BSN-4

GIBBS Reflective Study

(Hand hygiene and aseptic technique in the emergency department)
Description
Hand hygiene and simple aseptic measures before invasive procedures are effective in reducing
rates of healthcare-associated infection. The perceived urgency of a clinical situation in the
emergency department, however, may influence medical staff's compliance with good practice in
infection control. This study aims to identity two things which is to assess doctors' compliance
with good practice in hand hygiene between patient episodes and asepsis during invasive
procedures in the emergency department and second is to assess the effect of clinical urgency on
compliance with good practice in hand hygiene and asepsis during invasive procedures. Good
practice standards for asepsis in invasive procedures and hand hygiene between patient episodes
were compiled from a literature search. Doctors' compliance with these standards was observed
in two emergency departments (UK and New Zealand). Hand hygiene between patient
consultations was very low at 14% in the UK and 12% in New Zealand. Asepsis and hand
hygiene was poor in both the UK and New Zealand emergency departments.

Feelings
Reading this research study, I totally agree on what the study is implying to, most of the medical
personnel in the Emergency department has a low compliance in pertains to hand hygiene and
simple aseptic measures.

Evaluation
The positive thing about this research study is that it may help the medical staff in ER
department to raise the awareness of proper hand hygiene and aseptic measure in performing
invasive procedure that most likely will be a positive help in reducing rates of heath care -
associated infection.

Analysis
From my observation in Emergency department, I think that some Doctors tend to forget mostly
the hand hygiene part like whenever they contact patients to patient, they just use gloves for
protection and forgets about performing hand hygiene.

Conclusion
I conclude that, there are some factors that explains why the medical staff in ER department has
a low compliance in performing hand hygiene and aseptic technique and I conclude by knowing
does things, it might help them in complying hand hygiene and aseptic technique

Action Plan
As a nurse in the future, I will never forget to perform hand hygiene especially nurses have more
patient contact than other medical staffs. And always remember the importance of performing
hand hygiene and aseptic technique.

Reference: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195670103004092
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5332333_Hand_hygiene_and_aseptic_technique_in_the_emergency_department