Nursing Essay: Handwashing and the STEEP Framework in Healthcare

This nursing essay explores the critical role of handwashing in preventing the spread of germs and infections within healthcare settings. It examines the STEEP framework (Safe, Timely, Effective, Efficient, Equitable, and Patient-centered) and how proper hand hygiene aligns with and supports each of these key aspects of quality patient care. The essay discusses the consequences of inadequate handwashing, emphasizing the transmission of bacteria and other harmful microorganisms. It also details a correction plan based on the STEEP framework, evaluating its effectiveness and cost. The essay highlights how handwashing practices contribute to patient safety, timeliness of care, the efficiency of healthcare delivery, equitable treatment, and a patient-centered approach. The essay concludes with a discussion of evaluation methods for assessing the effectiveness of the handwashing plan, emphasizing the importance of guidelines, patient involvement, and evidence-based practices. References to relevant research and literature are provided to support the arguments made throughout the essay.

Running head: NURSING 1
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Introduction
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 is 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.
Correction plan for inappropriate hand washing
The STEEP framework
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 assurance that the care delivered meets the
set standards of care, and patient-centered in that all services delivered put the patient at the
frontline (Beattie, Murphy, Atherton, & Lauder, 2015).
Washing hands and STEEP framework

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As discussed earlier on, having a dirty hand, especially to the ill, is a huge assurance of
more contamination and a possible cause of additional ailments that may affect the mouth,
esophagus, and the stomach. As a result, keen and effective washing of the hands of the patients
and other persons not only reduces the chances of contamination by also assures the well-being
of a person. After washing of these hands, drying them in bacteria-free areas may aid in the total
reduction of the contamination to other people.
How washing hands meet the STEEP aims
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.
Evaluation of the plan
The evaluation of the effective hand washing plan can be done with a cheap method that
focuses on key clinical guidelines. These guidelines may involve patient involvement, external
assessment of the plan, systematic searching of evidence that the washing was conducted, and
making sure that the plan implementation is updated accordingly (Ejemot-Nwadiaro, et. al,

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2015). The cost of implementing this plan is cheap but it may cost about $50,000 in the
assessment especially if the assessment team comes from an external source.

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References
Ballard, D. J. (2014). The Guide to Achieving STEEP™ Health Care: Baylor Scott & White
Health’s Quality Improvement Journey. Productivity Press.
Beattie, M., Murphy, D. J., Atherton, I., & Lauder, W. (2015). Instruments to measure patient
experience of healthcare quality in hospitals: a systematic review. Systematic
reviews, 4(1), 97.
Compton, J. (2015). Achieving Safe Health Care: Delivery of Safe Patient Care at Baylor Scott
& White Health. CRC Press.
Ejemot-Nwadiaro, R. I., Ehiri, J. E., Arikpo, D., Meremikwu, M. M., & Critchley, J. A. (2015).
Hand washing promotion for preventing diarrhoea. The Cochrane database of systematic
reviews, (9), 1.