Practice at Patient Care Services - Essay Example

He informed me of an upcoming initiative to create/raise organizational-wide awareness to improve hand hygiene. Among the tasks, we were to carry out included making rounds, collecting data, and encouraging non-compliant staff to follow hand hygiene protocols. Through the last three weeks, this has been the focus and we managed to create awareness and put up some hand hygiene measures such as hand washing soap and sanitizers.

From this experience, I would like to provide a brief overview of how hand hygiene is a major issue of concern that should be given more attention. Various research findings have identified “healthcare-associated infections can spread from patient to patient through the contamination of healthcare workers’ hands by the infectious organisms” (Randle, Arthur, & Vaughan, 2010). As nurses, we all need to understand that hospital-acquired infections are a real-time problem. Statistics have also indicated a high rate of patient morbidity because of hospital-acquired infections and a high number of prolonged hospital stays because of these infections (Shaughnessy, et al., 2011).

It is, therefore, very important to address such an issue and participate in quality care initiatives such as addressing and implementing hand hygiene equipment. Besides addressing such an important issue I am also happy to have addressed most of my practicum objectives. These include accountability, Inter-professional Collaboration for Improving Patient and Population Health Outcomes, and creating awareness and knowledge by the health care providers in regard to hand washing (AACN, 2006).

Time Log

Week

Dates

Times

Total Hours for This
Time Frame

Activities/Comments

Learning Objective(s) Addressed

4

3/27/14

0900-1000

1

Met with my preceptor to discuss my progress thus far with the practicum

1000-12N

2

Attended mandatory leadership meeting held by the new Assistant Vice-President (AVP) for Patient Care Services. The take-home from this meeting was for all leaders to collaborate effectively in building a strong foundation for the organization. In effect encourages the need to improve our patient satisfaction by employing basic nursing care at the bedside.

(DNP Essentials II)

Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Improvement and Systems Thinking

(DNP Essentials VI)

Inter-professional Collaboration for Improving Patient and Population Health Outcomes.

12N-3 pm

3

The infection Control manager assigned me to work with one of his staff members. Our job is to go to all inpatient units and take data regarding hand hygiene compliance. He informed me of an upcoming initiative to create/raise organizational-wide awareness to improve hand hygiene. We made rounds, collect data, and encouraged non-compliant staff to follow hand hygiene protocols.

Awareness and knowledge by the health care providers in regards to hand washing all through my practicum weeks.

Accountability and to be able to employ set principles to develop and implement effective plans geared to improve the quality outcome of care delivery.

DNP Essentials II

5

4/3/14

0900-3 pm

6

Met with my infection control personnel. Task-made rounds with engineering staff to install hand sanitizers and hand washing soap dispensers in identified strategic areas. Also made rounds on all inpatient units to collect raw data on staff hand hygiene compliance

The provision of appropriate hand washing resources such as hand sanitizer dispensers, soap, and washing areas that are in proximity to health care workers was accomplished.

(DNP Essentials II)

Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Improvement and Systems Thinking.

Continues to shine light and encourage staff on the need to improve hand hygiene protocol.

6

4/10/14

0900-1000

1

Huddled with my preceptor on my accomplishments and my concerns.

1000-3 pm

5

Continued on my week 4 assignment. So far, there is an increase in staff awareness and compliance with hand hygiene.

The objectives addressed in this week’s practicum rotation are;

i.                    Awareness and knowledge by the health care providers.

ii.                  Encouragement on hand washing rather than wearing gloves.

(DNP Essentials VI)

Inter-professional Collaboration for Improving Patient and Population Health Outcomes.

7

4/17/14

0900-3 pm

6

Attended infection control departmental meeting. The main topic was the upcoming hand hygiene initiative. The manager stated that it will be an organizational-wide challenge to raise awareness and hopefully improve and meet the target goal of hand hygiene.

Continued with inpatient rounding to collect data and create awareness among staff members who are not observing the hand hygiene rules and regulations.

Met with my preceptor to brief her on the upcoming hand hygiene initiative. 

Accountability and to be able to employ set principles to develop and implement effective plans geared to improve the quality outcome of care delivery.

DNP Essentials II

Inter-professional Collaboration for Improving Patient and Population Health Outcomes (DNP Essential IV)

Continued to raise awareness and encourage health care providers through consistent patrol of the inpatient units. It is refreshing to know that employee compliance is on the rise due to proper education, accessible soap, water, or hand sanitizer, and reinforced messages among staff members, patients, and their families.

Total Hours Completed: