What are Universal Precautions?
Universal precautions are a set of infection control practices used to prevent transmission of diseases that can be acquired by contact with
blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes. These precautions are designed to protect both healthcare workers and patients from potential infections.
Why are Universal Precautions Important in Nursing?
In the field of nursing, adhering to universal precautions is crucial in minimizing the risk of
healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Nurses are often on the front lines, directly interacting with patients and handling bodily fluids, making them highly susceptible to infectious agents. Universal precautions ensure a standardized approach to safety, protecting both the nursing staff and the patients.
Hand hygiene: Regular and thorough handwashing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Use of personal protective equipment (PPE): Wearing gloves, masks, gowns, and eye protection when exposure to blood or body fluids is anticipated.
Safe injection practices: Using sterile needles and syringes for each injection and properly disposing of them in designated sharps containers.
Proper waste disposal: Disposing of contaminated materials in biohazard containers.
Environmental cleaning: Regularly disinfecting surfaces and equipment that may be contaminated.
Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, particularly when they are visibly soiled.
Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol when soap and water are not available.
Perform hand hygiene before and after each patient contact, after removing gloves, and after contact with potentially infectious materials.
Gloves: Worn when touching blood, body fluids, mucous membranes, non-intact skin, and contaminated items.
Masks and eye protection: Used during procedures likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood or body fluids.
Gowns: Worn to protect the skin and prevent soiling of clothing during procedures that may involve contact with blood or body fluids.
Using a new, sterile needle and syringe for each injection.
Avoiding the reuse of needles or syringes.
Properly disposing of needles and syringes in designated
sharps containers.
Never recapping used needles.
Place used gloves, gowns, masks, and other disposable items in designated biohazard bags.
Dispose of sharps in puncture-resistant sharps containers.
Follow facility protocols for disposing of infectious waste.
Use EPA-registered disinfectants to clean surfaces that may be contaminated.
Follow facility protocols for cleaning patient care areas.
Ensure that high-touch surfaces are cleaned frequently.
Conclusion
Universal precautions are essential for maintaining a safe environment in healthcare settings. By adhering to these standardized practices, nurses can significantly reduce the risk of transmitting infectious agents, thereby protecting themselves and their patients. Continuous education and adherence to protocols are key to the successful implementation of universal precautions in nursing.
