Varies depending upon facility.  Can include: No fresh flowers or fruits Ill visitors are not permitted Many people institute or order “reverse isolation” however, per the CDC it “was not found to improve outcomes for neutropenic patients, and isolation is a negative experience for the patient,” and therefore removed from the CDC’s classifications of isolation […]

For example; if a patient is on contact isolation, we must educate the patient and family about the use of gowns, gloves, and hand washing, as well as ensure the staff is aware as well (HIPAA compliant signage) before providing patient care Depends on level of precaution, but all will involve hand hygiene, gown and […]

Inform appropriate personnel Infection Control department Center for Disease Control Summary of Notifiable Infectious Diseases, CDC (last updated 2014)

Hand hygiene Washing hands thoroughly at appropriate times Surgical asepsis AKA sterile technique Maintaining sterility, sterile items may only touch other sterile items Isolation Appropriate room assignment (private room, or may share a room with a patient with similar pathogen … Continued

Airborne – isolation room, negative pressure room, must wear appropriate mask and additional PPE (gown, gloves) Measles Varicella Tuberculosis Droplet – isolation room, surgical mask okay, gown, gloves Meningitis Pertussis Pneumonia Influenza Contact – isolation room, gown and gloves Colonized organism, or present of / infection with an MDRO MRSA, VRE Enteric – contact precautions […]

Whenever you’re providing care, ensure you’re keeping everything clean (or sterile, if required) Examples of situations… When you remove the cap from the spike on your IV tubing to start IV fluids, it cannot touch anything else other than sterile part of the IV bag it needs to be inserted into Clean up bodily fluids […]

Apply principles of triage and evacuation procedures/protocols Check out Episode 059 for triage principles Know how to evacuate patients Horizontally before vertically Know what to do for specific units Know how to use specific equipment to quickly transfer patients Medsleds Transport ventilators, Ambu bags Prioritize patient equipment Know specific policies and procedures Participate in institution […]

Examples of equipment include frayed electrical cords, loose/missing parts, IV pumps that malfunction, exposed wiring All equipment must be inspected and signed off on before using with a patient If a patient brings in their own electrical equipment (like a phone charger), inspect it before allowing use Equipment must be routinely inspected Know process for […]

Acknowledge and document practice error per policy For example, medication error, accidental needlestick, incorrect order entry, patient transferred to incorrect unit Evaluate response to error/event/occurrence Evaluate patient Does a process need to change to prevent this from occurring in the future or was it human error?

Examples include lighting, handrails, kitchen safety Apply knowledge of patient pathophysiology to home safety interventions Are they hard of hearing, have visual deficits? Do they have the dexterity to use handrails or a LifeAlert? Can they use their home oxygen/respiratory equipment? Can they call someone if there’s an issue?   Educate patient on home safety […]