From the Guidelines
Nursing staff in medical facilities should prioritize standard precautions, including consistent hand hygiene and use of personal protective equipment (PPE), to ensure patient and staff safety. These precautions are crucial in reducing the transmission of healthcare-associated infections, which affect approximately 1 in 31 hospital patients daily 1.
Key Precautions
- Standard precautions include consistent hand hygiene before and after patient contact, using alcohol-based sanitizers or soap and water for at least 20 seconds 1.
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection should be worn based on anticipated exposure risk 1.
- Proper sharps handling is essential, including never recapping needles and disposing of them in designated containers.
- Contact precautions require gloves and gowns when caring for patients with infectious conditions that spread through direct contact.
- Droplet precautions necessitate surgical masks within 3-6 feet of patients with respiratory infections 1.
- Airborne precautions for diseases like tuberculosis or measles require N95 respirators and negative pressure rooms.
Additional Considerations
- Monitoring of infected or potentially infected patients should be optimized through the use of video monitoring and slave monitors outside the room to minimize frequent entrance into the room 1.
- Consolidation of assessments and procedures can help optimize nursing contact and efficiency.
- Wearing medical gloves when a potential exists for contacting blood, saliva, or mucous membranes is essential, and gloves should be changed promptly after use and washed hands immediately to avoid transfer of microorganisms to other patients or environments 1.
Prioritizing Safety
The implementation of these precautions is critical in protecting both patients and healthcare workers from healthcare-associated infections. By following these guidelines, nursing staff can significantly reduce the risk of transmission and ensure a safer environment for everyone involved 1.
From the Research
Precautions for Medical Facility Nursing Staff
The following are some precautions that can be taken by nursing staff in a medical facility:
- Hand hygiene: This is one of the most important and effective methods for reducing healthcare-associated infections and cross-infection between patients 2.
- Use of personal protective equipment: This includes gloves, masks, and gowns to prevent the transmission of infections 3.
- Environmental cleaning: Regular cleaning and disinfection of the environment can help to reduce the risk of infection transmission 3.
- Safe injection practices: This includes using sterile equipment and techniques to prevent the transmission of infections 3.
- Antimicrobial stewardship: This includes the responsible use of antibiotics to prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant infections 3.
- Vaccinations: Nursing staff should be vaccinated against certain diseases, such as influenza, hepatitis B, and pertussis, to prevent the transmission of these diseases to patients 4.
- Standard precautions: These include measures such as washing hands, wearing personal protective equipment, and cleaning and disinfecting the environment to prevent the transmission of infections 5.
Determinants of Vaccination
The following are some determinants of vaccination in at-risk groups:
- Age: Older individuals are more likely to be vaccinated against certain diseases, such as influenza and pneumococcal disease 6.
- Underlying health conditions: Individuals with certain underlying health conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), HIV, and solid organ transplantation, are more likely to be vaccinated against certain diseases, such as influenza and pneumococcal disease 6.
- Awareness of vaccination recommendations: Individuals who are aware of the recommendations for vaccination are more likely to be vaccinated 6.
- Concerns about effectiveness, necessity, and side effects: Individuals who have concerns about the effectiveness, necessity, and side effects of vaccines are less likely to be vaccinated 6.