The rules personal protective equipment for work in healthcare settings

Select and wear appropriate personal protective equipment for work in healthcare settings. Understand legislation, local policy and protocol in relation to dressing for work in a healthcare setting.

When I am working in the hospital there are policies and procedures I have to make sure to follow. One of them is about our uniform which is called Trust Dress, Uniform and Appearance Policy. Our uniform should only be worn outside when escorting a patient and working in the community. As we aren’t allowed to wear our uniform (dress and tunics) outside of work. When I travel to work I always cover up my tunic with a coat, I do this in order to minimise infection.

Washing my uniform is a big part of preventing and controlling infection. It is advised that we wash our uniform at 60° in order to kill off all the organisms. It’s also recommended that we wear a clean uniform for every shift to minimise the spreading of infection. In my own line of work I make sure that I follow the procedure in order to minimise infection.

Hands are the most common means of transmitting pathogens and spreading infection. Around the hospital and the wards you will see many posters on how to wash your hands properly. There are many procedures into washing your hands like the hand washing technique with soap and water cleaning your hands properly and ‘Your five moments of hand hygiene.’ These are very important which I have to follow in my line of work to prevent cause of infection. This is the appropriate way you should wash your hands:

1. Wet you hands
2. Apply enough soap to cover all surfaces
3. Rub hands palm to palm
4. Rub back of each hand with palm of other hand with finger interlocked 5. Rub palm to palm with fingers interlocked
6. Rub with back of fingers to opposing palms with finger interlocked 7. Rub each thumb with opposing hand in a circular motion
8. Rub tips of finger on each hand in a circular movement
9. Rub each wrist with opposing hand
10. Rinse hands with water
11. Use elbow to turn off the tap
12. Dry thoroughly with a single use towel

It is know that cross infection via the hands of Healthcare Workers has been acknowledged as contributing factor to a break out in hospital of MRSA

When I work with patients I always maintain a professional appearance. If you came in for a physical exam by your doctor. He comes into the room with dirty/greasy hair, a few days worth of stubble, body odour, dirty clothes and some old shoes. The first impression of him would be he’s a dirty man who doesn’t want to look good for his job or doesn’t care about his job. However, taking the scenario of the physical exam by your doctor, if he came in a smart suit, smelling fresh, cleansed hair, clean shaven and smart shoes then the impression of him would be he really likes his job, he cares about his personal appearance and he has respect for himself. It is so important that you maintain a professional appearance in the healthcare environment as you do get judges by your patients and others around you.

I am expected to maintain a standard of professionalism. When preparing myself for a day at the hospital I have to make sure that I look smart, tidy and clean. To prepare myself I have the correct and suitable clothing for my day at work. If I come in with my own clothes on the I have to change into my uniform, a clean uniform for every shift. Jewellery must be kept to a mnimum whilst working in clinical areas e.g. One plain wedding ring, one stud earring in each ear and nise studs must be covered. My hair is always kept clean and tidy, and as I have long hair I have to tie it up. It is so important as patients and others can judge you very quickly and if they dont like the look of us then they won’t want you to care for them.

LO2 – Be able to select and use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in a healthcare setting

PPE is equipment and clothing, such as disposable gloves and aprons that are used to create a barrier against pathogens. When I am at work and using PPE

• I check my equipment to make sure it is suitable for the role I am about to undertake. When using aprons there are different colours in which
• I have to use, also there are different type of gloves. There are different types of PPE in which I use at work these are; Gloves, aprons, goggles and masks.

When I undertake different roles at work I have to use PPE for different tasks I undertake. As I mentioned in 2.1 there are different coloured aprons in which all the staff use. The aprons are made for covering your uniform. They are made from a slippery plastic which makes it harder for germs. It protects you from bodily fluids. Aprons:

Yellow wear this when I have to go into an infected patients room, the tasks I undertake with this on is changing dressings, Changing pads, Emptying catheters etc. Blue I wear this when doing patient care this involves things such as, toileting, washing, oral care, administering suppositories, doing dressings, cleaning spillages, obtaining specimens and emptying catheters. Green

I wear this when preparing for meal times, so when I am feeding a patient, handing out the cutlery and doing the tea rounds.

If I am with a patient and getting PPE. I decide to get an apron which is torn and is flapping around everywhere as the ties are broken. Then I get a pair of gloves which are torn at the fingertips. So I then go into the patient and so the job I have to do with the unsuitable PPE I have on. If I ever get a piece of PPE which is unsuitable for the task I have to do then I need to go and get a new piece of PPE.

When I take PPE off I follow the procedures to minimise corss infection. With my apron I:

1. Rip the ties at the top
2. Peel the apron away from my neck and shoulders
3. Then turn my apron outside towards the inside
4. Then I fold or roll into a bundle
5. Then discard

With my gloves I:

1. I grasp the oustide of the edge near my wrist
2. I then peel it away from my hand turning the glove inside out Then I hold that glove in the opposite gloved hand

Then slide ungloved finger under my wrist of the remaining gloved hand Then I peel off from the inside creating a bag for both gloves then discard.

When I am at work and there is a risk of aerosol it is advised that we should wear a mask, apron and gloves. Also when there is a risk of radiation, blood and bodily fluids we don’t do anything different we wear exactly the same PPE apart form the mask. As this is protective equipment we have been allocated.

Stock that is low should always be reported to someone so we don’t make mistakes. For example i’m on the morning shift changing beds as normal and we have an infectious patient in a side room who has soiled the sheets. Now before I changed the bed I get all the linen and then go into the cuboard were all the stock is kept to get a red bag, but realise we are all out. So I get an ordinary bag and don’t report aything. By doing this I am spreading infection. If you are getting low on stock it is so important to report what stock you need so you can be prepared for the next task that you undertake.

1. When I am udertaking certain tasks I have to wear gloves which are synthetic powdered un-sterile gloves. I use these when I am:
2. Changing catheters
3. Putting in/ taking out catheters
4. Washing patients
5. Administering suppositories
6. Doing dressings
7. Oral care
8. Toiletting
9. Cleaning spillages
10. Obtaining specimens
11. Emptying catheters.