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.
With all due respect to you, I have a question. Would you feel the same if everyone, including physicians, were required to wear the button?
Grannynurse
NO.
But it's not a matter of would I do it if everyone did. The point is that THE OTHERS WEREN'T ASKED.
Why not? Because administration would dare not insult Drs. like this - they ACTUALLY make money for the hospital. (As if we don't).
The point is that it is the perception of management that nurses are a liabilty, not an asset. We pay so much for nurses, if we add this burden or that burden and then the next one - well that is just getting our money back and nurses should be happy we even pay them. . .
The perception of management seems to be that a hospital dare not insult other healthcare professionals, but hey, insult the nurses all you want, they are overpaid prima donnas, anyway - that is the issue.
As somebody posted, there may well be data supporting having patients more aware of the handwashing status of their healthcare providers. But, asking ONLY nurses be bear this insult is kind of selective enforcement, it'n it?
Methinks thou doest protest too much. As an Infection Control nurse of almost 15 years, I can tell you from study after study and from personal observations of staff, that staff DO NOT wash their hands nor do they clean equipment from patient to patient. I can't tell you how many times I have watched staff; not just nurses either; come out of a patient room, remove gloves and go straight to the computer to chart...never washing their hands. And I challenge you, whenever you are a patient, be it yourself at your doctor's office or an Urgent Care or Emergency Room OR your child at the pediatrician's...watch and see who washes their hands before touching you or your child...you will be appalled! This is a nationwide effort to respond to JCAHO's Patient Safey Goal of compliance with the CDC Guidelines for Hand Hygiene to ensure staff are washing their hands and involve patients in their care. This should be viewed as a good thing for patient care. At my hospital we have been doing this since 1991 with signs posted in the patient room stating, "Has your healthcare worker washed their hands? ASK THEM!" You shouldn't be so intimidated by this question if you are doing the right thing.
Methinks thou doest protest too much. As an Infection Control nurse of almost 15 years, I can tell you from study after study and from personal observations of staff, that staff DO NOT wash their hands nor do they clean equipment from patient to patient. I can't tell you how many times I have watched staff; not just nurses either; come out of a patient room, remove gloves and go straight to the computer to chart...never washing their hands. And I challenge you, whenever you are a patient, be it yourself at your doctor's office or an Urgent Care or Emergency Room OR your child at the pediatrician's...watch and see who washes their hands before touching you or your child...you will be appalled! This is a nationwide effort to respond to JCAHO's Patient Safey Goal of compliance with the CDC Guidelines for Hand Hygiene to ensure staff are washing their hands and involve patients in their care. This should be viewed as a good thing for patient care. At my hospital we have been doing this since 1991 with signs posted in the patient room stating, "Has your healthcare worker washed their hands? ASK THEM!" You shouldn't be so intimidated by this question if you are doing the right thing.
It is the singling out of just nurses for this campain that is irking people. Asking us to wear a button is degrading. I think we all agree that good handwashing is important, but it's wrong to treat nurses this way in trying to enforce it. The signs are fine, but no buttons on my body, please! :)
That is so wrong. :chuckle (sorry I think it is funny too) Like somebody would really say:"No I did not wash them. Did you want me to wash them for you?" It is just stupid.
Exactly. People are more than likely going to say, "Of course I did", whether they did or not.
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 think we should wear buttons that say "ask me if I've had lunch today".
Seriously, I wouldn't wear it either. It is demeaning, and implies everything that everyone else has said. Might as well ask me to wear one that says " ask me if I calculated this dose correctly", or "ask me if I know what I am doing".
Love this one! Our how about "Ask me if I've had time to pee today"!!! :chuckle
I agree with majority.....very demeaning. The giant hand is outrageous!
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.
Where are you? This sounds like something the ED mgr at my last place of employment would come up with. She spends more time on silly campaigns like this than on important issues.
Forgive my passive aggressiveness, but here's how I'd handle this idiocy. After a week of wearing this same moronic button in and out of patient's rooms, I'd ask the lab or infection control to culture the button! (kind of like doctors transmitting infections with their ties).
I think this might help some well intentioned but brainless manager or public relations person realise that nursing should be left to nurses, and they should stick their buttons............
Forgive my passive aggressiveness, but here's how I'd handle this idiocy. After a week of wearing this same moronic button in and out of patient's rooms, I'd ask the lab or infection control to culture the button! (kind of like doctors transmitting infections with their ties).
I think this might help some well intentioned but brainless manager or public relations person realise that nursing should be left to nurses, and they should stick their buttons............
I say you should wear a button that states "Ask me how many hours of overtime and holidays I have worked due to our Hospitals nursing shortage"? I bet the handwashing buttons would be trashed
ZASHAGALKA, RN
3,322 Posts
NO.
But it's not a matter of would I do it if everyone did. The point is that THE OTHERS WEREN'T ASKED.
Why not? Because administration would dare not insult Drs. like this - they ACTUALLY make money for the hospital. (As if we don't).
The point is that it is the perception of management that nurses are a liabilty, not an asset. We pay so much for nurses, if we add this burden or that burden and then the next one - well that is just getting our money back and nurses should be happy we even pay them. . .
The perception of management seems to be that a hospital dare not insult other healthcare professionals, but hey, insult the nurses all you want, they are overpaid prima donnas, anyway - that is the issue.
As somebody posted, there may well be data supporting having patients more aware of the handwashing status of their healthcare providers. But, asking ONLY nurses be bear this insult is kind of selective enforcement, it'n it?
And therein lies the insult.
~faith,
Timothy.