Hygiene

Question 1

When should you use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer instead of hand washing?

Answer 1

• just before touching a client,
• before completing a sterile technique (inserting an IV catheter) or touching an invasive device
• after contact with a soiled area
• before moving to a clean area on the same client
• after touching an object in the client’s environment or the client
• after coming in contact with body fluids
• immediately after the removal of gloves

Question 2

When should the nurse use soap and water?

Answer 2

• when hands are visibly soiled
• after providing care for a client who has or is believed to have infectious diarrhea
• after being exposed to Clostridium difficile, bacteria-produced spores.
• after using the restroom,
• before and after eating
• after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

Question 2

What is nocturnal enuresis?

Answer 2

Bedtime wetting

Question 3

What are the 9 factors influencing hygiene practices?

Answer 3

1. Social practices –> types of products use & frequency use
2. Personal preferences –> what time of day and what type of procedures (bath vs shower, morning vs night)
3. Body image
4. Socioeconomic status –> if a patient has to choose btwn buying a meal or a toothpaste, then their hygiene might suffer
5. Literacy level –> how educated they are
6. Health beliefs & motivations –> what motivates them to do hygiene
7. Cultural –> gender preference of their provider, privacy expectations, family participation
8. Physical condition –> Disabilities, healthcare related (IV sites, BP cuffs, casts, etc), Weakness, sensory deficits, chronic illness, limited mobility, cognitive impairments
9. Developmental –> very young vs very old - skin is most fragile so be cautious of giving too hot water

Question 4

What are the 9 Hygiene Principles?

Answer 4

1. Privacy –> when giving a bath, close the door and give them privacy
2. Comfort –> u want them as comfortable & thereupetic as possible
3. Relaxation (minimize anxiety/embarrassment) –> sometimes they can be embarrassed that you’re helping them w something they usually do themselves
4. Professional boundaries –> avoid inappropriate behaviors
5. Safety for patients (injury prevention exposure to hot/cold) and staff
6. Independence –> give them some role & independence in things they can do
7. Respect cultural practices and preferences –> gender-related care giver
8. Schedule care (right to reschedule/refuse) –> work w their shower schedule & preferences
9. Types of baths –> full bath/partial bath
10. Infection control –> DON’T carry dirty linens close to you!

Question 5

What are the effects of hygiene on health?

Answer 5

• SKin integrity –> can become compromised when client’s skin becomes irritated & inflamed or when skin barrier is open from cuts
• Infection control:
  
  • Handwashing
  • Prevent health-care-associated infections (HAIs)
• Health promotion

Question 6

When doing perineal care on FEMALES, what MUST you know??

Answer 6

always wipe FRONT to BACK!!

Question 7

What are different the bed positions? What are they used for?

Answer 7

1. Flat –> Hypotension (low bp) & vertebral surgery (spinal cord surgery)
2. High Fowlers (60-90 deg) –> For eating or tube feeding
3. Fowlers (45-60 deg) –> When having difficulty breathing
4. Semi Fowlers (15-30)
5. Trendelenburg (head down, leg up) –> Venous return; for low bp and helps keep blood from down the leg to the head & heart
6. Reverse trendelenburg (head up, leg down) –> gastric emptying, eating when they can’t bend their abdomen