handwashing, gloves and universal precautions?????

jayna, RN · Mar 26, 2002

Micro, phew!! just in time for the thread.

A lecture was given to remind nurses or teach nurses on the handwashing(seemslike this is a new topic to them).

Anyway, am in one of the country where handwashing is a newest kid on the blocK.

Nurse, are wearing gloves to protect themselves rather than the patient. They were told them it's not right, they're spreading microorganism to the patients. Even though, they been told of this, they still pratice that.

What can we do? This country doesn't have a nursing council, nor standard, no ethics. Nurses are regard as doctors servants. No nursing disciple board. This is very frustrating and it's a very very huge fat job.phew!!

Anyway micro, my organisation is funding and working closely with nursing department in the ministrial level on the national strategic direction which will be held may this year to present strategies in improving nursing and midwifery services in the country. And we're drafting standards, and they will form a nursing council and every nurses have to be registered to educate to the level of nursing in asia.

And i will have all the right in the whole world to say follow your protoccol of handwashing.

This thread is abit out of line but this is reality. I wish i have a magic that will change nursing in vietnam overnight.

:D :D

135ctv · Mar 26, 2002

I wear gloves and follow universal precautions. At times, I've had other aides complain that I'm slow because I stop to put on gloves. (I still stop to do this).

Also, why do DONs often choose aides to orient other aides who do not follow these precautions? An aide was orienting me at a new facility two weeks ago. She used her bare hands to check for wet bedpads and to change residents. She tossed dirty briefs on the floor. Just because an aide has been employed by a facility for a long time doesn't mean that they practice universal precautions or are effective trainers. What does that teach an inexperienced aide?

nursedawn67, LPN · Mar 26, 2002

Universal precautions are a MUST...no two ways about it! I would never change a resident with out gloves....not just for universal precaustions, but the thought of what you are puttin your hands in.eeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwww! Even if I just help an aide rolll someone while she/he changes them I have gloves on...you just never know what your hands will come in contact with.

micro, RN · Mar 26, 2002

phew..................................

universal precautions.........does your agency/hospital/nursing home follow them to the tee!!!!!

to be honest with you it doesn't bug me what I am getting on my hands.........cause hands wash.........(but gotta watch the paper cuts)))))))))but I digress........because I truly believe in universal precautions.........

in this world...........the whole world.........we(we are all in this together) deal with so much...........and put ourselves at risk for so much.....in our daily working lives.........(but don't get pannicky..........AIDS, etc......., HIV.........% way low of contracting it through health care environment---------latest stats)but it is still there

Universal precautions...........protecting myself from the patient and protecting the patient from me.........use them.........but the biggest thing we can all do is wash those hands, wash those hands, wash those hands.................redundant...sometimes has a place............without washing hands.........

thanks Jayna.........for a very insightful take on this.........you are the instructor????????? WOW!!! I am impressed.......Keep on teaching.........Nurses are teachers........and geez.....keep up your great work.........

WE NEED MORE NURSES LIKE YOU OUT THERE.........'less we forget and focus on the trifles of daily life and we think we got it bad........

lol all,

micro

pkmom · Mar 27, 2002

My hands are dry, red, and occasionally cracked from all the washing. my husband is not in the medical area, but he is crazy about germs. He devised an asceptic technique for using the bathroom. wiping and flushing with one hand, turning on the water with the other. But he still turns off the water with his elbow. he cracks me up.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Mar 27, 2002

Several years baack I got an overflow post-op cataract lens implant patient.

She was and elegant older lady who is a professor of English. It was a simple overnight observation because of her age and her diabetes. I made her comfortable and took her vitals. I was going along quite well until the assessment question "do you have hepatitis, aids......"

She said, "yes I am HIV positive."

Universal precautions. 100% is almost not enough.

jayna, RN · Mar 27, 2002

Micro,

am just back from a workshop here about infection control.

We're moving foward. My counterparts in the nursing department , ministerial level are facilitating this. Good on them.

micro, RN · Mar 27, 2002

good work Jayna.......and good for the powers that be.........

wow, I still say what a job you do.........

floor work seems like nothing when faced with the challenge you have.........

eltrip · Mar 27, 2002

Here's my 2 cents' worth...

I practice universal precautions...I have worked with folks who do...and don't practice them as well.

After I began working as a nurse, another nurse's comment about when to don gloves & when not to wear them caught my attention: "If it's wet & not yours, wear gloves." Works for me!

In my pre-nursing days, I worked in a lab. Lots of viruses were going around. I missed out on them because of the frequent handwashing that occurred. The folks who caught everything that came down the pike were the ones who smoked , despite their frequent handwashing. Overall, we were less sick than the general population.

These days, I advise my 5 year-old (& everyone else who asks) to wash their hands before she touches her face or food. Overall, good advice, I'd say!

jayna, RN · Mar 28, 2002

thanks eltrip that was a good one.

Micro, yeah working here is quiet a very big challenge. Most times i felt like quiting my work period!!

but these poor nurses need more experience nurses out there to help out.

micro, RN · Mar 28, 2002

Jayna,

Think you are the true expert in this field.......come on over and lecture here when you get done there........

I think that it is great that you and nurses like you are brave enough to reach out an risk to help other nurses and others.............

I pass the thread baton to you........

micro

later..............