Get One Nursing Contact Hour with this Online Course!
The purpose of this course is to educate nurses on the importance of hand hygiene and its relationship to patient safety through evidence-based information. The JCAHO and the Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) are very serious about infection control (IC) issues. New IC patient safety standards took effect January 2004. The JCAHO included IC as a special focus area during random unannounced surveys for hospitals in 2003. The JCAHO has also transmitted the CDC's recently updated handwashing guidelines to all accredited organizations to draw specific attention to preventing hospital-acquired infections and other IC issues. This course discusses the barriers to handwashing and provides practical methods to change behavior and reduce infection within your organization.
Upon completion of this course, the learner will be able to
- identify JCAHO IC standards and describe how hand hygiene practices will be surveyed
- identify the defining evidence basis for new CDC guidelines in reducing infections
- identify top barriers to staff compliance with hand hygiene practices
- identify practical methods to change staff behavior to increase handwashing practices
- describe a case example providing evidence of cost savings related to use of alcohol-based hand rubs
- list the nine factors for poor adherence to hand hygiene
Intended audience:
- Nurse managers at the unit and department level
- All clinical supervisors charged with IC training and monitoring
Accreditation/Designation Statement
This educational activity for one nursing contact hour is provided by HCPro, Inc. HCPro is accredited as a provider of continuing education in nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
Faculty
Renee Patterson, CSP, Infection Control Manager, Ingham Regional Medical Center, Lansing, MI. Ms. Patterson is responsible for the overall performance of the IC department. She primarily creates customer service and educational programs for the facility's physician staff, volunteers, and the community to meet Ingham's patient care goals. Disclosure Statement: Ms. Patterson has disclosed that she has no financial interest in this course.
Table of Contents
Introduction
- The history of handwashing
- Hand hygiene timeline
- Washing prevents infections
Common barriers to hand hygiene performance
- Healthcare workers (HCWs) spread infection
- To what kind of contaminants can HCWs be exposed?
- Factors hindering hand hygiene compliance
- Time constraints
- Skin Irritation
- Inconvenient sink locations
- Case scenario #1
- Case scenario #2
The evidence-based relationship between gloves and hand hygiene
- Increased efficacy when used properly together
- Case scenario #3
Infection control (IC) practices
- Hand hygiene is proven to reduce infection
- CDC handwashing guidelines
- New guidelines: Alcohol-based hand rubs
- CDC recommendations
- CDC guidelines in relationship to JCAHO compliance
- JCAHO recommendations
Teaching proper hand washing techniques
- When to wash
- Soap and water
- Alcohol-based hand rub
- Surgical hand antisepsis
- Hand-drying techniques
- Soap and water: Is it enough?
- Jewelry
Economic aspects of hand hygiene
- Handwashing can save you time and money
- Case example
- Long-term care facilities
Conclusion
- Summary
- Internet resources
Final exam
If you have 50 or more staff to train you are eligible for discounts and FREE trial access to any course. E-mail Dave Miller at davemiller@hcpro.com or call Dave toll-free at 888/209-6554 to learn more. Be sure to let Dave know your name, organization, address, and phone number (optional). Ask Dave about our multi-year or multi-library discount plans!
This course is part of HCProfessor's Nursing CE Series
For more information on other courses in the series, click on the Online Learning section of this Web site. Or call Dave Miller toll free at 888/209-6554, or e-mail Dave.
Benefits of Online Learning at www.hcprofessor.com include
- Tough questions (and answers) about confusing regulatory standards
- Steps on how to solve pressing nursing needs
- Exam
- Instant test scores
- Case studies
- Test until success: The option of taking the exam as often as you need during password access
- Certificate of completion
- Student course history and documentation of training
- Discussion groups
- Note-taking and bookmark options
- Internet resources on nursing guidelines and regulations
- Reference materials and recommendations on how to progress to the next step in your courses on nursing.
Computer Requirements
- PC users must use Internet Explorer 4.0 or above
- MAC users must use Netscape Navigator 4.0 or above (the use of Internet Explorer may cause technical difficulties)
- Some courses and quizzes may require Adobe Acrobat Reader. To download Adobe Acrobat Reader, click here.
- Try our FREE DEMONSTRATION for both MAC and PC users
For full course descriptions, outlines, and special combination deals, go to www.hcprofessor.com.
Online learners will get 30-day access to the course materials and will be e-mailed their user name and password within 24 to 48 hours after HCPro receives payment.
If you have questions, e-mail Customer Service or call 877/727-1728.
Save money when you purchase multiple copies! Ask your customer service representative about money-saving
discounts and bulk orders. Call toll free 800-650-6787 or e-mail
customerservice@hcpro.com.
