Handwashing regulations are an essential condition for preventing the spread of various diseases, which is especially critical at the time of the ongoing pandemic. However, many hospital employees, patients, and visitors do not comply with these requirements due to the lack of awareness (P). In this case, the suggested nursing interventions are presented by educational initiatives for stakeholders, the introduction of performance feedback, and the placement of visual cues in the facilities (I). Compared to the previous neglect of measures for all affected persons (C), this project might reduce the number of individuals whose conditions are worsened due to poor hygiene (O) during hospital visits and stays (T).
Evidence-Based Solution
Typically, compliance with handwashing regimens in healthcare facilities is dubious in the case of the nursing personnel since they forget about this measure, and this need is completely neglected by patients and visitors. Meanwhile, it has been confirmed by researchers that the latter’s involvement in the initiative is as important as that of employees, and this solution can mitigate the risks of the mentioned threats (Haverstick et al., 2017). Furthermore, nurses’ effectiveness in terms of addressing the challenge can be increased by providing them with alcohol hand rub, water, and soap on all premises (Gwarzo, 2018). Hence, combined efforts of all participants can be sufficient for combatting the problem.
Nursing Intervention
Before the confirmation from researchers of the importance of a handwashing regimen both for healthcare practitioners and patients with their families visiting them in the hospitals, there were no projects intended for improving the situation. The rates of the spread of infections at the time were significantly higher, and the neglect of simple solutions, such as the one laid based on this paper, led to the gradual worsening of the environment. From this perspective, it is vital for nurses to not only comply with these requirements after taking the courses educating them on proper handwashing techniques but also remind others about this necessity. During hospital visits and stays, they should serve as role models for all individuals they are working with and draw their attention to the signs placed in suitable places.
Patient Care
Patient care during the time they spend in healthcare facilities and the care for their relatives’ safety should be performed while continuously reminding the affected persons about handwashing procedures. The visitors should be promptly informed about possible complications for their family members staying in the hospital in the case if they ignore the rules, and the latter should receive this information right after admission (Beiu et al., 2020). As for nurses, they should regularly participate in training to remember about proper procedures.
Health Care Agency
As follows from CDC’s Handwashing Campaign, there are guidelines in this respect developed for the benefit of all healthcare facilities throughout the country. They should be used as the basic recommendations for the procedures, including timing, steps, and hand sanitizers substituting water and soap when their use does not seem possible (“When and how to wash your hands,” 2021). The use of this document as guidance will help introduce uniform frameworks for all hospitals and their stakeholders.
Nursing Practice
The ability to prevent the spread of infections in the setting of healthcare facilities is a powerful tool for nurses in increasing the effectiveness of their work. The suggested interventions can improve patients’ experience and feedback of their relatives while guaranteeing the safety of the personnel. In addition, they can be extremely influential in modifying the patterns of the population’s behavior in other public places, which will be positive for addressing the threat posed by COVID-19.
References
Beiu, C., Mihai, M., Popa, L., Cima, L., & Popescu, M. N. (2020). Frequent hand washing for COVID-19 prevention can cause hand dermatitis: Management tips. Cureus, 12(4), e7506. Web.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). When and how to wash your hands. Web.
Gwarzo, G. D. (2018). Hand hygiene practice among healthcare workers in a public hospital in North-Western Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Basic and Clinical Sciences, 15(2), 109-113. Web.
Haverstick, S., Goodrich, C., Freeman, R., James, S., Kullar, R., & Ahrens, M. (2017). Patients’ hand washing and reducing hospital-acquired infection. Critical Care Nurse, 37(3), e1-e8. web.