0 Item(s)
Infection Prevention: Protecting Yourself, Protecting Your Patient
Keyword(s)
1442-2023, nurse, surgical technologist, Cardinal, HAIs, CA, NCCT, Accredited education, ebook pro, RN, nursing, infection prevention, PPE, personal protective equipment, transmissible infections, inpatient, outpatient, patient safety, healthcare worker safety, safety, ST
Credits
CA:2.0, NCCT:2.0
Description
Healthcare-associated infections (HAI’s) are attributed to increased costs and mortality. Infection transmission from both healthcare workers and from various healthcare devices such as reusable electrocardiogram lead wires, are leading causes of these infections. Infection transmission from healthcare workers may also occur during wound dressing changes or from other healthcare devices such as dirty endoscopes or having a lack of preoperative patient compliance such as proper skin prep and overall hygiene (ie., oral, nasal, etc.). Operating Room (OR) room turnover may be another area that infection transmission may occur too. Appropriate use of infection prevention practices such as effective hand hygiene, standard precautions, and correctly using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) improves the safety of patient and healthcare providers in the healthcare environment. Healthcare workers can protect themselves, patients, and others against exposure to infectious material by ensuring they use PPE since it provides a barrier against exposures and transmission of infectious material and prevents contamination of surfaces when used and discarded correctly. There is also an element of process compliance in terms of aseptic practices including handwashing to help minimize cross contamination, etc. This course will provide an overview of common healthcare-acquired infections and will offer practical information for appropriately following infection prevention practices that healthcare workers can use to protect themselves and the patients they care for.