PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT SUMMARY 1

Personal Protective Equipment Summary

Yasmin Gonzalez

Old Dominion University

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT SUMMARY 2

Personal Protective Equipment

The purpose of this paper is to summarize my teaching session with regards to using

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Professional standards describe the competent level of

care in almost every phase of the nursing process. It is described as a desirable and achievable

level of performance. The main focus of professional standards is to direct and maintain safe and

clinically competent nursing practice. Professional standards help guide our clinical practice and

provides an evaluation tool to ensure proficiency and safety (Davis, 2014). The problem

identified is the incorrect use of PPE during the night shift on an Orthopedic unit. It has been

observed that the night shift, family included could use reinforcement and education on the

proper use of PPE to professional standards.

Assessment of the Learner

The target audience chosen was the night shift on an orthopedic unit who agreed to

participate in the teaching session. The staffing included a total of seven nurses and three

Nursing Care Partners (NCP). The findings were that the nurses displayed great concern for he

patients that they care for. Their knowledge, proper technique, and ability to “teach back” were

assessed. The nurses displayed great knowledge of when it came to why we don PPE. The

problem was evident, the nurses had demonstrated poor technique and lack the time to educate

patient’s family members. Family members knew where the PPE was located at, but only 42%

were fully compliant with gown and gloves (Ewers, 2018). The unit verbalized proper technique

and education could not get done efficiently to due to the acuity, lack of resources and nurse to

patient ratio. The ten individuals need education on proper technique, time management, and

added resources.

Developing Teaching Plan

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT SUMMARY 3

The goal of the teaching plan was to ensure that the nurses during the night

would:

 properly use PPE (don and doff)

 Educating staff, patients, and patient’s family/visitor

 Implementation of proper use

 Hand hygiene

Objectives were specified that the nurses will have a great understanding on why we use

PPE, proper demonstration of don and doff, and hand hygiene. Methods to assure that the target

audience received the information were through an informational PowerPoint, demonstrated

techniques, and group discussion following the workshop. The allotted time for the instructional

material as a whole was 45 minutes to a one hour. I evaluated the individuals during the

demonstration and group discussion. During demonstration of don and doff of PPE, the nurses

were evaluated by their ability and proper technique. This gave the nurses room for improvement

to properly use PPE. Group discussion was a learning opportunity for the instructor, as well as

for the target audience. The group was able to discuss thoughts and feelings about PPE, with

critiquing the instructor on ways that could improve the teaching lesson.

Conclusion

The teaching session was a great opportunity to educate the nursing staff on PPE. The

nursing staff took great on a big burden from the session by participating, asking questions, and

assisting on education of PPE. The relevance of interpersonal influences seems to be the driving

force to ensure the staff is following policy in regard to PPE (Dynan, J., & Hennessy, K., 2014).

Commitments to staff, patients, and environment seem to be an overall consensus within the

group. The nursing community has a great sense of responsibility to maintain the standard of
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care (Dynan, J., & Hennessy, K., 2014). The standard of care has room for improvement to

become accepted and well established.

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References

Seibert, G., Ewers, T., Barker, A. K., Slavick, A., Wright, M., Stevens, L., & Safdar, N.

(2018). What do visitors know and how do they feel about contact precautions?. American

Journal Of Infection Control, 46(1), 115-117. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2017.05.011

Hennessy, K. A., & Dynan, J. (2014). Improving Compliance With Personal Protective

Equipment Use Through the Model for Improvement and Staff Champions. Clinical Journal Of

Oncology Nursing, 18(5), 497-500. doi:10.1188/14.CJON.497-500

Cristina da Silveira Chagas, M., Cristiene Nachtigall Barbosa, M., Behling, A., Calcagno

Gomes, G., & Modernel Xavier, D. (2013). OCCUPATIONAL RISK IN EMERGENCY

ROOM: USE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) BY NURSING

PROFESSIONALS. Journal Of Nursing UFPE / Revista De Enfermagem UFPE, 7(2), 337-344.

doi:10.5205/reuol.3073-24791-1-LE.0702201303