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Caring for older people
Caring of the older adult quizlet
Caring for older people
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During periods of the norovirus outbreak, adequate and specific nursing care is extremely important in order to care for the elderly in the aged care setting. Nursing care such as personal care and skin hygiene care is important. As residents become infected with the norovirus, their personal care plans need to be changed. Full personal protective equipment (PPE) such as eye protection, glasses, face shields, googles ,aprons and gowns must be worn while assisting affected residents. This is necessary because this protective equipment protects nurses from getting the virus therefore minimising the chances of it spreading (NSW Government, 2015). Nurses need to be able to perform hand hygiene with antiseptic soap for 20-30 seconds before assisting
residence with personal care, nurses also need to rub alcohol gel onto their hands frequently in order to keep them clean. When residents become infected with the norovirus infection and they begin to vomit, continuous vomiting and diarrhoea can cause high levels of dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, hospitalisation and sometimes death (Donowitz and Hopkins, 2011). Between 2004 and 2007 there was a significant increase hospitalisations of residents within aged care facilities during the winter season, due to dehydration (Queensland Health, 2011). Because of that fact, it is important that residents that are affected with the norovirus infection are given extra fluids orally or through IVs to rehydrate the patient. Furthermore, nurses can help to assist infected patients by documenting diet management the oral intake of food and fluids. Constant repeated passage cause irritation or skin breakdown to exposed skin (Health Direct Australia, 2015). Residents within the aged care factor often have fragile skin due to ageing, the residents often spend most of their time sitting of sleeping on the bed. The Victoria Government Health (2015) explains that “often checks of skin integrity such as colour and moist by nurses, helps to prevent skin diseases on the patients”. Drying residence after showering in between their toes, applying he correct creams on excoriated skin such as sorbolene cream helps to maintain good skin integrity (New South Wales Health, 2010). Repositioning residents every few hours also helps to maintain good skin integrity.
Health visitors may need to give information about hygiene to their patients to ensure they are safe and are preventing illness and diseases caused by bacteria and viruses which may harm vulnerable patients. For example patients with autoimmune disease will be very vulnerable to unhygienic and unsteralised places as their immune system attacks their normal cells as is can’t tell the difference bacteria and its own blood cells. Safety is a key part of the job, health visitors need to ensure how to keep safe in vulnerable places and how to keep patients safe, by learning what to so in dangerous situations such as an earthquake and knowing what are their responsibilities of the job. In addition, supporting parents and their kids’ on development and wellbeing and safety to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Furthermore, supporting children with special needs and advising their parents on how to care for their wellbeing for parents to be able to support them appropriately with their needs for example ensuring they attempt to prevent injuries and accidents. Moreover, working with different social services and other organizations’ to safeguard and protect vulnerable children, adults and elderly patients to ensure they are safe and feel safe around their surroundings and environment. A
...ld have been used. If a common case definition is used it is easier to compare outbreaks to another in order to gain information for future outbreaks. The ability of the norovirus to have multiple modes of transmission, prolonged shedding after symptoms have gone, and the environmental stability of the virus cause it to be easily spread and complicate interventions to stop or prevent spread. In college campuses and other facilities that have many people in close quarters should focus on proper hand washing techniques, environmental disinfection, and exclusion of ill food workers. Using technology such as email, texting and internet to reach out to campuses and inform them of proper hygiene and cleaning techniques is a must. Using all sources of technology to communicate on college campuses would help to conduct a more thorough investigation of a reported outbreak. 6
During my clinical placement at Fremantle hospital, I ensured that I read and understood all policies and procedures of hospital. I also got myself familiarized with infection control and risk and safety guidelines so that I could follow them properly in need. I also come to know the importance of wearing personal protective clothing (PPE) in relation to different disease conditions. I also come to know that as a nursing student I am not allowed to check or administered schedule 4 and schedule 8 drugs and not even could hold the keys for locked cupboard. During my first week, I come across a patient who was on vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) control precautions with episode of stroke and left sided weakness. In this case, prior going to patient’s room, the necessary PPE required was gown, gloves with mask and goggles as extra precautions if needed. I noticed one of the occupational therapist went to
A pandemic is defined as a disease that has the ability to outbreak and spread globally. A pandemic is determined by how a particular disease spreads rather than how many lives it has claimed. A future pandemic can easily occur if and when a mutation of a new influenza A virus emerges. A pandemic of this type is easily possible to spread quickly and globally due to that when a new strand of the virus emerges, it will be highly unlikely that the human population will have a built up immunity to it.
