Scrub or handwash?

RN4BABES · Mar 14, 2005

Our visitors have always done a 3 minute scrub when they come in to visit their baby. They also had to wear a covergown. Now we have been told that they don't need covergowns, and scrubbing isn't important either. A quick handwash will do.
What happens in other NICU's? We don't keep babies less than 26/27 weeks, but we do have some very fragile ones on vents. Our acuity level has been going up, and also our numbers are increasing.

We haven't used cover-up gowns for about 10 years. Studies showed they did nothing but increase the cost of laundry. We ask/ensure parents/visitors do a handwash at the door (using foot pedals/sink) and sing (to themselves) "Happy Birthday". This lets them know approximately how long one should wash. Who's going to stand there for 3 minutes and wash their hands?? We don't allow ANY jewellry (rings, watches or bracelets) to be worn. If a new Mom has swollen hands and cannot remove her rings, she has to wear gloves. When you tell the parents there are micro organisms in their jewellery that cannot be removed with regular washing, they all abide for the safety of their babies. We gown/glove only for isolation babies or when the parent (usually Dad) looks a wee bit dirty and he's going to hold his child. (as mentioned by someone else here) :) I find it interesting to hear/read what other hospital do. Thanks for sharing everyone!

MsJessikia · Mar 17, 2005

3 minute scrub and surgical hospital scrubs for us... scrub and gown for parents.

Deidre Shiobhan · Mar 23, 2005

In my unit the parents don't put on any gowns , most importantly they have to wash their hands before handling the babies . We will request them to put on a mask if they don't feel very well .

In fact we don't put on gowns when nursing the babies even in the MRSA rooms . We will isolate the babies once we know that their contagious and to prevent the bug from spreading around , we have very tiny babies as small as 24weekers and below 500gm .

Good and proper handwashing techniques are what we believe in :cool:

sparkyRN · Mar 23, 2005

3 minute scrub with chlorohexadine soln for everyone. Staff wears scrubs; visitors wear a hospital gown over their clothes (believe me this evens the playing field-we don't have to discriminate between those with good hygiene and those without). An isolation gown and gloves for most babies in isolation by all who have contact. Once everyone does the initial scrub, we are being encouraged to use the alcohol foam before and after patients because of its strong gram+ and gram- and virus protection. Hand washing at the sink is only necessary if you need to wash off blood, poop, etc. Then we are asked to use the foam after the wash.

NoCrumping · Mar 24, 2005

Our visitors have always done a 3 minute scrub when they come in to visit their baby. They also had to wear a covergown. Now we have been told that they don't need covergowns, and scrubbing isn't important either. A quick handwash will do.
What happens in other NICU's? We don't keep babies less than 26/27 weeks, but we do have some very fragile ones on vents. Our acuity level has been going up, and also our numbers are increasing.

From what our inf cntrl nurse , and nurse educator says, gowning, for parent or nurse, is outdated. This unit requires a full scrub to the elbows, for parents and nurses, they have brushes with the stuff allready in them. the parents are instructed on how to properly scrub, just like us. There is a special scrub sink. Then there are purell things all over the walls, and parents of multi's are told to wash at the reg sink in between. One unit I worked in, right before I started, had a regime change, was still wearing the gowns (everybody) , and had just a quick wash policy. The infection rate was sky high.