Everyone has heard about the spread of infections in hospitals... MRSA for example, UTI, line infections to name only a small few. Now how does it spread like wildfire?
Oh it's the nursing staff. They don't wash their hands, they don't clean their equipment. They aren't cleaning the lines. Nurses, nurses, nursing, nursing. PFFT!
In the 12 hours I was in the ICU I witnessed this...
1. RT placing his stethoscope on the bed of a precautions patient then placing it around his neck. Followed by suctioning patient without goggles or mask in a sputum MDRO, then take off gloves then gown and NOT wash his hands.
2. Doctor's going from room to room and never once using the gel, or washing their hands after assessing the patients. (Hint: its the old timers)
Side note: Med students gel like fiends... as do nursing students who are gel addicted! Nursing students ask yourself this... when was the last time you passed a gel stationed outside a patient room and not used it? If you can answer this... you are not using it enough! LOL
3. Doctor going through the laundry bin of a precautions patient with bare hands searching for a missing item, and NOT washing his hands before leaving or even attempting to use the gel outside the room.
4. Every single nurse, either washed their hands prior to leaving a room, or washed and gelled their hands after leaving a room!!
5. On the flip side I did see a few not gel before going in a few times, but overall this was limited.
6. Every single nurse Cavi wiped their computer outside the rooms prior to using between shifts as well!
There was more but at this you probably get the point... it's all nursing's fault! Urgh!
EXACTLY!! I honestly can't remember the last time I saw a physician who washed their hands either when they came in my room or when the left, and there was no gel in sight!!
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree there are a lot of people involved in infection control! We need to all work together and find collaborative and helpful ways to correct these types of errors when we see them. In fact it's our job to prevent harm to our patients. Feel free to generously offer gel to those who miss it or offer to whip their stethoscope when they've contaminated it.
ReplyDeleteewww... this is disturbing to read lol... when I had Matrim I got a staph infection from the hospital.. blah.
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