Health care facilities - whether hospitals, nursing homes or outpatient facilities - can be dangerous places for the acquisition of infections (EHA). The most common type of nosocomial infections are surgical wound infections, respiratory infections, genitourinary infections and gastrointestinal infection (EHA). Nosocomial infections are those that originate or occur in health care setting (Abedon). They can also be defined as those that occur within 48 hours of hospital admission, 3 days of discharge or 30 days of an operation (Inweregbu). These infections are often caused by breaches of infection control practices and procedures, unclean and non-sterile environmental surfaces, and ill employees (EHA). Immunocompromised patients, the elderly and young children are usually more susceptible to these types of infections. Nosocomial infections are transmitted through direct contact from the hospital staff, inadequately sterilized instruments, aerosol droplets from other ill patients or even the food and water provided at the hospital (EHA). The symptoms of nosocomial infections vary by type but may include inflammation, discharge, fever, abscesses, and pain and irritation at the infection site (Stubblefield).
This literature review will analyze and critically explore four studies that have been conducted on hand hygiene compliance rates by Healthcare workers (HCWs). Firstly, it will look at compliance rates for HCWs in the intensive care units (ICU) and then explore the different factors that contribute to low hand hygiene compliance. Hospital Acquired infections (HAI) or Nosocomial Infections appear worldwide, affecting both developed and poor countries. HAIs represent a major source of morbidity and mortality, especially for patients in the ICU (Hugonnet, Perneger, & Pittet, 2002). Hand hygiene can be defined as any method that destroys or removes microorganisms on hands (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009). According to the World Health Organization (2002), a HAI can be defined as an infection occurring in a patient in a hospital or other health care facility in whom the infection was not present or incubating at the time of admission. The hands of HCWs transmit majority of the endemic infections. As
The systematic review; Interventions to improve hand hygiene compliance in patient care, conducted by the Cochrane Collaboration investigated inventions to improve hand hygiene compliance within patient care. The review included 2 original studies with an additional two new studies (Gould & Moralejo et al., 2010). Throughout the review it was affirmed that among hand hygiene is an indispensable method in the prevention of hospital-acquired infections (HAI), the compliance among nurses’ is inadequate. Nurses are identified within the public as dependable and trustworthy in a time of vulnerability due to their specialised education and skills (Hughes, 2008). Thus, it is imperative that evidence based practice is cond...
Thus, for the purpose of this paper, I will be describing a scenario that I witnessed where a Registered Care Aide (RCA) provided care in an inappropriate manner by means of hand hygiene and highlight the importance of infection control as a way to minimize nosocomial infections and contamination of the surrounding
Norovirus is one of the leading causes, if not the leading cause of gastroenteritis worldwide (6).
It is imperative to explore leadership factors that influence nurse use of foam hand sanitizer or soap and water appropriately when cleaning their hands as they enter and leave each patients room. Those in leadership must determine if a higher level of involvement from leadership equals more frequent hand washing from other nursing staff. Leadership must also ensure that the nursing staff understands that implications of not washing their hands after seeing each patient. When each member of the nursing team understands the importance of hand washing, the unit they work on will function better and their patients will have better outcomes.
