Nursing and Acute Care 1: OSCA Reflection on Allergy and Hygiene

This report presents a student's reflection on the critical aspects of allergy checks and hand hygiene within the context of nursing practice, specifically addressing a missed element during an OSCA (Objective Structured Clinical Examination). The reflection utilizes the DIEP framework (Describe, Interpret, Evaluate, Plan) to analyze the experience, drawing upon literature to support key concepts. The student discusses the importance of understanding drug allergies, the role of hand hygiene in preventing infections and allergic reactions, and the impact of microbial environments on immune responses. The report explores the causes of allergies, emphasizing the need for thorough handwashing, proper drug handling, and patient education. The student evaluates the learning experience, highlighting the value of the acquired knowledge in future nursing practice, with a focus on educating the public and applying these concepts in a clinical setting, particularly with children. References to relevant studies support the arguments presented.

Running Head: ALLERGY CHECKS AND HAND HYGIENE
ALLERGY CHECKS AND HAND HYGIENE
Name of Student
Name of Institution
Name of Tutor

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Description of what I have learned
Drug allergy is an abnormal reaction of our immune system with a medication. It is important
to note that any medication whether over-the counter or prescribed drug may react with our
body. However, drug allergy is predominant with certain types of drugs and not all drugs
produce allergic reaction on the patient. The common symptoms of drug allergy are
production of hives, rushes, or fever. The allergic reaction caused by the blood is different
from drug side effect. Usually, drug side effects are indicated on the paper used to cover the
drug.
It is important for nurses and patients to understand and know that certain drugs are able to
cause allergic reaction to them or the patients. Penicillin is one of the drugs that commonly
cause allergic reaction on the user. However, if a patient is allergic to penicillin drugs, then
he is likely to be allergic to other drugs like amoxicillin drugs also. One of the most common
forms associated with allergic reaction caused by drugs is the anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a
rare, non- life-threatening allergic reaction which causes dysfunction of the body systems. It
may sometimes be associated with vomiting and diarrhoea.
The most interesting and important thing I read in allergy and hygiene is that whatever we
touch with our hands can affect our health in one way or another. Allergies have been on the
rise since the 1970s in all developed countries (Campion, 2015). I discovered that children in
large and poor families found in rural places with dirt are not commonly affected by allergies.
It is also noted in a number of reports that children from rich families and those who dwell in
urban areas are more prone to allergies more than poor families on both caused by drugs or
dirt on their hands (Park & Kim, 2012). My first information about why this case happened
was that children from poor families are exposed early to pathogens causing allergies;
therefore, they have stronger immune systems which do not overreact when exposed to dirt,

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dust, or pollen grains. However, recent studies indicate that there are many allergies and it
may not be about infections only.
The importance of hand hygiene and allergy check
Patients should always take precaution by knowing their history with certain drugs so that
when asked they can say. This will help nurses or doctors know the drugs that they may
develop allergic reaction. A part from this, patients should be encouraged to ensure their
hands are thoroughly cleaned so as to avoid touching the drugs with dirt that may infect the
drugs and cause allergy when consumed. As a precautionary measure, doctors, nurses, and
pharmacists may not hold drugs with their bare hand as this may inject pathogens into the
drugs prompting them to develop allergic reaction on the patients.
According to World Health Organization, there are five stages for hand hygiene that I should
have mentioned as a nurse during my interaction with the patient. They include;
 Before touching the patient
 Before using antiseptic material
 After exposing my body to any fluid
 After touching a patient
 After touching the surrounding of the patient
Interpreting the insight of what I have learned
The experience that I got about allergy checks and hygiene shows more on the function of our
immune system. It is important to note that our immune system depends on the normal
inhabitants of our guts. Our body contains 100 trillion microbes which dictate the way
perceive our hygiene. The function of these microbes is to digest food and produce vitamins

