Infection Control
Please follow the link to the hand hygiene website and complete the online learning package. Print out the certificate and bring it with you on your first day of placement. If this is your second time at NHW, the certificate is valid for a twelve month period but we will need to site the certificate each placement.
www.hha.org.au/LearningPackage.aspx
Hand hygiene
The most basic level of infection control that all staff can achieve is good hand hygiene. At Northeast Health Wangaratta we use the alcohol based hand rub (ABHR) Debug. You’ll find it at the end of every bed, at the nurse’s station just inside or outside the doors to ward rooms and at the entrance to the hospital. We encourage staff to Debug or wash their hands according to the 5 moments of hand hygiene set out by the world health organization these moments include;
1. Before patient contact
2. Before a procedure
3. After a procedure or body fluid exposure risk – including after glove use
4. After patient contact
5. After contact with patient surroundings
Washing with soap and water is still needed, when you feel it is appropriate to you and when your hands are visibly soiled.
It is recommended that you moisturize 3 to 4 times a shift with the moisturizer provided by the hospital. You can find these bottles at the nurse’s station.
Clean between
Prowipes are alcohol impregnated wipes which are used to clean all shared patient equipment after each patient use. They are available in readily accessible places in every ward, on most trolleys and on shared patient equipment (such as observation machines). All shared equipment needs to be cleaned between patients; prowipes enable equipment such as oximeters and thermometers to be cleaned quickly and efficiently to prevent cross infection.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
We encourage you to use personal protective wear such as gloves and eye wear in any situation where you may be exposed to patient body fluids or contaminated materials. This is particularly important if you have any cuts or grazes on your hands; body fluid exposure in this instance would require us to follow our body fluids exposure protocol. The hospital provides powder free, latex free gloves for your use. Personal protective eye wear is also available for use and your are encouraged utilise these whenever appropriate.
If an exposure such as an eye splash or a needle stick injury does occur please see the person in charge of your shift immediately so that the appropriate measures can be put in place, this will include screening for Hep B, Hep C and HIV as well as the appropriate counseling.