Working in a healthcare setting is an incredibly risky occupation due to the amount of communicable diseases that the RN are exposed to and could potentially catch. Pam Fowler, RN, states, “the most commonly spread illnesses are: the norovirus, influenza, MRSA, tuberculosis, and C. difficile.” Standard Precautions and the Bloodborne Pathogen Standards are followed, however, these do not always protect healthcare members to the fullest. The norovirus, tuberculosis, c. difficile, and influenza are the most frightening when an outbreak occurs on one unit as they can be spread by airborne particles or with contact with the infected individual. In the article “Nurses and Norovirus” the Hendler writes, “I’ve assisted a neurosurgeon as he drilled burr holes into a patient’s skull and a cardiothoracic surgeon as he opened a patient’s chest. I’ve stuck my hands into countless wounds and gathered leeches as they reduced a neck hematoma. However, nothing has made me more squeamish or turned me into more of a germaphobe than the dreaded norovirus” (Hendler). This may be exaggerated, however, as a RN Hendler relates to the fear when there is an outbreak of an easily communicable disease. In a mind of a registered nurse, the health risks do not come close to outweighing the benefits. RNs also do not let them deter from the profession as the need for registered nurses continuously
“Researchers in London estimate that if everyone routinely washed their hands, a million deaths a year could be prevented” (“Hygiene Fast Facts”, 2013, p. 1). Hands are the number one mode of transmission of pathogens. Hands are also vital in patient interaction, and therefore should be kept clean to protect the safety of patients and the person caring for the patient. Hand hygiene is imperative to professional nursing practice because it prevents the spread of pathogens, decreases chances of hospital-acquired infections, and promotes patient safety. There is a substantial amount of evidence that shows why hand hygiene is important in healthcare
The Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Program is an essential force maximizing quality, patient centered care, and safety throughout the Veterans Affairs North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS). The VANTHCS “... is a progressive health care provider in the heart of Texas ... we serve more than 117,000 Veterans and deliver 1.4 million outpatient episodes of care each year to Veterans in 38 Texas counties and two counties in southern Oklahoma” (“VA North Texas,” 2016, para. 1). The purpose of the IPC Program is to guide a facility-wide approach toward identifying, preventing, controlling, and eliminating healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). This approach is facilitated through infection control (IC) practitioner’s role-modeling behaviors of assessing, supporting, guiding, and/or directing healthcare providers (HCPs) in the application of evidence-based practices (EBPs) to prevent HAIs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HAIs are often preventable adverse events that pose a major threat to patient safety (“Centers for Disease,” 2016). As a result, IC practitioners recognize the importance of preparing nurse faculty to engage clinical staff in the application of EBPs to prevent infections.
Food borne illnesses are caused by consuming contaminated foods or beverages. There are many different disease-causing microbes, or pathogens. In addition, poisonous chemicals, or other harmful substances can cause food borne illnesses if they are present in food. More than two hundred and fifty different food borne illnesses have been described; almost all of these illnesses are infections. They are caused by a variety of bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can be food borne. (Center 1)
Throughout human history disease has been linked to many facets of life and even the rise and fall of entire civilizations. Biological, social, political and economic forces have all influenced how the outbreak of disease is handled. Epidemics have altered history in how they have developed and the impact that they have had. In turn, epidemic management has been influenced by history and governments as humans have learned to cope with outbreaks and the social and political implications that result from them. Today, biomedical engineers, politicians, historians and social scientists are leading the battle in an attempt to understand and combat infectious diseases. This report will explore epidemic management and its historical relationship with the international political system. Issues will be investigated that range from the societal effects of epidemics, to observing today’s public policy debates regarding outbreaks to the possible reduction or even dissolution of conflict in exchange for food and medical technology between nations. Research has made it abundantly clear that humans must be vigilant in combating epidemics. By drawing on multiple disciplines, it is possible to implement a sound disease management plan that will control and reduce the spreading and mortality of infectious agents across the globe, as well as reduce tension and conflict between the developed and developing worlds.