Re-education in nursing techniques can improve PPE compliance In Texas, October of 2014 an outbreak of the Ebola virus created a nationwide scare among healthcare workers (Chevalier et al., 2014). The virus infected two nurses in Texas and created a media frenzy with a spotlight on healthcare workers use of personal protective equipment or PPE’s (Beam et al. 2015). Nurses are typically the front line of defense in treatment of patients regardless of potentially deadly infections and illness. Contact isolation occurs when patients are infected with diseases that are easily transferred by contact, droplets, or even airborne illnesses (Center of Disease Control and Infection Prevention [CDC], 2011). Illnesses requiring contact isolation include;
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Watson was concerned with health promotion, preventing illness, caring for the sick with emphasis on restoration of health of all patients (Current Nursing, 2013). Nurses lack compliance with PPE application for several reasons including; too busy to use PPE’s, contact isolation of patient considered low risk, PPE are uncomfortable to wear, PPE supplies weren’t available, changes nursing skill dexterity to complete nursing duties, and lack of management support (Neo et al., 2012). Failure by nurses to apply PPE’s put the patient at risk for continued exposure to pathogens, potentially infect healthcare workers, and potentially infect additional patients. The Ebola virus spread among the population, including two nurses, due to failure in achieving early diagnosis of the virus combined with poor technique in donning PPE’s appropriately (Chevalier et al., 2014). Nursing staff performing donning of PPE’s with sloppy technique or skipping the protection barrier all together increase the risk of infection to themselves, peers, and additional patients. Basic tenets to Watson’s theory in PPE application among nurses include promotion of interpersonal teaching-learning models indicating the need for nurses to learn equal to teaching (Current Nursing, 2013). Additionally, Watson further describes the need for nurses to provide comfort, privacy, and …show more content…
al, 2013). Nursing involves continued education as evidence-based standards improve and new medical techniques advance throughout the healthcare delivery system. One area of concern is the growing need for nurses to use PPE’s correctly when caring for contact isolation patients. The 2014 outbreak of the Ebola virus among healthcare workers in Texas focused on lack of adherence for safety precautions among caregivers (Chevalier et al., 2014). For the purpose of this research; to determine if re-education of nursing staff will improve adherence to the application sequence and usage of PPE’s among contact isolation patients, reducing the spread of infection among staff and additional patients. Nurses become complacent in application and usage of PPE’s as a result of heavy patient load, changes in dexterity to perform nursing skills, failure to develop therapeutic relationship, assumptions that isolation precautions aren’t necessary, lack of supplies, peer pressure with co-workers, and limited management standards (Neo, Edward, & Mills, 2012). Watson’s theoretical framework places emphasis on patient centered care while promoting health, preventing illness, and caring of the sick (Potter et al, 2013). Watson further explained the need for nursing staff to continue
Watson was concerned with health promotion, preventing illness, caring for the sick with emphasis on restoration of health of all patients (Current Nursing, 2013). Nurses lack compliance with PPE application for several reasons including; too busy to use PPE’s, contact isolation of patient considered low risk, PPE are uncomfortable to wear, PPE supplies weren’t available, changes nursing skill dexterity to complete nursing duties, and lack of management support (Neo et al., 2012). Failure by nurses to apply PPE’s put the patient at risk for continued exposure to pathogens, potentially infect healthcare workers, and potentially infect additional patients. The Ebola virus spread among the population, including two nurses, due to failure in achieving early diagnosis of the virus combined with poor technique in donning PPE’s appropriately (Chevalier et al., 2014). Nursing staff performing donning of PPE’s with sloppy technique or skipping the protection barrier all together increase the risk of infection to themselves, peers, and additional patients. Basic tenets to Watson’s theory in PPE application among nurses include promotion of interpersonal teaching-learning models indicating the need for nurses to learn equal to teaching (Current Nursing, 2013). Additionally, Watson further describes the need for nurses to provide comfort, privacy, and …show more content…
al, 2013). Nursing involves continued education as evidence-based standards improve and new medical techniques advance throughout the healthcare delivery system. One area of concern is the growing need for nurses to use PPE’s correctly when caring for contact isolation patients. The 2014 outbreak of the Ebola virus among healthcare workers in Texas focused on lack of adherence for safety precautions among caregivers (Chevalier et al., 2014). For the purpose of this research; to determine if re-education of nursing staff will improve adherence to the application sequence and usage of PPE’s among contact isolation patients, reducing the spread of infection among staff and additional patients. Nurses become complacent in application and usage of PPE’s as a result of heavy patient load, changes in dexterity to perform nursing skills, failure to develop therapeutic relationship, assumptions that isolation precautions aren’t necessary, lack of supplies, peer pressure with co-workers, and limited management standards (Neo, Edward, & Mills, 2012). Watson’s theoretical framework places emphasis on patient centered care while promoting health, preventing illness, and caring of the sick (Potter et al, 2013). Watson further explained the need for nursing staff to continue