Safety-Communication-Infection Control 16 points/16%)
• a. specific elements of communication used when providing care,
• b. safety concerns related to the individual for whom you cared, and
• c. infection control practices followed while caring for this patient.
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A Reflection on Communication, Infection Control and Safety techniques
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January 30, 2022
A Reflection on Communication, Infection Control and Safety Techniques
1. Communication
Therapeutic communication is one of the good ways to communicate with a patient because it offers a holistic approach to the client treatment. It is very important as a nurse to pay attention and be actively mindful of the non- therapeutic and therapeutic communication that you display during conversation with a patient. Some patients may respond to you accordingly to how you approached them and the communication you are using. So, it is very important to pay attention to every movement, gesture, mood, and every word using because all of these have the power the recover or harm the patient. To elicit a better response from the patient a nurse needs to interact therapeutically all the time. It is also important as nurse to pay attention on verbal and nonverbal communication during conversation with patient and use critical thinking before responding to any question. Effective use of critical thinking promotes good communication (Potter et al., 2020, P. 339). In the case of my patient Mrs. DL, I was able to gather most of her information on medical record folder, because she cannot verbally communication due dementia. With my patient DL, I used tone and calm voice while talking to her. Another additional communication methods that I would use is light touches to make her aware of my presence when taking care of her.
Infection control
Infection control for Mrs. DL is imperative due to her history of memory loss. This is patient is not able to take care of herself so, it is necessary as a nurse to make sure that the patient is clean. To prevent any infection, every round I checked my patient to make sure she dry and not lying on wet bed, which may cause a skin breakdown. Another easy and reliable approach to avoid infection I did is to exercise hand hygiene. Cleaning hands will keep germs from spreading, even those that are antibiotic-resistant and are increasingly difficult, to handle (‘Hand Hygiene in healthcare settings,”2020). Since my patient have a high risk of infection due to inability to take care of herself, a cleaning and disinfecting is necessary in her bed.
Safety
This patient experiencing confusion, disorientation due to memory loss, so she has a high risk of fall. To prevent any fall and injury to my patient I was making sure the bed is on low position and the bedrails are up before I live the room. For this patient I would also recommend a bed alarm that notify the caregiver when the patient is trying to get out the bed. Another safety method that I used before feeding the patient is raising the head of the bed up to prevent aspiration. I would also suggest this patient to take her meds with applesauce, which pertains to her physical safety regarding swallowing.
References
Hand hygiene in healthcare settings. (2020, May 1). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/index.html
Potter, P. A., Perry, A. G., Stockert, P., & Hall, A. (2020). Fundamentals of nursing – E-book. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Type your references in alphabetical order here using hanging indents. See your APA Manual and the resources in your APA folder in Doc Sharing for reference formatting.
At least two (2) scholarly, primary sources from the last 5 years, excluding the textbook, are provided
Note the RUA guideline stated to use APA 7th edition. You may disregard the instruction and use APA 7th located on the course shell as your reference. You may find it under Module then resources then APA resources.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction: The reflection paper provides an analysis of the communication, infection control, and safety techniques used when caring for a patient. The paper discusses the importance of therapeutic communication, infection control practices and safety measures while caring for patients, and their impact on patient well-being. The student has used primary sources to support their analysis and provided appropriate references.
a. Specific Elements of Communication Used when Providing Care:
The student has highlighted the importance of therapeutic communication in patient care. They have identified the use of tone and a calm voice as effective communication techniques when dealing with patients suffering from dementia. The student has also emphasized the need for critical thinking and active listening when communicating with patients. The use of nonverbal communication, such as light touches, has also been identified as an effective way to communicate with patients.
b. Safety Concerns Related to the Individual for Whom You Cared:
The student has rightly identified that patients with memory loss are at a higher risk of falls and injuries. The student has implemented measures such as keeping the bed on a low position and using bedrails to prevent falls. The use of bed alarms to alert caregivers when patients try to get out of bed has also been suggested. Additionally, the student has offered recommendations for administering the patient’s medicine safely, such as taking medicines with applesauce to avoid aspiration.
c. Infection Control Practices Followed While Caring for This Patient:
The student has emphasized the importance of maintaining infection control practices when caring for patients, particularly those who cannot take care of themselves. The student has identified the need for regular cleaning and disinfection of the patient’s bed and the importance of hand hygiene to prevent the spread of germs. The student has also identified the need to keep the patient dry and not lie on a wet bed to prevent skin breakdown.
Conclusion: The reflection paper demonstrates the student’s knowledge and understanding of effective communication, infection control practices, and safety techniques when caring for patients. The use of primary sources to support the analysis and appropriate references add credibility to the analysis. Overall, the paper has been well written and edited.
