Universal Precautions are not optional...

greenfiremajick · Dec 1, 2010

How would you handle it if you knew a co-worker was very lax in using Universal Precautions?

Talk to them in the best manner possible, after getting a good idea of the way in which they would respond best....

PetiteOpRN · Dec 1, 2010

OSHA inservice

DC Collins, ASN · Dec 1, 2010

After speaking with him/her/them as mentioned above, if you see no improvement, I would approach management anonymously with this info, without mentioning names.

If management isn't handling it, then you might have to be more direct with management.

This is important stuff - pt safety is involved.

DC :)

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Dec 1, 2010

do you have an infection control coordinator? The worst offenders in my facility are the MD's.

Leelee2 · Dec 1, 2010

I would call them out. As previous poster mentioned, pt. safety is involved.

When my dad was in the hospital (rural setting) I couldn't believe how many nurses/techs came in to check his blood sugars, getting ready to proceed~without gloves. I called them out on this immediately. My dad has since learned to be his own advocate as well.

lmxxRN · Dec 1, 2010

There is a simple answer: Chain of Command

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Dec 1, 2010

Doing any procedure without gloves is putting the nurse at risk, not the patient. So long as there is great handwashing technique the patient will not get cooties from the nurse. Plus if you are exposed to your own blood you are NOT at risk.

If a family/patient got cranky about not using gloves for a glucoscan I would explain why they weren't at risk, ask permission to proceed, and then put them down as refusing the procedure if they chose that route. It falls under the "mind your own business, and stay out of mine" category.

fiveofpeep · Dec 1, 2010

^ exactly. gloves protect us, not patients.

I dont wear gloves for quite a few things because my hands are very small and dont fit the gloves well--causing them to get in the way, but Im very mindful about it.

If Im worried about touching something wet that's not mine, of course I glove up.

LouisVRN, RN · Dec 2, 2010

Completely agree. I am an OCD-germaphobe with a child at home. I will NOT touch any patient or anything in their room without gloves on.

If you mean they are not using universal standards, like alcohol wiping IV ports, etc that put the patient at harm then by all means talk to the person and if they do not change their behaviors go up the chain of command.

Lisa, MA · Dec 3, 2010

Doing any procedure without gloves is putting the nurse at risk, not the patient. So long as there is great handwashing technique the patient will not get cooties from the nurse.

I have to disagree. If a nurse is not practicing Universal Precautions...which EVERYONE is taught ad nauseum in school...then it is unlikely that they would be fastidious about hand washing.

So therefore they ARE indeed putting the patient at risk for other disease and cross contamination.

For example...and I will give you a very personal one...my hubby has HCV. Last year he got very sick while on tx. (Peg/Riba) He was hospitalized with a horrible case of cellulitis with open sores. One nurse routinely tended his wounds and drew blood on him without gloves. At one point, I was so upset with her I snapped "Do you NOT understand the dynamics of communicable disease"? She was aghast. Her answer was "but I don't have any open cuts on my hands".

Really? Seriously? And you think that is an acceptable argument?

1. She was putting herself at risk for contracting my husbands HCV.

2. She was putting my hubby at risk for secondary infection by tending his wounds without proper barriers and clean asepsis.

3. She was putting other patients at risk if she had transferred his pus or blood or tissue onto her hands and then touched another patient. Who knows if she was washing her hands in between...I certainly NEVER saw her touch a sink.

The point is....we learn these things for a reason. Use them!

And BTW...I hate that some people only use the alcohol foam to clean their hands. In my old eyes, that is NOT acceptable hand washing.

Fribblet · Dec 3, 2010

I have to disagree. If a nurse is not practicing Universal Precautions...which EVERYONE is taught ad nauseum in school...then it is unlikely that they would be fastidious about hand washing.

Proof, or it's just your opinion.

So therefore they ARE indeed putting the patient at risk for other disease and cross contamination.

Not unless they're NOT practicing good hand hygiene.

For example...and I will give you a very personal one...my hubby has HCV. Last year he got very sick while on tx. (Peg/Riba) He was hospitalized with a horrible case of cellulitis with open sores. One nurse routinely tended his wounds and drew blood on him without gloves. At one point, I was so upset with her I snapped "Do you NOT understand the dynamics of communicable disease"? She was aghast. Her answer was "but I don't have any open cuts on my hands".
Really? Seriously? And you think that is an acceptable argument?

Did she not wash her hands?

1. She was putting herself at risk for contracting my husbands HCV.
2. She was putting my hubby at risk for secondary infection by tending his wounds without proper barriers and clean asepsis.
3. She was putting other patients at risk if she had transferred his pus or blood or tissue onto her hands and then touched another patient. Who knows if she was washing her hands in between...I certainly NEVER saw her touch a sink.

Because if you never saw her wash her hands then it must certainly follow that she NEVER did, right? Am I using your logic correctly?

The point is....we learn these things for a reason. Use them!

I will palpate my patient's belly after I've used an alcohol scrub without gloves. How have I endangered myself or the patient?

And BTW...I hate that some people only use the alcohol foam to clean their hands. In my old eyes, that is NOT acceptable hand washing.

Then don't use it.