Infection Control Reflective Essay: NUR1299, Cardiovascular Ward

This reflective essay, written by a nursing student, examines an infection control situation experienced during a clinical placement in a cardiovascular ward. The essay utilizes Gibb's reflective cycle to analyze the event, focusing on the student's observations of infection control measures, particularly those related to wound care. It explores the clinical factors influencing care delivery, the student's feelings and thoughts, the values and beliefs experienced, and the analysis of the situation's meaning. The student reflects on the importance of hygiene and cleanliness, the role of healthcare professionals in preventing infections, and the impact of these practices on patient wellbeing. The essay concludes with an action plan for future practice, emphasizing the development of practical skills and confidence in applying theoretical knowledge to ensure patient safety. The assignment also includes a rubric used for grading the reflective essay.

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Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

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Introduction
Reflective essay is the process which helps the nursing students to clarify their thoughts,
understand the value of aspects associated to their practice and figure out the areas of work
which requires further practice (Bulman & Schutz 2013). In this reflective assignment, I will be
using Gibb’s reflective cycle to critically analyze an infection control related situation which I
experience during my clinical placement in the cardiovascular ward of the healthcare facility. As
it is a reflective writing, patients name and personal information will be kept confidential
(Caldwell, 2013).
Description of event
As per the World Health Organization (2018), infection control as well as prevention is
the aspect which should be maintained within healthcare facilities so that a safe and secured
environment for patients could be sustained and the risk of potential spreading of disease could
be reduced. During my clinical placement, I was placed in the cardio vascular unit of the
healthcare facility, where a 72 year old patient Mr. A (to maintain confidentiality) was admitted
and I was present in that ward to assist the RN, taking care of the patient. I observed each action
taken by the RN while the care process, especially regarding infection control as all the measures
required to minimize the risk of infection was followed by the RN. The patient had a deep wound
in his right ankle due to his fall while suffering from myocardial infarction and the infection
control measures taken by the RN while caring for the wound was the reason I chosen this topic
for my reflection. Witnessing the infection control measures in my clinical placement was

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different from my theoretical knowledge as I was able to see and practice interventions on my
own to the patient and hence, I am reflecting on this situation.
Clinical Factors that influence the delivery of care
There are several factors that could be counted as the reason for such implementation of
infection control measure such as resources, training, staff and patient factors (Lobach et al.,
2012). The RN in the ward caring for Mr. A used to follow all the hygiene and infection control
measures while taking patient report, providing medication, cleaning the wound and dressing
measures so that the patient could be prevented from hospital acquired infections (Friedberg et
al., 2013). She also provided me with training about hand hygiene, and provided me with
training so that I could also comply with the infection control measures.
Feelings, emotions and thoughts I experience
During the practice of preventing infection in the cardio-vascular using I felt excited
because I was able to take care of the wound infections as per my theoretical and practical
knowledge I received during my nursing education. However, receiving training and educational
sessions from the RNs of a professional healthcare facility is an important aspect which would
help me in my future nursing career so that I could use my knowledge to deliver care to the
society (Lee et al., 2013). I felt that as healthcare professionals, it is our duty to take complete
care of the patients and prevent their risk of infections, and decrease their hospital stays so that
they can return to their home. However, it has been seen that due to non-effective measures for
infection control more than 30% of the patients acquire nosocomial infections that affect their

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wellbeing (Tacconelli et al., 2014). I felt confident and determined that I will be able to take care
of the infection control measures while changing the dressing of patient. I completed the dressing
change of Mr. A under the supervision of RN and used the non-touch process. However, when
the physician came to visit the patient, the RN stopped him from touching the patient’s wound as
the physician did not sanitized his hands and was wearing a long sleeve shirt. Hence, this
situation influenced me as a student nurse and I was very satisfied that as nurses we take care of
our patients diligently.
Values and beliefs experienced
From this clinical experience, the values and beliefs I experience is that it is important to
maintain hygiene and cleanliness within the healthcare facilities and as nursing professionals it is
our responsibility to maintain and implement infection prevention so that patient’s wellbeing and
health could be obtained (Mayhall, 2012). I also noticed that while care; it is the responsibility of
any health professional to prevent any action which could increase the risk of infection as the RN
in care prevented the physician to touch the wound of the patient. I was pleased that such
professional health facilities diligently follow the hygiene and infection control measures. Hence,
I learnt, experienced and witnessed positivity in care process.
Analysing the meaning or sense of the situation
As per Lo et al. (2014), as healthcare professionals, it is the responsibility of the nursing
staff or physician to stick to the hygiene or infection control manuals so that patient’s stay in the
facility could be decreased and they can receive quality care. Further in the reports of Zarb et al.

