[Grace]

Think of a time you or a colleague did not follow IPAC practices. Discuss the situation and potential negative outcomes for clients related to not following the appropriate IPAC practices.

(Post your answer in the discussion below)

[Grace]

Hello Everyone,

I hope you are all looking forward to starting the IPAC course and are ready for more learning.

This course is asynchronous with 1 module each week.
Each week, you are required to review a module and all its contents (readings, videos, activities and the knowledge check) post in discussions and respond to at least one of your peer posts.
Instructions are provided in the module each week as to what activity is required for each module. The instructions are posted within the module/discussion post section, so make sure you access each module each week to not miss any.
There will be an assignment in the final week, and instructions will be provided as well.

You are expected to participate and complete the modules each week. The discussion post is being monitored to ensure participation and receipt of certificate.
We understand that your other commitments may prevent this for some weeks; if you miss a week, please catch up the following week in addition to that week’s content.

I look forward to all the great ideas and postings for each weekly module.

Thank you,
Grace

[Semhar]

I remember when I was a new nursing graduate. I was working in the long term care home and I was fresh out of nursing school. I was in charge of administering medication to 42 residents. I was concerned only on how to effectively administer medication with out any mistakes and on time. Infection protection was my least priority. After giving medication to one resident, I moved directly to the next resident without washing my hand or using hand sanitizer and at times going from one resident to another with out changing my gloves. This lapse in hygiene practices may stem from a busy schedule, leading me to overlook critical IPAC protocols. The immediate risk is the potential transfer of pathogens from one resident to another. If the first resident had an infectious disease or an open wound, I could inadvertently introduce those pathogens to the second resident, increasing their risk of infection. In long-term care settings, where residents often have weakened immune systems or chronic conditions, the risk of HAIs is particularly high. This could lead to outbreaks within the facility, affecting multiple residents simultaneously. Residents who develop infections as a result of this oversight may experience a decline in their overall health, potentially leading to complications such as sepsis, hospitalization, or even death in the most vulnerable individuals. Infections may necessitate additional treatments or hospitalizations, resulting in longer recovery times and increased healthcare costs for both the facility and the residents’ families. The fear of contracting infections can lead to anxiety and stress among residents, affecting their mental health and quality of life. Concerns about safety and health can contribute to feelings of helplessness in this vulnerable population.

In summary, the failure of a nurse in a long-term care setting to adhere to IPAC practices can have severe consequences for residents. This emphasizes the critical need for consistent adherence to infection control protocols to protect the health and well-being of this vulnerable population.

[Ping]

Ping Li

Hi Semhar,
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I think it is very common for new
nursing graduates to focus heavily on mastering tasks, routines, and clinical skills, often at
the expense of infection prevention and control. Early in my career, I was no exception.
As a new graduate, I was so preoccupied with learning how to complete procedures correctly,
manage time efficiently, and respond to immediate patient needs that I often overlooked the
foundational principles of standard precautions and the importance of consistent hand hygiene.
At the time, these measures seemed secondary compared to more technical responsibilities.
However, as I gained more experience and observed firsthand the consequences of lapses in infection control, my perspective changed dramatically. I witnessed residents fall ill due to preventable infectious diseases and saw how quickly outbreaks could spread in healthcare settings—particularly among vulnerable populations. These experiences made it clear that infection prevention and control is a critical component of patient safety and quality care.
I came to understand that nurses are not only responsible for delivering care but also for being vigilant advocates for safe practices. We are often the first line of defense against the spread of infection. Now, I view infection prevention and control as a fundamental part of nursing practice—just as essential as any technical skill or clinical intervention.

[Bunmi]

Thank you for sharing such an honest and reflective experience—it’s something many healthcare workers can relate to, especially when transitioning from school to practice. The pressure of managing time, ensuring medication accuracy, and caring for multiple residents can easily overshadow other critical responsibilities like infection prevention and control (IPAC), particularly early in one’s career.

Your reflection highlights a crucial learning point: even the smallest lapses in hand hygiene or glove use can have serious consequences, especially in a long-term care environment where residents are highly vulnerable. As you mentioned, skipping hand hygiene or not changing gloves between residents increases the risk of cross-contamination, which can lead to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), outbreaks, and further health deterioration for residents.

It’s commendable that you can now recognize the importance of consistent IPAC practices, not just as a policy requirement, but as a vital part of resident safety and quality care. Your experience is a powerful reminder of how essential it is for all healthcare staff—new and experienced alike—to integrate IPAC into every aspect of their routine.

Moving forward, your insight will not only strengthen your own practice but can also serve as a valuable teaching point for others entering the field. Thank you again for being open—it’s reflections like yours that drive meaningful improvement in care.

