[Lookn2hvn]

Hospital staff didn't wash hands?

Tue Jul 10, 8:52 AM ET



KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - A Malaysian hospital has finally persuaded staff, including doctors and nurses, to wash their hands after pointing out the dangers to their own health.

Pointing out the dangers to patient health did not work.

A study this year at Kuala Lumpur's Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital showed that 40 percent of staff did not wash their hands before touching patients in its intensive-case unit, breaking hospital rules, the New Straits Times said on Tuesday.

Later, the hospital's infection-control chief spoke to staff about the importance of hygiene and installed voice-recorded health warnings at the entrance to the unit, eventually pushing the compliance rate to 80 percent, the daily said. But the key to success was pointing out the risks to staff health, not patients.

"People wash their hands after handling or visiting a patient because they are conscious about their own health. They are self-centered, not patient-centered," the paper quoted infection-control chief Dr Nordiah Awang Jalil as saying.

Hospital staff didn't wash hands? (Reuters)

[hikernurse]

Wow. UGH!

[Jolie]

Yet another article that really makes you think about going over seas for "bargain " healthcare!

[UKPedsRN]

After working in the US and Peru I had to return to the UK for surgery. During my 2 week stay in a hospital in Newcastle, throughout my stay NOT ONE doctor or NURSE washed their hands before or after touching me! Little surprise I contracted MRSA!! (Although evidence points to be contracting it whilst in OR)

Throughout my stay I questioned nurses and students regarding patient and care standards and was surprised at answers they gave. So, given my expereince and the MRSA I decided it was the end of my clinical nursing career - I was so disgusted by the level of care not only myself, but the other patients received.

Are UK nurses now not being schooled in infection control principles or is it that they just dont care?

I maintian that the nursing profession is one that means we will always be stressed and overworked, but that does not mean our standards have to drop - it takes 2 minutes to wash your hands correctly between patients, don't cop out and say you don't have time - your patients deserve better!

Am I the only nurse who thinks that staff have an over reliance on the alcohol rub that seems to replaced hand washing?

[queenjean]

I'll bet many of my patients think I don't wash my hands at all.

What they don't realize is that there is hand sanitzer in the alcove outside each room as well as strategically placed sinks in little recesses in the hallway. I use these before and after entering each room.

Sometimes when I hear people complain about their nurses and physicians not washing their hands, I have to wonder if they think that just because they didn't see them, but in reality there was hand sanitizing or handwashing performed outside of the pt's view.

Obviously the OP was addressing actual lack of hand cleansing of anykind--and that is scary. What other basics are they lacking?

[linzz]

I worked at a nursing home that had no hand sanitizer dispensers. The only hand sanitizer available was on the med cart and even that was not always a given, as management insisted that all supplies be kept in the basement. I guess the almighty $ was more important than infection control. Uggh!

[KellNY]

Originally Posted by queenjean

I'll bet many of my patients think I don't wash my hands at all.

What they don't realize is that there is hand sanitzer in the alcove outside each room as well as strategically placed sinks in little recesses in the hallway. I use these before and after entering each room.

Sometimes when I hear people complain about their nurses and physicians not washing their hands, I have to wonder if they think that just because they didn't see them, but in reality there was hand sanitizing or handwashing performed outside of the pt's view.

Yep. I try to make it a point to squirt the foam (we use the foam version now-white and very visible at 1st, dries much more quickly) into my hands, and walk into the room rubbing it in, so that maybe they can catch on.

I always felt too scripted and corny (and maybe even defensive) telling a Pt "I just washed my hands in the ante room", yk?

[bigsyis]

Originally Posted by KellNY

Yep. I try to make it a point to squirt the foam (we use the foam version now-white and very visible at 1st, dries much more quickly) into my hands, and walk into the room rubbing it in, so that maybe they can catch on.

This was the way I did it, also. We encouraged families and visitors to do the same thing. We also had gloves in each room to wear for any type of pt contact.

[JennaRN1006]

Originally Posted by bigsyis

This was the way I did it, also. We encouraged families and visitors to do the same thing. We also had gloves in each room to wear for any type of pt contact.

thats how we do it too. the ante room has a sink and we have the alcohol dispenser right before you walk into the curtains. I always squirt enough right before I go in so my patients see as well. but that article and lack of hand washing is just wrong and not to mention gross.

[bethin]

Originally Posted by UKPedsRN

Am I the only nurse who thinks that staff have an over reliance on the alcohol rub that seems to replaced hand washing?

The CDC says using the alcohol rub and washing your hands produces the same results. The alcohol is there to cut down on time spent at the sink.

I still prefer the old fashioned way.