CVME Insider: Nursing Knowledge That Matters

SO I have been thinking about Nina Pham.  Who is Nina?  Well if you have to ask; then I think you should stop reading and go check your heart and soul.  The Center for Disease Control and Prevention  ( CDC ) has a poster that has been put out that shows you exactly how to put on and take off your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in case you have a patient in isolation for whatever reason. However, I have been studying this poster and thinking about all my years of training; not only in the civilian world; but the military as well.  What is missing from the poster?  Can you guess? The Poster provided to us by the CDC is shown as follows:   Well, have you guessed?  What about the healthcare provider cover their hair or head?  What is a patient with the EBOLA virus is having a coughing spell; or having massive diarrhea and you are the one having to help them and care for them?  What if those small particles g...

CHLORA-PREP   ™ for infection Control Every year, a lot of lives are lost due to the spread of infections in hospitals. Health care workers can take precautions to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. This is a vital part of nursing and as patient advocates it is our duty to follow these steps as a part of infection control. Proper hand washing is the single most effective method to prevent the spread of infections in our hospitals. If you were a patient or one of your family members was a patient would you not be concerned then? Don't be afraid to remind friends, family and other health care providers to wash their hands before getting close, performing a procedure, or touching the patient before starting an IV. DONT FORGET Cover the coughs and sneezes Using gloves, masks and protective clothing Making tissues and hand cleaners available to everyone Following hospital policies and procedures when working with paitents in regards to bloo...