As a travel nurse, you no doubt understand the importance of washing your hands thoroughly and often. In fact, this advice has likely been repeated thousands of times since you began your healthcare career. While this may seem like enough to get you and your colleagues to achieve proper sanitary standards, it may not be. Recent studies reveal that nurses and physicians – two groups who should be as well informed about the benefits of handwashing as any – may be endangering themselves and their patients by ignoring the advice imparted to them.
One recent study showed that the average doctor only washes his or her hands twice during a 21-hour shift, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. One problem may be that doctors routinely incorrectly estimate their own rate of hand washing. According to the source, most doctors believe they wash their hands on 73 percent of the instances they see a new patient, while they are observed doing so only 9 percent of the time. For nurses, this may be doubly troubling, as they often see many more patients over the course of a day.
With this in mind, it is important for travel nurses to make as considerable an effort as possible to incorporate hand washing into their daily actions. Here are some tips for improving your sanitary practices.
For your hands only
One of the most effective ways to improve your hand washing technique is to make sure your hands are free of any potentially bacteria-laden objects. This means removing your watch and any rings that have grooves or crevasses. If you're wearing a necktie, it is important to tuck it into your shirt as well.
Watch the nails
Fingernails can be hotbeds of bacteria, and it is important to pay special attention to your fingernails to make sure you get rid of any bacteria that may be lurking in these crevices.
On an institutional level
Although hand washing is an individual task, it is important for healthcare facilities to do their part to encourage the process. Talking to your managers about hanging educational posters and providing accessible alcohol-based rubs can help you and your teammates maintain a culture of proper hand washing.
No matter how many times you've been told, washing your hands completely and frequently is among the most important things any travel nurse can do. Follow these tips to make sure you are doing your part to prevent the spread of disease at your job.