Infection Control Practices in Healthcare

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This infection control practices training course for healthcare workers will provide participants with a review of basic infection control considerations and guidelines necessary to protect themselves and their patients from infection during all facets of care. This comprehensive review can be utilized for nursing personnel throughout all healthcare settings, as the safety considerations for infection control do not change according to level of acuity. Within this course, the participant will review the basics of infection control practices including the chain of infection and how to prevent the spread of infection, proper hand hygiene practices, how to identify and properly use personal protective equipment, how to safely follow standard precautions, how to safely follow transmission-based precautions, how to safely handle potentially infectious items and materials, what to do if exposure to potentially infectious items or materials occurs, improving communication to promote safety, and how to complete incident reporting in a timely and thorough manner.

Objectives

Upon completion of this infection control training for healthcare workers, the participant will be able to:

1. Define the chain of infection, and list ways to prevent the spread of infection. 
2. Demonstrate proper hand hygiene practices.
3. Identify and appropriately demonstrate how to use personal protective equipment.
4. Define and discuss how to safely follow standard precautions.
5. Define and discuss how to safely follow transmission-based precautions.
6. Discuss how to safely handle potentially infectious items and materials.
7. Explain what to do if exposure to potentially infectious items or materials occurs.
8. Elaborate on some potential consequences of breaking infection control guidelines.
9. Explain how improving communication can promote safety.
10. Discuss considerations for compassionate care related to infection control practices.
11. Summarize the importance of timely and thorough incident reporting.

Curriculum

Chapter 1: Understanding the Basics of Infection 

• Causes of Infection
• The Chain of Infection
• Breaking the Chain of Infection
• Infection Control Etiquette

Chapter 2: Proper Hand Hygiene Practices 

• Knowing when to Wash your Hands
• Choosing the Correct Method of Handwashing 
• Proper Hand Washing with Soap and Water
• Proper Hand Washing with Alcohol-Based Rubs
• Considerations for Nails, Jewelry and Watches

Chapter 3: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Understanding Personal Protective Equipment 
• How to Properly Use Gloves
• How to Properly Use Isolation Gowns
• How to Properly Use Standard Face Masks
• How to Properly Use Protective Eye Shields or Goggles

Chapter 4: Standard Precautions

• Defining Standard Precautions
• Considerations for Compassionate Care

Chapter 5: Transmission-Based Precautions

• Defining Transmission-Based Precautions
• Airborne Precautions
• Contact Precautions
• Droplet Precautions
• Enteric Precautions
• Neutropenic Precautions - also known as “Reverse Isolation”

Chapter 6: Exposure and Incident Reporting

• What to do if you become exposed
• Importance of Timely and Thorough Incident Reporting

Chapter 7: Improving Communication to Promote Infection Control Safety

• Following the Patient Care Plan
• Using the Appropriate Signs to Alert Care Personnel
• Reinforcing Infection Control Practices with Patients, Visitors and Staff

Chapter 8: Skill Check-Off Lists

Chapter 9: References