Contact Precautions: You should know them forwards and backwards
One thing you are going to want to have down pat, is your contact precautions! Not only the PPE you should have on for each type of disease, but also what order to PPE off, what the patient should have on when being transported to another unit, what those transporting the patient should have on, the order in which you remove each piece of equipment, how often to perform hand hygiene and which diseases require which type of precaution.
These are the safety measures that should be taken with all patients.
Wash Your Hands - Most important step in infection control. It prevents nosocomial infections.
DON Gloves - Before coming in contact with anything wet. ie. broken skin, mucous membranes, blood, body fluids, soiled instruments, contaminated waste materials
Wash hands again upon removal of gloves and between patients.
Contact Precautions
Before entering
Wash hands
DON gown then gloves
Upon entering
Use disposable equipment when possible
When not available clean and disinfect all equipment before removing from room
Transporting patient
PT should perform hand hygiene and wear a clean gown
For direct contact with pt, nurse or care provider should wear a gown and gloves.
