Case study (questions 9-15) On the second day of orientation Sally and Elaine we
ID: 123400 • Letter: C
Question
Case study (questions 9-15)
On the second day of orientation Sally and Elaine were taken to a ward area and shown how to make a hospital bed. Both found this helpful as they had previously only used a doona at home. At lunch Sally and Elaine talked about their experiences and Sally confided that she was struggling to understand the terminology being used. Elaine showed Sally how she had written down some words and abbreviations in her notebook to help her remember. After lunch Elaine and Sally returned to the ward area and were buddied up with John. John had been an Enrolled Nurse for the last three (3) years and was keen to assist Elaine and Sally to settle into the ward. John showed Elaine and Sally the ‘steri’ and the pan (or ‘dirty’) rooms and explained what was kept in each area and why items were kept separated. John told them that they have a responsibility to follow procedures for infection control and they need to be aware of potential hazards that they will encounter when performing their roles.
Question 9. John asked Elaine where the contaminated waste should be disposed of in the ward. Give a reason for why the area is kept separate.
Question 10. Elaine and Sally have taken on a role that includes hazard identification and risk control. Explain what a hazard is and list two areas of their job role that could have an infection risk and be considered hazardous for Elaine and Sally.
Question 11. What responsibilities do Elaine and Sally have for the control of infection in their work role?
Question 12. After identifying a hazard, what should Elaine and Sally do/
Question 13. If Elaine and Sally are unsure of what risk control methods to use for the identified hazard, what action should they take?
Question 14. What controls should Elaine and Sally implement if they find a workplace hazard?
Question 15. If a blood spill occurred on the ward floor from a patients drain tube, what procedure should be implemented by Sally and Joyce?
Explanation / Answer
9. Contaminated waste/biomedical waste is the liquid or solid waste such as used syringes, needles, infected blood that poses a threat of infection to the general population as well as healthcare workers. It must be disposed off in empty, specialised boxes that are leak proof and don't break easily
The area is kept separate because there is a risk of getting infected especially by the immunologically vulnerable patient population as well as the Healthcare workers.
10.Hazard can be defined as any agent that has the potential to lead to harm to population that is at risk. Biological hazards such as viruses and bacteria can lead to risk of disease. Also psychosocial hazards in the form of aggressive patients is also another area of possible risk for both of them.
11.The responsibilities that Elaine and John have for the control of infection is most importantly following universal safety precautions to prevent spread of infection. This includes wearing gloves, face masks, gowns and sanitization of hands by washing them thoroughly before and after seeing each patient. Also other risk control methods they can use include proper disposal of wastes in the provided disposals.
12.After identifying a hazard they should practice precautionary measures for the same. Informing the required authority would also be appropriate.