According to the CDC, “Standard Precautions are intended to prevent the transmission of common infectious agents to healthcare personnel, patients and visitors in any healthcare setting”. June
is National Safety Month, a perfect time to step back and review PPE 101: The Basics. Over the course of the past five months, the subject of personal protective equipment (PPE) has entered the collective mindset like never before. Shortages of crucial equipment have left frontline healthcare workers vulnerable during a period of
pandemic, while everyday citizens adjust to the new norm of putting on PPE before stepping outside the house. Healthcare professionals (HCP) must take the necessary precautions and follow carefully designed protocol to ensure their own health and safety, as well as that of the patients in their care. Since HCP are mandated to assume the presence of an infectious agent in the patient’s blood or body fluids, this protocol
includes proper hand hygiene and the appropriate donning, doffing and handling of all PPE. These best practices aren’t just for hospital workers, as everyone from the general public to doctors and dentists treating non-coronavirus patients are now relying on PPE to stay safe. Whether you’re wearing a full set of PPE, or just gloves and a face mask, the order and
methods in which you put them on and take them off are equally crucial to the protective equipment’s effectiveness. Best Practice Basics for Donning PPE Beyond outlining the appropriate order for putting on and taking off PPE, the CDC also provides general recommendations to be followed by all HCP interacting with patients, regardless of the healthcare setting. Here are some of the CDC’s key recommendations for the appropriate use of PPE:
How to Safely Put on PPE The daily responsibilities of HCP during ordinary times are demanding, both mentally and physically. In the midst of the current and unprecedented public health crisis, it’s natural for even the most resilient healthcare workers to become overextended by the sheer caseload of patients that require immediate attention for potentially life-threatening, communicable respiratory illness. It’s easy to understand how a medical professional may be inclined to hurry through the process of putting on or taking off their PPE in an effort to move on to the next patient. But following proper protocol is especially important right now to prevent the spread of infection for both patients and healthcare personnel. Here are the CDC’s recommendations for safely donning PPE:
From there, fit the flexible band to the bridge of your nose, adjust to fit snugly to your face and below your chin, and finally, fit-check your respirator.
Best Practice Basics for Removing PPE The CDC also outlines general best practices for safely removing PPE, which include:
Where to remove your PPE will depend upon how much and what type of PPE you wear, and also the reason for the patient’s isolation. For example, if you only wear gloves, you can remove and discard them in the patient’s room. When you’re wearing full PPE (gown, gloves, mask, goggles/face shield), remove it either at the doorway to the patient’s room or in a dedicated anteroom. In any event, you should always remove respirators after safely exiting the patient area. How to Safely Remove PPE The CDC outlines two examples of how to safely remove personal protective equipment in hospital environments: removing the gloves independently, and removing your gown and gloves together. If you remove your gloves independently as a first step without the gown, it may be more likely that your hands come into contact with contaminated surfaces. It’s best to assume that the outside of your gloves, gown, mask and face shield are contaminated. If your hands get contaminated at any point when you’re removing your PPE, immediately wash them or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
* If you remove your gloves independently as a first step, use a gloved hand to grasp the palm area of the other glove and peel it off without contacting your skin. Then, hold the removed glove in your gloved hand; slide the fingers of your ungloved hand under your remaining glove at the wrist; peel off your second glove over the first glove. Complying with basic best practices for donning and doffing PPE can help prevent the spread of infection, whether you’re in a hospital setting or simply performing a teeth cleaning. Learn more about how Jackson Medical is helping to pioneer innovative medical safety solutions to support the pressing requirements of today’s evolving healthcare industry. Which PPE should be removed inside the patient room?Remove PPE in Appropriate Areas
If only gloves are worn as PPE, it is safe to remove and discard them in the patient room. When a gown or full PPE is worn, PPE should be removed at the doorway or in an anteroom. Respirators should always be removed outside the patient room, after the door is closed.
How should a nurse remove personal protective equipment when leaving the client's room?The order for removing PPE is Gloves, Apron or Gown, Eye Protection, Surgical Mask.. Perform hand hygiene immediately on removal.. All PPE should be removed before leaving the area and disposed of as healthcare waste.. Which personal protective equipment should the nurse dawn to enter the room of a client who is diagnosed with Clostridium difficile?A particulate respirator must be worn by anyone entering the patient's room that is on airborne precautions. This may be an N95 respirator or powered air purifying respirator or PAPR.
Which PPE should be removed inside the patient room quizlet?It is best practice to remove all personal protective equipment in the patient's room. When removing PPE, the respirator should be removed outside the patient's room. A patient requires nasotracheal suction.
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