ProNurse

I am a student nurse, while on placement a few months back we were told of the importance of not wearing our uniforms to and from our placements.  Lo and behold on my first day every member of staff i saw had on uniform (going to and from work)!

We are also told about the importance of hand hygiene and infection control, we are told to wear aprons and gloves etc. Several times i came across doctors going from one patient to another without gloves, aprons or even washing their hands, let alone using alcohol gel!!

Why is it that doctors are allowed to get away with this!!  They are allowed to go from ward to ward in their shirts and ties!!

I even watched a doctor go into a barriered room (patient had C-Diff), without acknowledging the sign on the door (gloves and aprons to be worn at all times!!)

I spoke to a HCA about my concerns and was told they always do this, i was affraid of my position as only a student nurse to say anything, as obiviously i am the lower end of the spectrum.

I have noted this to a visiting senior dr. I have no shame in telling people about aprons and gloves. I am not perfect and think it is right that people, and that includes students, should comment on slack practice. However, I would love to get changed at work, but we cant all change in a letter box sized changing room some times uni types would do well to remember the practicalities of there advice.

We are not allowed to be seen wearing uniform out of placement, if we are seen then we could be dismissed from our course.  I also understand the lack of changing facilities, i was lucky enough to visit theatre to watch a hip operation, i know the standards of hygiene etc. are very high down there, they had large changing rooms, with freshly laundered gowns, shower facilities and lockers (in the same hospital), surely this standard should be common place throughout the hospital not just in theatre??

These weren't junior doctors either, the doctor in the barriered room was a consultant and therefore very hands on!

If others are not complying with infection control etc don't follow their lead, remember you are accountable for you!!!

It doesn't sound too strict at all. You're absolutely right. There are doctors and nurses who aren't too good with infection control, but where I work we are very hot on it. It's the relatives that we have to watch! I think alcohol gel is partly to blame, because visitors think by using the gel they have clean hands, which just isn't the case as it doesn't kill viruses. We have to tell them to wash their hands and it can cause difficulties

As far as I'm aware, MRSA has been almost wiped out in Scandinavia because they do what is necessary whatever the cost .  We don't, and let's face it, we never will because it's too expensive.   We can't afford the correct taps, sinks everywhere, mobile x-ray machines and all the other things it will need to really tackle the problem.  Until we can we will always be fiddling around at the edges.

I am super happy to find this thread as healthcare associates infection prevention is essential in today's hospitals and I am representing a brand new online community called The HAI Watchdog Community that focuses exclusively on HAI prevention amongst healthcare professionals. It's very new and needs some passionate nurses to get it going so I would love your help.