A patient who is on droplet precautions requires daily blood glucose monitoring. Besides gloves, what piece of personal protective equipment must the phlebotomist wear when drawing the sample?

Shoe covers are not typically required for droplet precautions, as they primarily serve to prevent contamination of surfaces from footwear rather than protecting against respiratory droplets. Their use is more common in settings where sterile environments are necessary, such as operating rooms, but they do not address the specific risks associated with droplet transmission.

While gowns are important for protecting against splashes and contact with bodily fluids, they are not specifically required for droplet precautions unless there is a risk of large droplets or contact with the patient's secretions. In the context of blood glucose monitoring, a gown is not essential, making it an unnecessary piece of equipment for this situation.

Goggles are mainly used to protect the eyes from splashes or exposure to infectious materials. However, they are not a standard requirement for droplet precautions, where the primary concern is the transmission of pathogens through respiratory droplets rather than eye exposure. Thus, goggles do not fulfill the necessary protective role in this context.