[Ping]

Ping Li

Nurses are frontline healthcare workers who provide direct care to patients and play a vital role in infection prevention and control. Their actions directly impact patient safety, and improper practices can lead to serious consequences
During my time working at a retirement home, I witnessed a situation that underscored the importance of strict infection control. A nurse reported to work with “a sore throat”. Unfortunately, the nurse did not consider the possibility of having a respiratory infection and failed to wear a mask while caring for residents. This oversight resulted in the transmission of COVID-19 to four residents, leading to an outbreak in the unit.
This incident highlights the importance of strict adherence to infection prevention and control. These measures are essential to safeguarding patient health, preventing the spread of healthcare-associated infections, and maintaining a safe environment for both patients and staff. Nurses’ vigilance, responsibility, and commitment to infection control practices are fundamental to delivering high-quality care and alleviating strain on the healthcare system.

[Yiqun]

Hi, Ping

Thank you for your sharing.

I agree with you that as a nurse either an RPN or RN, need to be vigilant for strict adherence to infection prevention and control protocols to prevent the virus spread and protect other residents’ safety and healthy. The decision we mad may be harsh and hard for residents’ family to understand or cooperate, but we have to consider all possibilities and choose the best practices for all residents and including staffs.

[Kisha]

Thank you for sharing. It is so important to recognize the role of nurses in protecting vulnerable populations, especially in retirement homes. This incident really highlights how even small lapses in infection control can have serious consequences. All healthcare professionals have to stay vigilant and prioritize safety, not just for patients but also for colleagues and the community. We all share the responsibility of maintaining a safe environment.

[Pushpinder]

A few months ago, while working as an RPN in a long-term care home, we had RPN students having their first placement in the home. At that time, we were having an influenza outbreak at our facility, so masks were mandatory to enter the facility. While working, I noticed one of the students kept on bringing his mask down from his nose and sometimes even down to his chin. I approached the student and asked him why he was doing this. The student stated that he is not used to the mask and that he has a hard time breathing when the mask covers his mouth and nose. I asked him if he had any medical condition, to which he said no. I explained to the student the expectations as a nursing student and the requirement to follow proper infection control procedures, especially during an outbreak. By doing this, you are not only exposing yourself to the virus but also helping spread it by touching the mask repeatedly. The potential outcomes of this could be the further spread of influenza either by the person getting infected or through their hand. Not only was he putting the vulnerable population at home at risk, but he could take this out to the community by getting flu himself. It is essential to teach and understand infection control and prevention practices early in the school as these can significantly impact the population you are working with if not correctly followed.

[Pushpinder]

Hi Semhar,
Thanks for your informative post. I completely agree with you; when you are overwhelmed with the patient load, you tend to ignore infection prevention protocols. This is especially true for new graduates. However, I want to point out that this can happen at any time in your nursing career. I have seen experienced nurses do this, too. Infection control is critical to patient safety and health. Even though nurses can get overwhelmed often, we must keep infection control in mind. Most of the time, this is how outbreaks spread.
It’s essential for healthcare facilities to regularly provide reminders and training on infection prevention protocols to ensure they remain at the top of mind. Creating a supportive work environment where nurses feel comfortable asking for help or delegating tasks can also reduce the risk of lapses. Ultimately, maintaining strict infection control is a shared responsibility that protects not just our patients but our colleagues and ourselves as well.

[Bunmi]

I recall a situation at one of the long-term care homes I worked at, where a resident was placed on isolation due to a contagious infection, such as a respiratory or gastrointestinal illness. However, due to a communication breakdown between the Registered Nurse (RN) and the resident’s family, the family was unaware that their loved one was on isolation precautions. As a result, they took the resident out for lunch in the community, not realizing the need to follow isolation protocols. This led to the family unknowingly violating the isolation measures by taking the resident out of the facility. One of the potential negative outcomes for the resident was that, after visiting a crowded public place while suffering from a respiratory illness, she was exposed to influenza. Upon returning to the facility, she developed symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, and fatigue. To prevent such incidents, the RN and the entire healthcare team should ensure clear and timely communication with the family regarding isolation protocols.

[Rhoda]

I saw one of my coworkers neglect to change her gloves in between patient care duties a few weeks ago. Immediately after cleaning a resident’s wound, she helped feed another resident without taking off her gloves. I gently reminded her that infection control procedures must be followed.

Infections could have spread among residents as a result of cross-contamination, despite the fact that it was a small error. In long-term care, where residents are vulnerable to infections, this could have resulted in serious complications, including hospital readmissions or worsening of existing conditions.

The importance of always following IPAC procedures to safeguard our patient’s health was brought home by this incident.

[Yiqun]

I still remember the beginning of the first wave of COVID-19—how terrifying and uncertain it was. At the time, we knew so little about the virus, how it spread, or how to protect ourselves effectively. The high infection rate among residents was largely due to poor adherence to basic precautions, such as inconsistent handwashing and improper donning and doffing of PPE for each resident. These lapses in infection control protocols led to widespread transmission and, tragically, negative care outcomes. We lost nearly one-third of our residents, many of them elderly or vulnerable. It was a devastating lesson in the critical importance of strict hygiene practices, proper PPE use, and structured infection prevention measures in my workplace.