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which are responsible for keeping our immunity in check (Park & Kim, 2012). I learned that
when our microbiome is interfered with, our body loses species diversity hence making us be
vulnerable to infections caused by harmless proteins hence allergies ensue. I discovered that
there are two types of reactions associated with drug use. They include dryness, itching, and
cracking of the hand; and the one containing dermatitis that represents an allergy and
associated with hand hygiene. It is known that the symptoms of dermatitis can range from
mild and localized to severe and generalized. According to the Centre for Disease and
Control (CDC), Proper hand washing and cleaning surfaces before touching drugs can reduce
the risk of allergy. The Centre for Disease and Control (CDC) also recommends that patients,
nurses, and doctors should find a way of minimizing allergic reactions resulting from using
drugs (Ryan et al., 2015). I also support hand washing using soap and water because in my
training I discovered that hand sanitizers are not effective in dealing with food allergies. The
hand washing spirit can be enforced in schools, cafeteria, and field trips among others to
reduce the risk of allergies in school children.
Evaluation of what I have learned
My learning experience was quite important because I am now able to educate the public on
the best methods of keeping ourselves out of the risk of allergies. Hand hygiene is the
primary health strategy to prevent hand infections and allergies emanating from dirt and dust
present in hospitals and health centres. We should also avoid over the counter prescription of
drugs because we might end up buying drugs that are allergic to our immune system. It is
important to know many things about hand washing and hygiene which include when to wash
my hands, how to wash my hands effectively, and how to wash my hands with soap and dry
them effectively (Longuenesse, Lepelletier, Dessomme, Le Hir & Bernier, 2017). In addition,

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I also learned that using running water is important when washing the hand than using
stationary water. Also, it should be noted that there is no advantage of using antibacterial
soap over ordinary soap in preventing allergy or ensuring hand hygiene, rather provided that I
have cleaned my hands with water and soap; it is enough to drive away pathogens causing
allergies (Brunk, 2012). This understanding is important because sometimes we get infections
and allergies from minor preventable pathogens.
Planning how this study will be applied in practice
This new insight will be important because it will help us ensure our health is kept away from
infections casing allergies. In essence, I will be able to understand the causes of allergic
reactions resulting from the use of drugs given in hospitals and how to prevent them. Further,
the training is important in my life because it is linked to the course I am undertaking and
that's a bachelor of nursing. I will be able to apply the concepts I have learned in my future
career in educating the public about how to take care of their hands and how to prevent
allergic infections resulting from drugs (Finn, 2007). To effectively apply this experience in
my career, I will ensure that I involve schools and teachers because children are the worst
affected. This is because most children do not know how to properly clean their hands.

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References
Brunk, D. (2012). Good Hand-Hygiene Practices Taking Hold. Skin & Allergy News,
43(10), 23. doi: 10.1016/s0037-6337(12)70390-x
Campion, K. (2015). Don’t forget hand care when promoting hand hygiene in hospitals.
BMJ, h4436. doi: 10.1136/bmj.h4436
Finn, R. (2007). Disabling Comorbidities, Foot Ulcers Often Go Hand in Hand.
Skin & Allergy News, 38(3), 80. doi: 10.1016/s0037-6337(07)70193-6
Longuenesse, C., Lepelletier, D., Dessomme, B., Le Hir, F., & Bernier, C. (2017).
Hand dermatitis: hand hygiene consequences among healthcare workers. Contact
Dermatitis, 77(5), 330-331. doi: 10.1111/cod.12825
Park, J., & Kim, H. (2012). The Effect of the Hand Hygiene Education Program on
Hand Hygiene Knowledge, Hand Hygiene Perception, Nasal Staphylococcus aureus
Colonization and Hand Hygiene Adherence in Nursing Students. Journal Of Korean
Biological Nursing Science, 14(3), 156-165. doi: 10.7586/jkbns.2012.14.3.156
Ryan, K., Havers, S., Olsen, K., Stewardson, A., Cruickshank, M., &
Grayson, M. (2015). The keys to success: initial findings from the Hand Hygiene
Australia (HHA) program review. Antimicrobial Resistance And Infection Control,
4(S1). doi: 10.1186/2047-2994-4-s1-p144