Reflective Essay
Word count
1,000
Placement , Infection Control Team
Dip/HE Adult Nursing
02/09
This reflective essay is based upon my experience working alongside the Infection Prevention and Control Support Nurses at the general hospital. As part of my learning experience as a 2nd year student nurse is to accompany the infection control nurses when visiting the wards The role of the IPCSN involved teaching, educating and advising all disciplines across the Trust, monitoring outbreaks and daily surveillance.
I will structure this essay using Gibbs Model of Reflection (Gibbs 1988). Reflective learning helps practitioners analyse their experiences and how they think and feel about them before
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Staff were advised to encourage fluids especially with the patient’s suspected with nurovirus and commence them on a Bristol stool chart in order to monitor the diarrhoea a food chart and fluid balance chart to keep a record of the input and output. By documenting the information correctly enables nurses adhere to the NMC code for good record keeping (NMC 2009) who recommend that stating the date, time, signing and printing alongside is good practice.
On reflection I have learned by being with the IPCT the importance of sending samples off when the first episode of diarrhoea and vomiting occurs leasing with team members. The IPCT emphasises prompt screening of suspecting patients for a norovirus as early detection of the signs can prevent an outbreak on the ward. I have become aware that the mode of transmission of norovirus means it is not always possible to avoid becoming infected (Nursing Times 2011). The trust provides mandatory training to inform nursing staff on the most recent infection control measures in practice. Hence, good hygiene and the isolation of infected individuals can limit the spread. Good communication is important with all visitors and staff, including cleaners.
However, everybody who has contact with the patient or the environment is entitled to relevant information that will enable them to reduce the risks of transmission to
1.1: Employees rights and responsibilities in the relation to the prevention and control of infection are to follow company’s policies and procedures, keep themselves safe and others, report any hazards which could lead to infection, attend relevant courses, use the PPE provided, keeping the work environment clean and tidy and to maintain good personal hygiene
Healthcare is an ever-evolving field. The debate over whether contact isolation precautions for patients who have either a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection or a vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) infection is one of the most recent inquiries that healthcare facilities are currently focused on. Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) – infections patients can get while receiving medical treatment in a healthcare facility, are a major, yet often preventable, threat to patient safety. On any given day, approximately one in 25 hospital patients has at least one healthcare-associated infection (Center for Disease Control [CDC] and Prevention, 2010, para 1-2). The category of protective isolation, was eliminated in the 1983 revision of the CDC’s Guidance for Isolation Procedures in Hospitals. This was based on evidence that simple protective isolation offered no advantage over routine care for most immunocompromised patients (Wigglesworth, 2003, para 6). However, some studies have identified a reduced risk of infection and improved outcomes associated with the routine use of barrier precautions, such as wearing gloves and gowns in high-risk populations.
Education and training about the risks of Norovirus is one of the most important, if not most important, form of precaution. Staff of the aged-care facility must be adept to recognize early signs of outbreak, be prepared and knowledgeable to swiftly manage the outbreak and reduce their susceptibility to the outbreak as well. Having the right knowledge and skill in infection control, the nurses in the aged-care can provide optimum care for the elderly patient.
The National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) has established a list of nurse-sensitive indicators. These nurse-sensitive indicators show how nursing care can drive patient outcomes related to structures and processes (Assi, 2017, p. 8). Additionally, The Joint Commission established a list of hospital safety goals. These fifteen goals focus on how to solve problems in health care safety to improve patient outcomes. Goal number seven of the National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG’s) involves reducing the risk of infections related to hospital care (Joint Commission, 2017, p. 7). NPSG.07.04.01 of this goal, calls for the reduction of central-line
Each year many people across the globe are effected by Norovirus, otherwise commonly known as a Norwalk-virus misdiagnoses as a gastric flu, stomach flu or the common viral gastro (Health, 2010). Norovirus is the most common type of gastroenteritis which causes the inflammation of the stomach and intestines (Ageing, 2014). The focus of this essay is to not only inform the audience on Norovirus but also focus on the principles of infection control within a nursing/aged care centre. The essay is also focused around a case study of Annabelle Mason who is 96 years old who has attracted the virus and is a resident in an aged care facility. The case study also involves another resident, Mrs Mary Biggs, who may also be affected by the virus.
