Hand Hygiene & Patient Safety (Nursing Skills 3350)

Flashcards cover hand hygiene, infection transmission, chain of infection, bed safety, and principles-based procedures as presented in the lecture notes.

What is the primary purpose of hand hygiene in healthcare?

To prevent the spread of infections and break the chain of infection transmission.

When should soap and water be used instead of hand sanitizer?

When hands are visibly soiled, before and after eating, after using the restroom, and when infections such as C. difficile or MRSA are present (also after removing gloves or between glove changes).

How long should you rub hands during handwashing with soap and water?

At least 20 seconds.

What is the most common way infections are spread in a healthcare setting?

Direct contact: touching a patient or equipment and then touching another patient without hand hygiene.

List the six elements of the chain of infection.

Infectious agent; source of infection; portal of exit; mode of transmission; portal of entry; susceptible host.

What does the CDC mandate regarding hand hygiene when entering and leaving patient rooms?

Healthcare staff must decontaminate their hands when entering and leaving patient rooms.

What is the typical observed handwashing compliance rate among healthcare staff?

Approximately 30% to 50%.

What are the steps included in Bed Safety for patient care?

Bed in low position; bed wheels locked; lift two side rails; call light within reach.

What are the Critical Elements of Principle-Based Procedures in patient care?

Wash hands before and after care; gather supplies; introduce self and others; identify patient with two identifiers; explain procedure; provide privacy; use good body mechanics; provide patient safety.

How many identifiers should be used to identify a patient?

Two identifiers. ( name and birthday)

What is the role of privacy in patient procedures?

Provide privacy during care.

What is the significance of the stunning facts about healthcare-associated infections and medical errors in the US?

They are among the leading causes of death, killing more Americans than AIDS, breast cancer, or vehicle accidents per year.

How does the risk of death from healthcare-associated infection or medical error compare to a plane crash?

HAIs/medical errors have a risk of 1 in 760 hospital admissions, vs 1 in 8 million flights for plane crashes.

What is the recommended method to break the chain of infection according to the notes?

Understand and address each element of the chain: infectious agent, source, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host.

What is stated as the most important way to reduce infections through hand hygiene?

Frequent handwashing is the most important way to reduce infections.

List three examples of susceptible host

Immunosuppressed, tramua, surgery, chronically ill, elderly

List three examples of portal of entry

Respiratory tract, mucous membranes, GU tract, GI tract, Nonintact skin

List three examples of mode of transmission

contact, airborne, droplet, vector

list three examples of portal of exit

respiratory tract, blood, pee, emesis

list three examples of source

animal or insect, inanimate object, human being

list three examples of infectious agent

bacterium, virus, parasite, fungus

What are Standard Precautions and when should they be used?

Standard precautions are the “practices that prevent the spread of infectious diseases by minimizing the risk for transmission or exposure. Standard precautions are used with every patient because “it is not possible to identify patients who may or may not be infectious at any given time”

Define Medical Asepsis.

Clean technique used to prevent infection and break the chain of infection.

Examples of Medical Asepsis

Handwashing, wearing gloves, gowning, and disinfecting

Describe what health care-associated infections are.

Formerly referred to as nosocomial infections, are infections acquired while the patient is receiving treatment in a health care facility such as a hospital, long-term care facility, clinic, or primary care office