Originally Posted by daisybaby Today, administrators launched a handwashing campaign, part of which includes having patient care staff wear giant buttons that say, "Ask me if I washed my hands!" Patients are encouraged to ask this of their nurse/CNA/etc. every time s/he walks into their room. Every time.
I find this incredibly insulting both to my intelligence and to my professional practice as an RN. I cannot imagine what patients must be thinking: does it imply that we don't know enough to wash our hands? What else do they need to be checking up on, if we can't be trusted to have washed our hands after patient contact?
I understand that the aim is to decrease the spread of microorganisms. We all learned that in Nursing Fundamentals. I've listened to all the inservices on handwashing, antimicrobial foam and gel, and standard precautions ad nauseum. But this is way over the top. I don't ask my mechanic if he remembered to put all the parts back in my car and I don't ask my accountant if she used a calculator to figure out my taxes. I don't think I should be asked over and over if I'm doing my job, either.
We've had a hard enough time trying to be recognized as professionals without this nonsense. If I wanted to wear giant silly buttons at work I'd be waiting tables at TGI Fridays.
I told one of the administrators I'd consider wearing one if all the docs had to wear them, too. It's been a long time since I've seen some of them lather up before performing a bare-handed dressing change.
I have to admit as well that I have not read all the responces of this thread, so if someone has already said this I am sorry and here goes, I am a former Infection Control Nurse and I did a Handwashing survey during my time, I found that Most nurses DO NOT wash there hands the way the CDC recommends and it is showing up in patients and ORs etc etc I have seen nurses answer the phone, grab a bite of food and go directly in a room and attempt to begin to change a dressing without gloves on SHE WAS STOPPED OF COURSE.
That would seem to be an extreme example but its not it happens more times than not.
I personally hate the button idea,
but it is the attempt of some over zealous person attempting to make handwashing percentage come up, that is better done with showing nurses the facts, reminding and signs and one on one with known offenders it can take a 28% rate to 96 or higher if you do it in a professional and informative non-insulting way, we are very busy people and sometime we just need to be reminded. The 10 top reasons patients get hospital acquired infections are connected to your hands and thats a FACT. Sorry its still in me I can't help my self.
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