Drug administration. Called to account.
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Drug Therapy↗
Biomedical subjects
D Gould
Publications and source records attributed to D Gould.
Hidden problems after a hysterectomy.
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Adult↗
Locally organised antenatal classes and their effectiveness.
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Female↗
Wound care. Conducting a fair trial.
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Bandages↗
Recovery from hysterectomy.
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Adaptation, Psychological↗
Hand decontamination: nurses' opinions and practices.
Infection is spread in hospital mainly by hands, making hand decontamination the most important means of preventing dissemination. There is some evidence to suggest that when access to hand-decontaminating agents is poor or the agents available are disliked, hands are washed too seldom, increasing risks of cross-infection. However, little attention has been paid to the use of towels and factors which promote their use, although it is known that damp hands transfer bacteria more readily than dry ones and that hands which become sore through poor drying have higher bacterial counts, contributing to the risk of cross-infection. This paper reports the results of the Nursing Times Hand Drying survey designed to assess nurses' access to hand decontamination agents and towels. The results suggest that the 112 nurses who participated were aware of the need for attention to hand hygiene but that access to both hand-decontaminating agents and paper towels was variable. Forty-one per cent complained of a shortage of soap and although nearly all used paper towels, these were in many cases of poor quality. Such towels were perceived as damaging to hands, leaving them feeling damp and sore. Good-quality, soft, paper towels were much appreciated by respondents in this sample. It is concluded that the quality of paper towels contributes to good infection control practice.
Cross Infection↗
The significance of hand-drying in the prevention of infection.
The original research linking poor hand hygiene to the development of infection was conducted by Semmelweis over 100 years ago. His experiments have never been replicated in the hospital setting, but over the years powerful circumstantial evidence has accumulated to suggest that hands are the main vectors of micro-organisms in both hospital and community and that hand-washing is the key to infection prevention. Nevertheless, many aspects of hand-washing remain under-researched. The area that has received least attention is hand-drying, despite early suggestions that when a quick, perfunctory hand-wash is performed by busy nurses in the clinical situation, the mechanical action of drying contributes to the efficient removal of pathogens. This paper explores evidence to show that the use of paper towels is safer than hot air hand-dryers in busy wards.
Cross Infection↗
Infection control. A study of glove use.
All nurses need to be supplied with equipment to protect against infection and should have opportunities to update knowledge of precautions including identification of high-risk occupational groups. The development of protocols to reduce contact with blood/body fluids is being undertaken by surgeons. A similar approach might be adopted by the nursing profession.
Gloves, Protective↗
Infection control. Making sense of hand hygiene.
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Hand Disinfection↗
Assessing nurses' hand decontamination performance.
There have been numerous attempts to assess the frequency and technique of nurses' hand decontamination, but criteria employed to define acceptable levels of practice are questionable, while comparisons between staff in different clinical settings appear never to have been undertaken. In the study reported here tight criteria were developed to evaluate performance, then used to compare nurses employed in three clinical settings: intensive care, surgical and medical units. Two hospitals were employed, one with an infection control nurse, the other without. Frequency was highest in the ICU of the second hospital, but technique was superior in ICUs regardless of hospital. Half of all opportunities for essential decontamination were, however, omitted. Technique appeared superior to earlier reports. Alcoholic hand-rub was readily available and used more often in the unit where the best practice was witnessed.
Hand Disinfection↗
Hand-washing. Can ward-based learning improve infection control?
Post-registration education and practice (PREP) requires nurses to become responsible for their own professional updating. For those in clinical posts this may mean obtaining study leave. This paper argues that there is a real need for the NHS to look at new ways of allowing nurses to study and makes the case for ward-based learning.
Cross Infection↗
Infection control. Hygienic practices.
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Child↗
Blast from the past.
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Disease Outbreaks↗
Ectopic pregnancy: causes and outcomes.
This article looks at the incidence, causes and risk factors associated with ectopic pregnancies, a condition predominantly seen by nurses in gynaecological wards and A&E departments. The signs and symptoms and medical treatment are outlined.
Contraception↗