contact precaution disease (MRSA/ C diff/ Shingles) + no close bodily contact + remove steri strips

Question 1

What do you wear?

Answer 1

Surgical mask (no airborne disease), white plastic apron (no close bodily-contact), non-sterile
gloves.

Question 2

What equipment to take?

Answer 2

a) Surgical mask
b) White apron
c) Non-sterile gloves
d) Kidney dish with:
e) Gauze
f) Plastic tweezers

Question 3

After gathering equipment, what do you do?

Answer 3

Look at the expiry date of the equipment packaging

Question 4

How do you don the PPE

Answer 4

11. Don surgical mask – blue surface is outer surface. The folds of the surgical mask should face down for liquids to drip downwards. Metal wire should be at the top. Pull top and bottom edges of mask to spread it across your face. Ensure bottom edge is under your chin. Mould the metal wire to your nose.
12. Don white plastic apron – Unfold the plastic apron carefully and slowly, without flinging it out. Hook top strap over your neck first, and then tie the bottom knot.
13. Don non-sterile gloves.

Question 5

How do you approach the patient?

Answer 5

a) Introduce myself
b) Double-check patient identifiers
c) Explain the procedure to the patient, and inform them that there will be a slight tugging sensation on the skin area when removing the Steri-strips
d) Obtain patient consent”

Question 6

How do you remove the steri strips?

Answer 6

15. Place the gauze on same side as your dominant hand. This is to facilitate a flow and avoid crossing
    your hands back and forth over the patient’s wound: Dominant side with tweezer > removes Steristrips > places them on gauze at same dominant side.
16. Remove the 1st wave of alternate Steri-strips. Start from the top and go downwards alternately. Peel the Steri-strip off, centimetre by centimetre to avoid causing discomfort to the patient. DO NOT rip the entire Steri-strip off at once. You have a lot of time anyway! J Place each removed Steri-strip on the gauze.
17. Stop after removing 1st wave of alternate Steri strips. “I will check for the wound healing and integrity after removing the 1st round of Steri-strips.”
18. Continue removing the 2nd wave of alternate Steri-strips until all strips are removed.
19. Use both hands to carefully put the gauze back into the kidney dish, without dropping any Steristrips.
20. “I will thank the patient and ask them to inform the nearest medical staff immediately if they face any further problems with their wound healing.”
21. Throw entire kidney dish with all the rubbish into the rubbish bin (there will be a small plastic bag at the side of the trolley that acts as a rubbish bin, and a big rubbish bin with a foot pedal, you can choose from either one).

Question 7

How do you remove the PPE? (hint: G> A> M sequence)

Answer 7

24. Remove non-sterile gloves using aseptic technique – outside of glove can only touch outside of other glove. Pinch wrist part of 1st glove and pull it down, turning 1st glove inside-out along the way to trap any pathogens. Ball up 1st glove in 2nd-gloved hand. Use exposed finger to insert under the cuff of 2nd glove and pull down to remove 2nd glove inside-out. Discard both gloves into ANY rubbish bin.
25. Hand rub (from bottle on trolley) – MUST SHOW 7 STEPS AGAIN.
26. Remove white plastic apron using aseptic technique – pull to break top loop of apron first then break bottom strap. (FOR APRON: It is top then bottom, NOT THE SAME AS YELLOW GOWN SEQUENCE OF REMOVAL). Hold the apron arms length away from yourself, and all up apron VERY slowly using inner surface (do not fling it out at all times). Discard apron into ANY rubbish bin.
27. Hand rub – MUST SHOW 7 STEPS AGAIN.
28. Remove the surgical mask using aseptic technique – ensure you do not cup/touch the front surface of the surgical mask – remove both ear straps at the same time to prevent it from hanging down from one ear and brushing your clothes. Discard the surgical mask in ANY rubbish bin.
29. Medical hand wash – MUST SHOW 7 STEPS AGAIN.