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Knowledge: Generation, management and utilization 
The dirty hands of health care: What would Florence think? 
By Juli C. Maxworthy 

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Infection Control, 6/8/2008
by: johannah.uriri-glover@asu.edu 		Rating: 1
I realize that many lay people are wearing scrubs, but it appears that many healthcare personnel are wearing scrubs everywhere. It concerns me that they may be spreading pathogens from healthcare settings into the community. I see these people in the grocery store, jury duty, etc. I realize that many lay people are wearing scrubs. In the past, nurses wore lab coats over their uniforms when traveling to and from the hospital. When they reached home the uniform was immediately removed and placed in the laundry to prevent spreading pathogens to their family.
Hand Washing A Top Down Issue, 6/19/2008
by: campos_217@yahoo.com 		Rating: 1
An Administrator's attitude about hand washing is essential to how the staff performs in this area. One medical center administrator remarked, "You can't expect them [nurses] to wash their hands all the time. They aren't going to be able to accomplish this 100% of the time." (note: they weren't even at 60% of the time) This was in response to failure after failure of the nurses to be in compliance with handwashing throughout the hospital. The recommendation to the Administrator by our Infection Control nurse was to initial reprimands for failing to wash hands. The Administrator response was that we could not do that because of the nursing shortage and if we reprimanded these nurses, they "might go work elsewhere". My opinion, if they can't even follow the basic patient safety needs I'd rather they went elsewhere. Handwashing is basic 101 for nurses, ignoring this is not an option. Staffing ratios have in part caused the lack of remediation of essential items in n
It's not just nurses, 6/25/2008
by: m5atorlandosprings@att.net 		Rating: 3
I believe that handwashing in a healthcare setting can be equated to wearing a seatbelt while driving your car. Both are safe, effective, and cost effecient ways to save lives. I believe that education and enforcement of handwashing practices is the way to go. The belief of the little importance of handwashing is still prevelant in our healthcare communities and everyone from physicians to lay persons need to recognize the importance that the role handwashing plays in infection control & prevention. Nurses today have a responsibility to not only incorporate strict handwashing in our professional practice, but to also enforce and educate other disciplines, paients and their visitors on the imnportance of handwashing. I do not feel that this is a problem caused by nurses, but it is a problem that must be addressed.
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