Healthcare-Associated Infection Countermeasures Essay

Healthcare-Associated Infection Countermeasures Essay

Introduction

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are common in many hospitals. Such infections tend to affect the health outcomes of different patients. In order to deal with these infections, healthcare practitioners should embrace various behaviors and practices (Iglehart, 2013). This essay uses the ideas gained from the “Partnering To Heal” video to outline the best practices towards preventing healthcare-associated infections. The first part focuses on the importance of behavioral and organizational changes towards promoting the level of performance. The paper goes further to explain why nurses and caregivers should establish teams that have the potential to deal with infections. The essay describes the unique roles of leaders towards promoting change and implementing disease-prevention measures. Evidence-based strategies are discussed because of their effectiveness in improving healthcare practice. The favorite character from the video is Dena Gray. The essay discusses how Gray uses powerful approaches to improve the level of communication. Healthcare-Associated Infection Countermeasures Essay

Changes in Behavior and Organizational Culture

Healthcare-associated infections affect the lives of many patients in different parts of the world. Such infections are usually associated with re-hospitalizations and increased medical costs. Many underserved populations find it impossible to receive quality health support. The prevalence of health-care-associated infections (HAIs) can become a major challenge affecting different populations. That being the case, a change in behavior is something that can deliver positive results. The behavioral change will promote new practices such as hand-washing practices with soap (Lo et al., 2014). More people in different healthcare settings will embrace the practice in order to minimize infections and re-infections. Healthy behaviors such as proper hygiene will also minimize these infections. Healthcare workers should also focus on the best behaviors that can result in best practices. A change in behavior should be embraced by both patients and caregivers. Healthcare-Associated Infection Countermeasures Essay

A change in the culture within a healthcare organization is another important approach towards preventing HAIs. A positive culture has the potential to support desirable attributes such as collaboration and teamwork. The health workers in the facility will invent new communication channels and solve every predicament affecting them. More clients will be empowered and equipped with various resources that can improve their health outcomes (Parsons & Cornett, 2011). A positive culture has been observed to promote the best leadership practices. New behaviors such as role-sharing will emerge thereby preventing various HAI infections.Healthcare-Associated Infection Countermeasures Essay

Discussing for a Change to Work

The ideas obtained from the video can help many health workers to promote new changes. In the video, Janice Upshaw embraces various approaches to reduce infections. The video exercise shows conclusively that nurses and healthcare workers can establish new teams to prevent infections. This strategy will transform how different workers collaborate with one another in an attempt to desirable outcomes. Teamwork is a powerful concept whereby the members work together while at the same time focusing on the best goals (Lo et al., 2014). The workers support, mentor, guide, and empower one another. New behaviors and practices emerge thereby improving the major strategies aimed at preventing HAIs.

It is appropriate for physicians, caregivers, and NPs to come together. By so doing, these practitioners will identify the major weaknesses affecting the welfare of many patients. The teammates should monitor the performance of one another. Decisions should be made together depending on the needs of the targeted patients (Bhore, 2015). The teams can also implement new preventative measures to deal with new infections. They can also collaborate with their patients and various family members. The strategy will reinvent the working environment thereby addressing the challenges affecting different patients.Healthcare-Associated Infection Countermeasures Essay

Health Leaders (HLs) have the potential to transform the outcomes of many clients. This is true because leaders are expected to guide their followers in different healthcare settings. The most important thing is for leaders to make zero-percent HAIs a personal goal (Bhore, 2015). By so doing, the leader will promote the best behaviors and initiatives that will minimize hospital-associated infections. The leader will also undertake various roles that will ensure the targeted followers are empowered. Leaders should always outline the best practices that can make a difference in their respective faculties. When the leader pioneers the most desirable practices, the followers will be willing to consider the best strategies that can improve the outcomes of more patients. Leaders should encourage their followers to embrace the use of vaccines and antibiotics (Bhore, 2015). They should also empower them to insert, maintain, and remove various devices properly (Lo et al., 2014). Some of these devices include ventilators and catheters.

