Importance of Washing Hands for Nurses - Essay Example

Running Head: CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT PAPER: IMPORTANCE OF WASHING HANDS of Curriculum Development for Nurses: Importance of Washing Hands Introduction It has been ascertained that washing hands among the health workers especially nurses is only done a third of the occasions though its indicated as the easiest way to stay healthy as well as protect other people. Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that one individual out three people don’t clean their hands after visiting the washrooms (toilet or bathroom) and that only a third of the population wash their hands after sneezing or coughing. Proper washing of hands can be very beneficial in ensuring that the spread of germs or infections is prevented. When to Wash Hands Health workers need to be at the fore front in promoting healthy living which simply begins by simple responsibilities like washing hands. Hands should be washed at minimum; before food preparation, during and after cooking; before eating; before and after handling patients; after using the washrooms and after sneezing, coughing and blowing noses, Hand washing Liaison Group (1999). Why Hand Washing is Important To wash hands is the best strategy to prevent the spread of germs in the healthcare environment. The hospitals are full of germs (disease causing micro organisms) and nurses have some power of ensuring that their spread is prevented. In order to impact this knowledge to the nurses, a lesson plan will be designed to guide the process of refreshing the knowledge on why washing hands is extremely significant in the healthcare environment, Hand washing Liaison Group (1999) About 20 nurses washing their hands will spend only five minutes when this is done at fifteen seconds each and if this is done throughout the day, a lot of time will be spent but it would be worth it as germs will be reduced considerably and the spread will also be limited. How Hand Washing Is Done The nurses will have to wash their hands in warm water by using the hospital soap dispenser and leally lather it up. The nurses will wash the front as well as the back of their hands and they will pretend that they are going to handle a very delicate situation like surgery. The soap should be massaged between the fingers ensuring that the nails are properly washed and this should take about fifteen seconds per individual. The nurses can be timed (Bergquist & Pogosian 2000). The scrubbing action is very important as it helps to break up germs and remove them altogether. After this, hands should be properly rinsed with clean water and dried with a clean piece of cloth preferably clean white towel or the fresh paper towels currently in use. Nurses should note that when cleaning hands in the washrooms used by many people, the paper towel is the one to be used to open the door knobs and handles as they are in most cases contaminated. Since nurses are professionals in the medical field, they are in a better position to explain how the germs spread disease and due to this; the hand washing habit should be habitual and needing less prompting (Hoffman & Wilson 1994). Nurses have a responsibility of their own health and that of the patients as well because they are the ones offering professional assistance in this case. Learning the Importance of Hand Washing In order to ensure that nurses are updated on the correct procedure of washing hands, they will have to discuss why hand washing is important citing possible consequences of not doing so. On the other hand a list of benefits of washing hands will be established. There are lots of micro-organisms that cause diseases yet many of these cannot be seen by a necked eye. Precaution is therefore very important since the hospital also present an environment that could host even more germs than a normal home or house (Rosenau et al 2009). Objectives Nurses will have to concrete reasons as to why they have to wash their hands Nurses will also be required to explain and comprehend that germs cannot be seen Materials: Soap, Glitter, Water sink, buckets to tap the glitter, Hand Lotion and Paper towels The Procedure 1. the nurses will define germs in terms of size, types, transmission and why it is extremely important for them to wash their hands 2. a small lotion will be applied on hands both on the palms and the back 3. glitter will be sprinkled over the bucket and have the nurse rub their hands evenly spreading the glitter (glitter represents germs for this case) 4. some will try to remove glitter with the towels, some with cold water; after that, everybody will use warm water and soap to remove the germs 5. Everybody will come to give observations when the glitter was cleaned with towel, when it was cleaned with cold water and when the glitter was cleaned with warm water and soap (Bergquist & Pogosian 2000). Explaining Transmission To demonstrate how germs can spread from one individual to the next, and to the entire population, some glitter will be put on the nurses hands and they have to shake hands with other nurses who will then shake hands again with other nurses and so on and so forth. After everyone has shaken hands with at least two more people, the nurses will be asked if they have flour on their hands. The nurses will then discuss how germs are transmitted by shaking hands, doorknobs and to give ways of avoiding these spread of germs from individual to individual. (Rosenau et al (2009) The activity should be repeated on that this time round, the students with glitter on their hands wash them off before shaking hands with the next person. Any differences should be noted. The spread of germs through the air is demonstrated by taking a little powder on the hands and pretending to be sneezing while blowing on it and observe whether the powder spreads. Lesson Plan for Hand Washing 1. outcome objective: identifying the common communicable illnesses and prevention strategies Learner Goals/outcomes Content outline Method of Instruction Time Frame Resources Method of evaluation To identify the types of communicable diseases, mode of transmission, methods of preventing the transmission. List communicable diseases; describe modes of transmission. viruses and Bacteria can cause diseases discuss colds, shigellosis pneumonia, hepatitis A and influenza, Handouts, group discussions, lectures and lecture notes, take away assignments Two weeks Stanhope M & Lancaster J (2006) Foundations of nursing in the community: community-oriented practice. Elsevier Health Sciences. Rosenau M.J et al (2009) Preventive medicine and hygiene. Appleton and company Written tests, class assignments, practical evaluations, the nurses will demonstrate how to wash hands and explain the process 2. outcome objective: healthy practice that are consistent with less illnesses and prolonged life expectancy Learner Goals/outcomes Content outline Method of Instruction Time Frame Resources Method of evaluation Identify types of germs (viruses, bacteria etc). identify sites of infection like upper and lower respiratory tract, describe the types of infections caused- flu pneumonia, and amoebaisis among others Classification of germs (micro-organisms); modes of infection of each; sites of infection; prevention of infection Handouts, group discussions, lectures and lecture notes, take away assignments Two weeks Bergquist L.M & Pogosian B (2000). Microbiology. Principles and Health Science Applications. W.B. Saunders; Paulson D.S (2000). Handbook of Topical Antimicrobials. Industrial Applications in Consumer Products and Pharmaceuticals. CRC Press Written tests, class assignments, practical evaluations, the nurses will demonstrate how to wash hands and explain the process Conclusion Germs (particularly viruses and bacteria) are a source of very serious diseases which could be fatal if not properly attended to. They are usually spread in four basic ways; blood contact, direct body contact, airborne contact and fecal oral contact. Germs are also very minute that they cannot be visualized by naked eye yet they are found everywhere and the hospital presents the highest probability of these occurrences. As the old adage goes ‘prevention is better than cure’ it very imperative that this be done and hand washing is the best prevention strategy against these diseases and illnesses. References Bergquist LM & Pogosian B (2000). Microbiology. Principles and Health Science Applications. W.B. Saunders Hand washing Liaison Group (1999). Hand washing. BMJ; 318: 686. Hoffman P.N & Wilson J.  (1994) Hands, Hygiene and Hospitals. PHLS Microbiol Digest; 11(4). Rosenau M.J et al (2009) Preventive Medicine and Hygiene. Appleton and company Read More