Personal_Protective_Equipment-_Nursing

Domain One- Professional Responsibility Competency 1.4 “Promotes an environment that enables client safety, independence, quality of life and health” “Using an example from practice, discuss the application of PPE in relation to infection control. Provide the current policy in relation to maintain a safe patient environment from a clinical area you are working in.” To maintain a safe patient environment the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is necessary. The example from clinical practice that I have chosen to use is of an 8month old admitted to the ward for Bronchiolitis and upon assessment patient, twin sibling and mother came down with vomiting and diarrhoea. For this they were placed under contact isolation, which is where anybody who is possibly going to have contact with the patients must use PPE. A sign was placed on the door of their room and they were instructed to not leave the room. It is my responsibility as a nursing student to ensure I protect my patient, myself and others by protective measures, such as hand hygiene and PPE. PPE comes under the Isolation Precautions Policy. It states that one must use gowns, gloves, masks and eye protection is necessary for any contact procedures. In accordance with the policy upon entering the room I always applied gloves and a gown to protect myself and when leaving took off gloves and gowns and disposed of appropriately, in order to not spread the infection around the ward. References: Taylor, C. a. (2005). Potter and Perry's Fundamentals of Nursing. Australia: Elsevier.