NRS112 Notes guide 2021 update

NRS112 Notes

1. Basic nursing skills

1.1. Infection control
• Chain of infection


Infectious
Agent


Susceptible
Host Reservoir




Portal of Portal of
Entry Exit


Means of
Transmission

,• Healthcare associated infections (HAI’s)
 Not present or incubating at time of admission
 Lots of people, many are sick, and patients are immunocompromised
 May include infections that only cause symptoms after discharge
 Mortality rate of approximately 16% (DeLaune, et al, 2016, p611).
 Extend hospital length of stay by 9-12 days, or ICU stay 3-6 days

• Hand Hygiene




• Personal Protection Equipment
 Protects the clinician and indirectly, other patients

,  Blocks portals of entry
 Contact, Droplet, Airborne
 Gown, Mask, Gloves, Eyewear

• Standard / Transmission-Based Precautions
STANDARD
 Five moments of hand hygiene
 PPE
 Safe use and correct disposal of sharps
 Routine environment cleaning
 Reprocessing of reusable equipment
 Respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette
 Aseptic Non-Touch Technique
 Waste management
 Appropriate handling of linen
TRANSMISSION
 Continued use of standard precautions
 Appropriate PPE for known infection status
 Patient-dedicated equipment
 Allocation of single rooms or cohorting patients
 Air handling
 Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting of patient environments
 Restricted transfer of patient between facilities / departments


• Infection control techniques
 Sterile ‘Free from microorganisms’
 Asepsis ‘Freedom from infection or infectious (pathogenic) material’
 Clean ‘Free from dirt, marks or stains’