Nurses ignoring the practice of isolation Precaution

Nurses ignoring the practice of isolation Precaution

Area of quality improvement and safety in at St. Francis Hospital

Isolation precautions, aimed at preventing the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms in a patient colonized or infected by another healthy, have always represented one of cornerstone of infection control programs in hospitals. In recent years, international clinical community has hosted a debate about what is the preferred approach for isolation of patients in the hospital due to the global spread of HIV infection and the risks associated with it. It should be noted that HIV has, in fact, dramatically highlighted the situation of isolation precaution as insulation systems are based on the diagnosis of infectious disease were insufficient to prevent transmission of pathogens through blood or other body fluids, such as HIV and HBV (Ahuja & Alsante 2009).

Supporting Data

Based on these considerations, in 1985, a set of universal precautions have been introduced in the U.S. and subsequently around the world. Such measures are revolutionizing the concept of isolation in the hospital. Therefore, the risk of transmission of infectious diseases in hospitals, both among patients and between patients and health personnel, has led to the consideration and implementation of a series of measures or precautions to prevent it in the majority of hospitals in US (Ebersole & Hess 2010).

Personal Observation at St. Francis Hospital

At St. Francis Hospital I am a student nurse, and I've had a few situations with isolation precautions and doctors and especially nurses that concern me. At all times there is always a written warning to alert caregivers on specific safety precaution to use on each patient, before entering the room. The 1st scenario was a 31 yr old patient with osteosarcoma and metastasis to the chest wall. He had finished chemo/radiation 1week ago and was admitted for fever of unknown origin. Labs showed WBC .4, Platelets 5, etc. Of course this patient was on isolation. When the nurse came in, he didn't even wash his hands, apart from wearing any gown, mask, or gloves; and the doctor also did the same. As a student nurse, I felt that the doctor and nurse were jeopardizing this patient, and were ignorant of proper handling of the situation. I also had a patient with MRSA and Pseudomonas on isolation; and no proper isolation Precaution was done for the patient.

Strategy - Plan, Do, Study, Act

These concepts have evolved to ...