medical director of occupational medicine, the nurse initiated the change process. This article describes the process used to implement a latex safe environment. Through the use of a case study, the discussion focuses on how the task force was assembled and how a strategic plan was established
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