Importance of Hand Washing in Healthcare: A STEEP Proposal

Running Head: STEEP PROPOSAL 0
Steep Proposal
Kimberly A. Jackson
10/12/2018

Steep Proposal 1
STEEP Proposal Aim
Germs can be spread from one surface to another through various means such as our
hands, contaminated containers, or even through the air. However, most common ailments
that arise from the result in diarrhea and aching stomach come as a result of bacteria and other
worms being transmitted from the contaminated surfaces to the mouths of the hosts through
their hands. As a result, it is of key importance that hands of both the patients and caregivers
are washed thoroughly and effectively to emit any chances of spreading the bacteria by 99%.
This essay will hugely focus on the reason why washing hands inappropriately result in
further transmission of ailments.
Hand washing is the deed through we associate our hands with water to make them clean.
Using soap makes hand washing more effective because all available bacteria on the sides will
be brushed out. It is of high hygiene to wash hands to remove maybe dirty or even microscopic
organisms on the hands. We know very well that harmful bacteria are harmful to our health
because they can cause sickness when they enter our body systems.
Hand washing is essential in every field may it be in homes, schools, hospitals, offices
among other places, mostly this should be much observed in the medical facilities by medical
offices like nurses and doctors. We understand that time to time nurses and doctors associated
with patients when giving them medical attention like injecting so they should always wash their
hands. This will be corrective measure in that it will minimize chances of them transferring
illness from one patient to another or even from them being infected by the patients. There are
also diseases which originate from dirty hands; the likes of cholera can be a concern if hands are

Steep Proposal 2
not washed mostly when handling foodstuffs. We have some accrued advantages in washing
hands regularly like, preventing infection of diarrhea, preventing diseases which can be
transferred through a handshake, healthy growth of upcoming infants, minimized rates of deaths
among other benefits.
By washing the patients’ hands with the aid of the qualified personnel aids in the
attainment of these aims. This is because the nurses have the necessary skills and training,
such as washing them for about 15 to 30 seconds using clean water enhances patient’s safety
(Ballard, 2014). This practice ascertains that the patients are given the chance to be served
first as they are in an unsuitable condition more than other persons thus being patient-centered
(Compton, 2015). It is equitable if their hands are washed and/or aided in washing by the
authorized nurses in that the nurses have the standards to be met in their minds and it is easier
to meet them. In summary, washing of the patients’ hands by the qualified caregivers makes
sure that all the STEEP aspects are met.
Quality Improvement Principle
The STEEP is basically a framework laid down that aims at meeting the proposed
Triple Aim that includes population health, better per capita cost, and care experience. These
aspects of STEEP include the likes of Safe, Timely, Effective, Efficient, Equitable, and
Patient-centered in particular. Safety comes in by ascertaining that the nurses have enough
training, time aspect comes in by making sure that the nurses are available 24/7 for the
patients and efficiency in that the nurses are capable of making sure that can provide their
patients with care that is evidence-based. Efficiency comes in through the affirmation that the
nurses are always at the bedside of their patients delivering care, equitability through the