Care is more than the treatment of physical aspects of the patient, it also encompasses their mental and social wellbeing (WHO 1946). To provide this approach healthcare professionals work together to deliver high quality and safe care, developed from evidence based practice. The NHS Confederation (2010) identified a link between high quality care and increased patient outcomes. Standards of care, conduct, and performance and ethics are set by the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC). Governing healthcare professions with standards of professional and public expectations of behaviour (HCPC 2012a). Healthcare professionals are duty bound to self-analyse and evaluate current practice through continuous professional development, thus …show more content…
These potentially infectious items need to be dealt with as soon as possible to reduce the risk of cross contamination and infection (HSE 2011). Standard precautions and principles must be adhered to, not only to protect the patient but also to protect members of the team who care for them. In the clinical diary there was a blood spill, which occurred when the patient pulled the Venflon out while taking off her dressing gown. This was cleaned up by a healthcare professional and a student. Standard precautions were not adhered to due to not wearing gloves which is vital for safe practice (AFPP 2011). It is also best practice for the student (HCPC 2012c). Mentors have a legal and professional duty to students, who should be guided and taught key issues in infection control principles whilst supervised (HCPC 2012b). Gloves, goggles, masks and gowns are minimum recommended requirements of PPE in any clinical environment where contact with blood or bodily fluid is likely (HSE 2011). Although wearing gloves does not prevent injury. It minimises exposure and cross contamination, reducing the risk of infection (AFPP 2011). The healthcare professional in the diary decided not to wear gloves because they catch on her rings and tear. This suggests that the rings have jagged edges or stones, which potentially could cause injury to the patient and also pose as an infection risk. Professional guidelines also dictate that staff should be bare below the
It also proposed new systems to enhance patient care, an emphasis upon health and wellbeing rather than illness and the increased devolution of decision making to local organisations. The need for more partnerships and joint working arrangements between Primary Care Trust’s, Local Authorities, independent and voluntary sector organisations, was also emphasised. A new performance framework was also implemented in April of 2005, Standards for Better Health (Department of Health, 2004) which sets out the level of quality all organisations providing NHS care are expected to meet (core standards) or aspire to (development standards) within UK healthcare. The standards to which the document refers are organised within seven domains ranging from safety and governance, to patient focus and public health and are designed to cover the full range and spectrum of healthcare as enshrined in the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003. National Service Frameworks and National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance are integral to this standards based system, whilst The Healthcare Commission has an ongoing and major function to play in the assessment and review of all healthcare organisations.
Before I started the assessment I used alcohol gel to decontaminate my hand. NICE (2006) states that hand must be decontaminated before each and every episode of direct patient care. It is important to decontaminate my hand to prevent cross-infection of micro-organisms from staff to patient, for example Hospital Acquired Infection. I realised that I am going to have contact with body fluid and blood therefore I put on a pair of latex gloves and disposable plastic apron. Wandsworth Teaching Primary Care Trust May (2008) states that ‘Personal Protective Equipment is designed to protect the healthcare worker from coming into contact with potentially infectious body fluids. It may also protect the patient from the healthcare workers own microbial flora’.
All areas that are being used for healthcare activities should be cleaned with either disinfectant wipes each morning and in between patients/procedures. Equipment should be all new out of the packets and clean. For things more major such as vasectomy’s, minor surgery or family planning clinics, areas should be cleaned everywhere with a disinfectant fluid and also with wipes, gloves should always be worn as well as other PPE such as aprons and hats. All equipment should be new from the packet and only touched by the person who is using
Once the dressings were securely on and the procedure had been finished, I removed my apron and gloves and disposed of them in the plastic bag, along with everything thing else I had used and then washed my hands again. After leaving the patients home I discussed my practical experience with the Nurse who informed me that I although I had carried out the procedure well it was actually carried out using a clinically clean technique rather than the Aseptic Non Touch Technique as I had thought. As I had used the same gloves to remove the dirty dressings from the leg ulcer and then apply new sterile dressings I had not maintained the Aseptic Non Touch Technique. The Nurse informed me that this was perfectly suitable for the procedure I carried out as the wound was still kept as clean as possible and dressings and equipment used were sterile.
