Case Studies
At a seaside hospital, two busy wards are located on opposite ends of the building and are connected to each other by the operating theaters and processing areas. Because it is much faster and easier to get from one ward to another by cutting through the operating theaters and processing areas, many staff do so rather than going outside and all the way around the building to get to the other ward.
Is this an appropriate practice? Why or why not?
The operating theater where Teresa works as a surgical nurse is not air-conditioned and the temperature often rises above 100 degrees F. Before surgeries start, Teresa opens the windows, which are screened. The operating theater has three operating tables, and because of the way the room is set up, the only place for Teresa to put her sterile table is in front of one of the open windows.
Is this an appropriate practice? Why or why not?
Miss Pensri, a nurse in the operating theater, has prepped many surgical-incision sites over the past 10 years. She always begins by shaving the site using a razor blade. Then she wipes the site with sterile gauze and an iodophor antiseptic (Betadine) in a circular manner, working from the center out, and immediately wipes off the excess antiseptic with dry, sterile gauze.
Is this an appropriate practice? Why or why not?
At a nearby facility, used surgical instruments are processed by placing them in a metal basin filled with an antiseptic solution. They are left in the solution until they are used in another procedure.
Is this an appropriate practice? Why or why not?
Before inserting an IUD, Midwife Ames uses iodine to prepare the vagina and cervix.
Is this an appropriate solution to use for a vaginal/cervical preparation? If not, what should Midwife Ames use instead?
In a nearby clinic, cotton balls are kept in a small, covered basin filled with bezalkonium chloride (Zephiran). Before giving an injection, Dr. Shah takes out a cotton ball with her hand and uses it to wipe the client's skin.
Is this appropriate? If not, what should Dr. Shah have done instead?
Course Home | Module Home | Help