Infection Control

[pjsrav, BSN]

Hello everyone,

I've decided to create this topic to discuss and hear your thoughts on something that's a bit odd to me. I just recently moved into the US, after three years working in a different country/hospital where the infection control policies were (understandably) quite strict and evidence based.

When I first started my job here I was a bit intrigued/surprised with some practices and one that worries me the most is the use of jewellery, nail polish, watches and so on. In the meantime I had the opportunity to understand that this is a recurrent practice among other hospitals. What about being bare bellow the elbows?!

So we stress the compliance with the 5 moments of hand washing (WHO) as one of the most important measures on nosocomial infection control/prevention but then we not only ruin it (with the colonisations we bring in all this articles) as we put ourselves and our loved ones at risk, taking bugs home.

This is evidence based and obviously infections can kill!

Please let me know your thoughts on this subject as most of you definitely have more exposure to this reality than me.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

I like caramel popcorn.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

I have not worked in a hospital in which nail polish (or acrylic nails) have been allowed in those who provide care at the bedside in a long time! Does that still happen?

[NICUismylife, ADN, BSN, RN]

I am not allowed to wear a watch or rings to work, not even a plain metal wedding band. No nail polish, artificial nails, or nails longer than 1/4". I'm also not allowed to wear long-sleeves. However, I do believe that we are stricter in NICU than other departments.