[John-paul]

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):

[Jessica]

Good Morning colleagues,
This topic of discussion was the very reason I decided to better my knowledge and understanding of iPAC measures.
I belong to a community care organization that delivers care in a rural setting. Part of the role of the nurses is to sterilize instruments with autoclave.
At a recent audit, It was identified that proper documentation of sterilization was not being followed whisked prompted a quick overhaul of our polices and procedures.
Thankfully, at my location my unit is monitored regularly closely with our local health unit because of a dental program. I will be starting to take over the sterilizing at my office. I will be trained by a local public health agent to do this.
IPAC measures are so important to public safety. It is so important to deliver safe and competent care. I believe the iPad measures are a building block to delivering that care.

Jessica Allison

[Mauei Caela]

Hi Jessica,

It’s really interesting to know that part of your role in the community care is doing instrument sterilizations. I do see the same problem we have in terms of documentation in my unit that the management and other teams have come to provide presentations on the importance of proper documentation, especially as it affects the budget the hospital gets from the government. I am glad that you have resources available to you to be able to deliver safe and competent care to your clients.

[Mahnoz]

Hello Everyone,
I would like to write about my experience as a community visiting nurse about a time where I had failed to follow through with proper hand hygiene protocol and donning of appropriate equipment. By not following through the single most important practice as a nurse can do, my patient unfortunately developed conjunctivitis. The client was then required to go through prescribed antibiotic eye drops. This infection impacted their quality of life due to them experiencing symptoms such as excessive tearing, redness and irritation. Overall, this infection led to a delay in other aspects of their care due to special isolation precautions. Most importantly though, this breach in infection control compromised my client’s trust in the care being provided.
By taking this course I hope to reinforce evidence based measures to protect myself and my clients in the future. I would like to continue my career with mindful practice.

[Esha]

Hello Mahnoz,
Your reflection on incorrect IPAC practices is very insightful. As someone who works at a very busy facility, I notice many of my co-workers often forget to wear proper PPE which has led to the spread of many organisms. Proper hand hygiene is very important and when staff often neglect this important task it can be very harmful. I often like to plan my mornings out in a way where I can don the proper equipment before providing care. I feel with many tasks in nursing we can often find a safer quicker route however, when it comes to proper PPE no shortcuts should be taken.

[Esha]

During my time working in the hospital, I observed a situation where proper Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) practices were not followed. Specifically, I noticed that incorrect infection control signage was used. Because patients are often discharged quickly, staff sometimes forget or don’t have time to update the signage properly. A common example is when a patient requires droplet precautions, but staff put up contact precaution signage instead. This is sometimes done to save time, but it can lead to serious risks. If a patient has symptoms like a cough or fever, using the wrong precautions can increase the chance of spreading infection.
This experience allowed me to understand the importance of proper signage.

[Rebecca]

I also observed the similar situation with infection control signage when I worked in a hospital.

As busy as we are in health care it is important that we do our best to keep our clients, ourselves and co-workers safe.

[Rebecca]

As a nursing student during my home car rotation I was helping with a dressing change the client had a wound on their lower leg with pseudomonas.
I asked the nurse that I was working with how the client would have got that infection in her leg.
Her answer is something that I will never forget she said “someone wasn’t doing their job right.”
The client had several home care visits. The clients wound took a long time to heal, but did eventually.

[Maame]

Hello Rebecca,

I recall a time when I was a student I had a preceptor and a resident had a big skin tear on he’s lower leg. I asked my preceptor what happened to the resident’s leg, she said resident foot rest wasn’t adjusted properly. She explained the importance of the assigned PSW making sure the resident’s footrest on wheelchair is applied correctly to prevent incidents’. I think your nurse could of explained to you the importance of nurses’ appropriately doing their job or seeking assistance when necessary if not it can impact the resident’s well being. I believe if she expanded on her statement it could of help you really understand the importance of the nurse’s job . Thanks for sharing.

[Mauei Caela]

Hello Everyone,

I work in a Long-Term Ventilator Unit, and our patient population requires us to use full personal protective equipment (PPE) when providing care. I do have one particular experience where we had to reuse gowns, as we do not have enough stock available. Our Nurse in charge had to inform us that there are not enough gowns, and they even had to go to different units to check. Due to a lack of equipment during the weekend, we had to use one gown for each patient for our entire shift to make sure that the next shift would have their own. It was difficult that weekend doing this, as I felt I had to go against what I learned. There may not be a significant effect on patients’ and staff’s well-being, but I do know that at one point, we may have introduced the beginning of the chain of transmission. This has impacted my confidence in the care I deliver. I am aware of the consequences that could’ve happened to both patients and staffs.

[Mahnoz]

Hi Mauei,

Your experience with a shortage of supplies while working with vulnerable patients must have been very challenging. Nursing school often does not prepare us for these particular situations like yours whereas we have to navigate and adapt whilst still providing high quality care. Your experience definitely highlights the importance of why advocating for safe working conditions is so important in healthcare. It is a reminder of the realities us nurses face and I appreciate you bringing attention to it.

[Maame]

Hello everyone,

I recall a time at work in which a resident was MRSA positive, and I was in such a rush I didn’t put on my gown only gloves. A t the given time I felt as it was too much of a hussle but as a I reflect back to that patrticular incident I realized that it was wrong and I can put myself and other residents at risk. If I came into close skin to skin contact I could of easily passed it to another resident and the chain continues to lengthen. Regardless of the amount of PPEs I have to don on safety comes first.

[Author]

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