The behavior and model implemented by the leader will dictate the performance of their followers. Leaders should promote the best approaches to prevent HAIs and encourage their followers to support them. They can promote new ideas and form teams to support the health needs of their patients.Healthcare-Associated Infection Countermeasures Essay

Effective Communication

Several options in the video have presented specific issues that impact the rate at which medical facilities embrace HAI-prevention protocols. For instance, the nature of communication dictates how different individuals embrace various infection-prevention methods. The case of Dena Gray shows why effective communication is essential in every medical institution. With poor communication skills, the targeted people will find it impossible to engage in the best practices. Poor communication skills will make it impossible for caregivers to embrace every proposed HAI-prevention protocol.Healthcare-Associated Infection Countermeasures Essay

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Whenever there is a confrontation, healthcare workers must encourage their teammates to work together and focus on the best practices. NPS and NLs should use the best communication skills to encourage other practitioners and clients. Whenever there is confrontation, practitioners should ensure their workmates and patients understand the intended message. The next thing is to implement adequate infection prevention protocols (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2016). They should listen attentively, address problems, and engage in critical thinking. These efforts will eventually encourage more individuals to embrace various HAI-prevention protocols.Healthcare-Associated Infection Countermeasures Essay

Evidence-Based Practice

Many scholars believe that “evidence-based practice is a useful approach capable of improving the quality of health support available to many patients” (Bruce, 2013, p. 12). This practice is characterized by the ability to combine personal expertise with evidence from different research studies. By so doing, practitioners can implement new values and processes to improve the quality of patient care. Nurses can, therefore, borrow new ideas and combine them with their competencies in an attempt to invent better HAI-prevention strategies (Bruce, 2013). The practice will ensure new competencies supported by modern research are embraced to prevent various infections.

The strategy will encourage more caregivers to promote healthy practices such as hand-washing and positive decision-making. New treatment methods for specific infections will also be highlighted and used to minimize infections (Parsons & Cornett, 2011). Life-long learning becomes a common practice whereby the NPS gathers new ideas that can transform the health outcomes of their clients (Iglehart, 2013). Scientific researches focusing on various HAI-prevention measures can be identified. The information will guide more caregivers and eventually make it easier for them to achieve enviable health outcomes.Healthcare-Associated Infection Countermeasures Essay

My Favorite Character

The favorite character to play was Dena Gray. As a registered nurse (RN), Dena Gray worked hard to inform her boss about the importance of hand-washing. Despite the challenges encountered, Gray remained courageous thereby encouraging more practitioners to embrace the best health-associated infection s (HAIs) prevention measures. The exercise also indicated that health workers should embrace the best lines of communication (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2016).Healthcare-Associated Infection Countermeasures Essay

Conclusion

HAIs have been identified as major problems affecting the health outcomes of many populations (Iglehart, 2013). Caregivers should work tirelessly to reshape and implement positive behaviors that can deal with these infections. The completed exercise supports the use of multidisciplinary teams towards preventing such HAIs. New behaviors such as proper communication, use of antibiotics, washing of hands, and effective placement of catheters can minimize these HAIs. Evidence-based ideas will support this fight against HAIs.Healthcare-Associated Infection Countermeasures Essay

References

Bhore, N. (2015). Planned teaching programme improves knowledge about nosocomial infections among staff nurses in regional centre in Maharashtra. Innovational Journal of Nursing and Healthcare, 1(4), 229-235.

Bruce, N. (2013). Improving compliance with healthcare associated infection (HAI) practice guidelines to reduce the acquisition of HAIs. Doctor of Nursing Practice Journal, 1(1), 1-57.

Iglehart, J. (2013). Expanding the role of advanced nurse practitioners: risks and rewards. The New England Journal of Medicine, 368(1), 1935-1941.

Lo, E., Nicolle, L., Coffin, S., Gould, C., Maragakis, L., Meddings, J.,…Yokoe, D. (2014). Strategies to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections in acute care hospitals: 2014 update. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 35(5), 1-13.

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2016). Partnering to heal: Teaming up against healthcare-associated infections. Web.

Parsons, M., & Cornett, P. (2011). Sustaining the pivotal organizational outcome: magnet recognition. Journal of Nursing Management, 19(1), 277-286. Healthcare-Associated Infection Countermeasures Essay