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(2012), it has been witnessed that healthcare staffs are the primary reason for hospital acquired
infections and hence, they must act to identify and minimise the risk of infection in patients.
Therefore, I will be applying this in my own practice as student and enrolled nursing
professional.
Conclusion
Looking back to the incident of witnessing the dedication of the RN I assisted for my
clinical placement was an important opportunity that affected my nursing knowledge and
understanding positively and I was able to understand the application of these measures
practically. I have much more confidence in me at present and I am determined that I will be able
to apply these knowledge in my career as nursing staff so that my practice do not put my patients
under the risk of infection.
Action plan
In future, I aim to develop my practical and self assurance skills and abilities of applying
my theoretical knowledge in my practical and real time situation so that I can ensure safety and
wellbeing of my patients. I will try to be more confident and would try to learn more ideas and
beliefs from my next placement so that I could develop myself as a better nursing professional.

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References
Bulman, C., & Schutz, S. (Eds.). (2013). Reflective practice in nursing. John Wiley & Sons.
Friedberg, M. W., Chen, P. G., Van Busum, K. R., Pham, C., & Aunon, F. M. (2013). Factors
affecting physician professional satisfaction and their implications for patient care,
health systems, and health policy. RAND corporation.
Lauren Caldwell RN, B. S. N. (2013). The importance of reflective practice in
nursing. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 6(3), 319.
Lee, B. Y., Bartsch, S. M., Wong, K. F., Singh, A., Avery, T. R., Kim, D. S., ... & Huang, S. S.
(2013). The importance of nursing homes in the spread of methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among hospitals. Medical care, 51(3), 205.
Lo, E., Nicolle, L. E., Coffin, S. E., Gould, C., Maragakis, L. L., Meddings, J., ... & Yokoe, D. S.
(2014). Strategies to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections in acute care
hospitals: 2014 update. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 35(5), 464-479.
Lobach, D., Sanders, G. D., Bright, T. J., Wong, A., Dhurjati, R., Bristow, E., ... & Williams, J.
W. (2012). Enabling health care decisionmaking through clinical decision support and
knowledge management. Evid Rep Technol Assess (Full Rep), 203(203), 1-784.

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Mayhall, C. G. (2012). Hospital epidemiology and infection control. Lippincott Williams &
Wilkins.
Tacconelli, E., Cataldo, M. A., Dancer, S. J., De Angelis, G., Falcone, M., Frank, U., ... & Singh,
N. (2014). ESCMID guidelines for the management of the infection control measures to
reduce transmission of multidrug‐resistant Gram‐negative bacteria in hospitalized
patients. Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 20, 1-55.
Zarb, P., Coignard, B., Griskeviciene, J., Muller, A., Vankerckhoven, V., & Goossens, H.
(2012). The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) pilot point
prevalence survey of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial
use. EuroSurveillance Monthly, 17(46), 20316.

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Rubric
Student Name Student Number;
MARKING RUBRIC
Assignment 1 NUR1299 Semester 2 2018
Reflective Essay
Description-
Identifies relevant
aspect of care
relating to weekly
topics.
Relevant aspect of
care/topic not
identified.
No incorporation of
resource materials
Relevant aspect of
care/topic minimally
identified.
Minimal incorporation
of resource materials.
Aspect of care/topic
identified, with a
reason as to why it
was chosen.
Incorporation of
resource materials
and literature.
Aspect of care identified
with an excellent
description and rationale
for choice.
Critical comparison to
resource
materials/relevant
literature.
0 0.5 1 1.5
Identifies Clinical
Environmental
factors that
influence care
delivery.
Environmental
factors not
considered.
Environmental factor
considered and briefly
articulated.
Environmental
factors considered,
with an explanation
on how this has
influenced care
delivery.
Environmental factors
considered, with an
explanation on how this
has influenced care
delivery. Substantiated by
relevant resource
materials.
0 0.5 1 1.5

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Identifies
feelings/emotions
and links to values
and beliefs
Feelings and
emotions not
articulated.
Values and beliefs
not included.
Identifies feelings /
emotions of self but not
others.
Identifies values and
beliefs of self or others
or society.
Identifies feelings /
emotions of self and
others.
Identifies values and
beliefs of self, others
and society.
Describes how
personal values
influenced patient
interactions and
aspects of care.
Identifies feelings /
emotions of self and
others demonstrating
insight into the situation
from multiple
perspectives.
Describes how personal
values influence
perception of care
aspect/topic/care
delivered.
Describes how this
interaction has altered
personal perceptions.
0.5 1 2 3
Analysis and
conclusions
Applies relevant
theories and
concepts from the
course materials
Poor to minimal
application of theory
from within the
course material
applied to the
situation
Poor to minimal
evidence of further
Limited knowledge of
theory from within the
course applied to the
situation
Limited evidence of
further
Good knowledge of
theory from within
the course applied to
the situation
Good use of the
evidence/literature
Very good to excellent
knowledge of theory
from within the course
and the relevant
evidence applied to the
situation
Very good to excellent
use of the