A nurse's call to the nursing profession can be greatly impacted by the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN). Most recently, there has been a number of nurses in the media that has been affected by the Ebola virus outbreak. The quarantine of these nurses is an example of precaution measures used to ensure the safety of nurses and other healthcare practicioners. Practices in hand sanitation and the use of personal protection equipment (PPE) are simple standards that improve the quality of care that nurses proved for their patients. QSEN in clinical nursing serves as a framework for evidence- based practice in the profession. It's core competencies centers around patient-centered care, evidence-based practice, safety, team and collaboration,
Audience is one of the most important pieces of communication and awareness that has the potential to positively or negatively effect change. The target audience that this author will focus upon are physicians, registered nurses, interdisciplinary healthcare professionals and all ancillary staff. Patient care is never delivered by one specific person or one group of persons. Each of these professionals directly interact with patients, and are therefore a potential link within the chain of infection.
Treatment for pneumonia involves curing the infection and preventing any complications (E.N. Vergis, 2001). Rest and fluids are essential to achieving the maximum level of wellness also.
Reduction of nosocomial infections has been on the forefront of hospitals nationwide. C. difficile, Clostridium difficile colitis, is easily transmitted from person to person and a hospital is the perfect environment for this bacterium to disseminate rampant if not controlled. It can be transmitted on inanimate objects such as medical equipment and commodes (Ignatavicius & Workman, 2013, p. 449). This pathogen is associated with antibiotic therapy use and directly attacks the gastrointestinal system. Consequently, symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite and fever. Because killing the bacterial fully is very difficult, it raised enough concern to develop a nursing-sensitive indicator to prevent the infection in acute care settings.
Norovirus is common global cause for infectious gastroenteritis which spreads easily by many routes. This essay is a case study of a resident Mrs Annabelle Mason of Sunrise Nursing home with onset of norovirus which is evading her immune system, (Nazarko, L., 2013) and slowly transmission and symptoms are observed in another resident Mrs Mary Biggs residing in the same nursing home. This article aims to describe the mode of transmission, since the virus can cause increased morbidity in more-vulnerable people. The cycle of infection can be broken down by necessary infection control measures such as high standard of hand hygiene ,wearing proper PPE, isolation, safe handling of the needles,proper waste diposal cleaning and disinfecting which
Healthcare associated infections affect millions of people in New Delhi every year. This can really complicate the care; increase the length of stay at the hospital, and often times lead to death. HAIs are seen in all types of hospitals; however, public hospitals are more burdened by these infections. As mentioned before, the lack of adequate infection control infrastructure and no HAI surveillance system in place at certain hospitals it is harder to decrease HAIs. Several studies have shown how interventions implemented can reduce these rates, but more research and policies are necessary.
. Bolyard EA, Tablan OC, Williams WW, Pearson ML, Shapiro CN, Deitchman SD, Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). Guideline for infection control in healthcare personnel, 1998. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1998;19:407–63
Recognising the relationship that exists between exercise and risk of infection is an important concept for athlete to comprehend, as any form of infection can lead to athletes missing the event or inability to perform to the standard expected (Nieman, 1994). This relationship has been demonstrated using a “J” shaped curve which was developed by ………. Overall, this curve implies that engaging in moderate levels of exercise is beneficial in its ability to reduce URTI vs non-active people while partaking in prolonged high intensity exercise can have adverse effects and increase risk of infection to levels higher than that seen in non –active individuals.
These closely parallel the Six Sigma DMAIC methodology (define, measure, analyze, improve, control) that many IPs and healthcare quality professionals regularly utilize for performance improvement and change management.
We all know that one person who refuses to go to the doctor when they are sick and will come into the office exposing everyone to their crud. They believe that they need to be there for one reason or another, but they are prolonging their healing process and jeopardizing others ability to continue to work without illness. The title of my brochure is Five Things You Can Do To Prevent Infection and was updated in 2017. This brochure outlines five steps that help prevent the spread infection. It is aimed to help everyone gain healthier practices through hygiene and immunization practices.