[Grace]

Discussion Question: This reading discusses low compliance with IPAC practices by healthcare providers. Have you always followed IPAC practices in your workplace? What would you recommend at your current or a former workplace to ensure or increase compliance with IPAC practices?

[Helen]

Although I’ve always made an effort to adhere to IPAC procedures at work, I’ve found that occasionally there can be irregularities in compliance. I would advise frequent training and refresher courses for all employees to increase compliance, particularly with regard to infection control protocols, PPE use, and hand hygiene. In order to hold everyone accountable, I also believe that more frequent audits and comments would be beneficial. Better adherence to these principles would also be greatly aided by leadership’s clear explanation of the significance of IPAC and the availability of essential supplies.

[Yu]

While I always do my best to follow IPAC protocols such as proper hand hygiene, correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and safe handling of equipment, I recognize that certain challenges sometimes can make it difficult to fully comply at all times. One common challenge is ensuring that all staff consistently follow safe medication storage and preparation guidelines, especially during busy shifts or emergencies. For example, there can be lapses in dating opened vials or discarding expired medications if there’s no routine check system in place.
To improve and maintain IPAC compliance in the workplace, I would recommend ongoing education and regular reviews to help staff stay updated and understand the importance of infection prevention. For example, I would recommend more regular educations that focus on the risks of re-entering multidose vials or using single-dose vials on more than one patient. Visual reminders near medication prep areas, regular audits, and having clear protocols for discarding outdated or open products can also support better compliance.

[Adaeze]

I try my best to follow IPAC practices in my place of work by constantly sanitizing my hands, using proper PPE, and washing with soap and water when my hands are visibly soiled. I also try to do admission swabs for new patients in the unit for (ESBL, VRE, MRSA).
W hen you are short staffed, many healthcare workers may find it difficult to adhere to hand hygiene practice, because everyone is rushing to get things done in a timely manner.
To improve IPAC practices, nurses should be well staffed to provide adequate and safe care to patients. Also, constant workshops and seminars can be done from time to time in all units for more awareness. Nurses trained in IPAC practices , can be assigned to monitor hand hygiene daily without patient assignment and have this rotated, so that the nurse can observe hand hygiene practice in the unit, and monitor other routine practices to see if they are followed. This nurse can provide health education to people, to improve patient safety in all units.

[Helen]

I believe that following IPAC recommendations is important to stopping the transmission of illnesses, however I have found that it can be difficult to regularly follow these practices due to heavy workloads and the nurse-to-patient ratio. I always try to make an effort to adhere to IPAC rules by washing my hands properly before and after providing treatment, making sure that all equipment is cleansed, and using stringent hygiene protocols while dressing wounds and inserting catheters. All supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) must be easily accessible, and employees must be regularly trained on how to use PPE properly. Infection risks can also be reduced by keeping the surroundings and tools properly sanitized.

[Author]

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