Professionalism is an adherence to a set of values comprising both a formally agreed-upon code of conduct and the informal expectations of colleagues, clients and society. The key values include acting in a patient's interest, responsiveness to the health needs of society, maintaining the highest standards of excellence in the practice of medicine and in the generation and dissemination of knowledge. In addition to medical knowledge and skills, medical professionals should present psychosocial and humanistic qualities such as caring, empathy, humility and compassion, as well as social responsibility and sensitivity to people's culture and beliefs. All these qualities are expected of members of highly trained professions.
For all of the professional bodies that are related to the health and social care profession would have the code of practices and for any researchers that are in the health and social care would be have to obey with the codes of code of practice as it expected when it comes to their professional body. For everyone that works in any relation with the NHS, then they must comply with the NHS NPSA which stands for the National Patient Safety Agency guidelines that are for the Research Ethnic Committee review.
The government responds to The Francis Report in 2014 accepting all but 9 of the 290 recommendations issued in their initial response named ‘The Hard Truths’. They introduced a new legislation with an immidiete effect implimenting the toughest inspection regime covering all care services. Chief nursing officer Jane Cummings and Director of Nursing Viv Bennett introduced a 3 year strategy and vision that aims to promote values known as the NHS’s 6C’s. These 6 areas of action focuses on improving care for all patients which connects to the ‘WE CARE’ campaign. In brief, both state that competence; to have the ability to sucessfully enhance and improve lives. Compassion; to see through someone elses eyes and have an intent to act to change things for the better. Commitment; to be fully devoted to provide quailty care at the highest standard. Care; ensuring that every person counts whether it’s the service user, their families or the wider community. Communication; being open and honest with a mutual trust whilst working with others to take care of the patients physical and mental health as a whole. Courage; to have the ability to speak up if unethical practice is discovered whilst keeping in mind the respect and dignity of the patient. The government responds to The Francis Report in 2014 accepting
Implementation of patient care practices for infection control is the role of the nursing staff. Nurses are responsible for maintaining hygiene, consistent with hospital policies and good nursing practice on the ward and monitoring aseptic techniques, including hand-washing and use of isolation. It is also in their scope of practice to promptly report to the attending physician any evidence of infection in patients under the nurse’s care and initiating patient isolation and ordering culture specimens from any patient showing signs of a communicable disease, when the physician is not immediately available. Limiting patient exposure to infections from visitors, hospital staff, other patients, or equipment used for diagnosis or treatment and maintaining
Burke J.P. (2003). Infection control- a problem for patient safety. New England Journal Medicine, 348(7):651-656.
The best practice can only be achieved with a workforce that continually updates the knowledge and skill in line with any changes that occur. It is important to continually improve knowledge and practice to certifying that staff members are aware and follow all the existing health and social care standards, guidelines and legislations for good practice as well as ensuring staff follow the company’s policies and procedures. As a result of this it improves
Every day while caring for patients, dedicated health care workers all over the world face potential risks of exposure to infectious disease bacteria or bloodborne viruses due to unintentional punctures with needlesticks or sharps, or accidental contact with bodily secretions, excretions and contaminated items (Wilburn, 2004). The occurrence of undesirable complications can arise from medical errors when safety guideline and control mechanisms are not followed. On occasion healthcare workers may accidentally acquire infections due to the misuse or improper fit of personal protective equipment (PPE) and coverings while attending to individuals seeking out medical attention that may be unexpectedly and unknowingly carrying a communicable disease
Personal protective equipment (PPE) – actual work wear to manage risks. For e.g. gloves and face masks when patient is ill
CDC highlighted four principles of infection control. The first principle “take action to stay healthy” looked at hand hygiene in particular and education. Second principle discussed “avoid contact with blood and other infectious body substances.” The third principle looked at “make client care items, to prevent transmission of infectious agents from client to client through these contaminated items to prevent transmission of infectious agents from client to client through these contaminated items.” The final principle was to limit the spread of blood and other infectious body substances” (Babbush,
Infectious agents, such as bacteria and virus’, are the most conspicuous way to spread infection within hospital settings, this may be because of the low immunity of patients, and the frequency in which people move around. The spread of infection can occur in any stage, whether it
Within the essay I am going to discuss whether good hand hygiene practices are the single most important factor in preventing cross infection. Some may argue for this statement others against. Jeanes A (2005) refers to the NMC code of professional conduct (2004) who state that you must act to identify and minimise risk to patients and clients.