[Semhar]

Hi Yiqun,

Your reflections on the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic highlight the challenges faced in navigating such an unprecedented situation. It’s understandable that the fear and uncertainty surrounding the virus made it difficult to implement effective infection control measures initially. The high infection rates you mentioned underscore the critical importance of adhering to basic precautions, which can sometimes be taken for granted.

Your experience with lapses in hand hygiene and PPE protocols serves as a powerful reminder of how essential these practices are in preventing the spread of infections. The devastating outcomes from those early days emphasize the need for consistent training and reinforcement of infection control measures, especially in high-risk environments.

It’s crucial that we learn from those experiences to ensure that strict hygiene practices and proper PPE use remain at the forefront of our efforts moving forward. Sharing these lessons can help strengthen infection prevention strategies and improve care outcomes in the future. Thank you for bringing attention to this significant issue; it’s important for all of us to remember and grow from these experiences.

[Samoya]

Hand hygiene is one of the most basic yet crucial components of infection prevention and control (IPAC) in healthcare settings. Despite its simplicity, compliance remains a significant global concern with serious public health implications. A 2023 study published in the Journal of Hospital Infection examined the hand hygiene practices of healthcare workers in Bangladeshi tertiary institutions. After observing over 14,000 hand hygiene opportunities, researchers found that only 25.3% of healthcare workers complied with hand hygiene guidelines (Harun et al., 2023). Factors such as heavy workload and time constraints were noted to negatively impact compliance (Harun et al., 2023). These findings highlight that hand hygiene noncompliance is a widespread issue and reflect similar patterns commonly observed in our own clinical settings.

In my clinical experience, I have witnessed several instances where IPAC practices were not properly followed by colleagues. These range from improper donning and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE) to missing key moments for hand hygiene. A common issue I observe is healthcare workers failing to sanitize their hands after removing gloves post-patient care. This is a critical lapse in IPAC protocol. While gloves are intended to provide a barrier against contaminants, they are not a substitute for hand hygiene. Failure to perform hand hygiene after glove removal increases the risk of cross-contamination and the transmission of infectious agents via direct or indirect contact.

In these circumstances, clients may suffer serious consequences. Patients are more likely to contract healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), especially if they have open wounds or are immunocompromised. From an epidemiological perspective, such breaches in IPAC practices can contribute to the rapid spread of pathogens in enclosed environments like hospital units. This not only compromises patient safety but can also lead to prolonged hospital stays, poor clinical outcomes or mortality. Overall, adherence to hand hygiene and proper IPAC protocols is vital for safeguarding patient health and maintaining a safe healthcare environment.

Reference
Harun, M. G. D., Anwar, M. M. U., Sumon, S. A., Mohona, T. M., Hassan, M. Z., Rahman, A., Abdullah, S. A. H. M., Islam, M. S., Oakley, L. P., Malpiedi, P., Kaydos-Daniels, S. C., & Styczynski, A. R. (2023). Hand hygiene compliance and associated factors among healthcare workers in selected tertiary-care hospitals in Bangladesh. The Journal of Hospital Infection, 139, 220–227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2023.07.012

[Yu]

Hi Samoya,

I completely agree that hand hygiene is one of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent the spread of infection in healthcare settings, especially in long-term care where residents are more vulnerable. Like you, I’ve noticed that some staff members skip hand hygiene after removing their gloves. This often happens when staff are extremely busy, trying to manage too many tasks at once, or working short-staffed. In some cases, they may not fully understand how important that step is in preventing cross-contamination. As you pointed out, gloves cannot replace proper hand hygiene. Even though it may seem like a small shortcut, it can lead to serious risks. That’s why it’s so important to keep promoting good practices through education, teamwork, and a workplace culture focused on safety. Thanks for sharing!

[Yu]

During a morning shift in a long-term care facility, I noticed a new nurse didn’t sanitize her hands after giving medication to a resident who had vomited during breakfast. She went straight into another resident’s room to administer medication. I immediately stopped her and reminded her to wash her hands. Although she may have been trying to save time, skipping hand hygiene created a serious risk of spreading infection. As a new nurse still adjusting to the fast-paced environment, she was likely focused on completing her tasks and may not have realized how critical infection prevention and control (IPAC) practices are.
In long-term care settings, where residents are often elderly and have weakened immune systems, poor hand hygiene can lead to the spread of viruses such as influenza, COVID-19, norovirus, C. difficile, etc. These infections can cause serious illness, hospitalizations, and even death. Outbreaks also increase stress for residents and families, add pressure on staff, and can overwhelm the facility. That’s why it’s so important for all healthcare workers to follow IPAC protocols consistently to keep everyone safe.

[Author]

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