NRSG370: Safety Issue in Surgical Department Analysis

This report critically analyzes the safety issue of non-adherence to hand hygiene protocols in surgical departments, emphasizing its impact on patient safety. The study highlights that non-compliance with hand hygiene guidelines by healthcare professionals significantly increases the risk of healthcare-associated infections, potentially leading to sepsis and prolonged hospital stays. The analysis covers the scope of practice and responsibilities of healthcare professionals, referencing guidelines from the NMBA and ACSQHC, and discussing the detrimental effects of poor hand hygiene on patient outcomes and the healthcare sector's reputation. The report explores the barriers to hand hygiene compliance, such as workload pressures and lack of resources, while also underscoring the importance of adherence to established standards to mitigate safety risks and improve patient care in the surgical environment. It emphasizes the role of nurses in maintaining patient safety through critical thinking and therapeutic relationships, aligning with the standards set by the NMBA and ICN.

Running head: SAFETY ISSUE IN SURGICAL DEPARTMENT
SAFETY ISSUE IN SURGICAL DEPARTMENT
Name of Student:
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Author’s Note:

1SAFETY ISSUE IN SURGICAL DEPARTMENT
In the health sector, the primary reason for the high rate of infection in surgical
department is due to non-compliance of hand hygiene protocol by the health care professional. It
has caused safety issues with the patient in surgical department. Therefore, the main aim of the
study is to critically analyse non-adherence towards hand hygiene as a safety issue by discussing
its impact of patient, scope of practice and responsibilities of the health professional.
In health sector, hand hygiene is based on the guidelines to wash hand with soap and
water or antiseptic agents. It is the most important practice that is meant to be maintained by the
nurse and other health care professionals (White et al., 2015). Focusing on the medical surgical
or emergency department, hand hygiene is the significant parameter for safety of patient and
nurses. The surgical department of health care sector deals with patient undergoing severe health
issue and are at the risk of infection or cross contamination (Gluyas, 2015). It is evident from the
study of Azim et al. (2016) that ignorance of hand hygiene by the health professionals who are
working in the surgical department causes safety issues of the patient. During the surgical
procedure, there is high risk of skin, mucous and exposure of blood contact from patient to health
care professionals. Thus safety of health worker is also impacted. Moreover, the surgical patient
also has high chance to receive infection from the nurses or health worker due to broken and
exposed skin. The health care-associated infections have detrimental effects on the people
admitted to hospitals.
The infection that develops after the surgery has the potential to develop sepsis or blood-
borne infection. From the study of Wetzker et al. (2016) author has discussed the primary reason
for high infection rate of surgical patient is ignorance of performing perfect hand hygiene by the
health care professional. Author has stated that hand hygiene is the quality indicator for the
safety of patient as it is meant to prevent nosocomial infection. In Australia, there are set

2SAFETY ISSUE IN SURGICAL DEPARTMENT
guidelines for performing hand hygiene, however, due to lack of non-adherence towards the
standard of practice, it causes adverse effect on the health of the patient and has arisen the
question on concerning the safety of patient. Despite acknowledging the significance of hand
hygiene, the overall compliance with hand hygiene is less than optimal in health care sector
(Grayson et al., 2018).
The issue of non-compliance of hand hygiene has become the problem as it is
continuously affecting the patient, and further it is also linked with the practice of professionals.
It is reported in the study of White et al. (2015) that in due to safety issue linked with non-
adherence to guidelines of hand hygiene, the health of the patient is negatively impacted. With
chance of infection, there is a high probability that stays in hospital of patients increases, re-
admission of patient can happen, and the recovery process may become late. Besides, there is a
high rate of infection which deteriorate the health, leading to incidence of other health condition
like sepsis.
In the surgical department, there is massive pressure of work, which is the significant
barrier of hand hygiene. It is reported that the other reason for non-compliance for hand hygiene
are lack of adequate supplies, interference with worker and patient relation, ignorance of
guideline, forgetfulness, insufficient time and inadequate scientific awareness demonstrating
effect of hand hygiene on high infection rate of hospital (Azim, 2016). As an effect, it can be
said that patient safety is compromised. All such leads to high health burden in the health care
sector of Australia. The reputation of health care sector is also effected as it leads to poor health
outcome of the patient.
In Australia, Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
(ACSQHC) has reported high rate of infection due to impractical guideline of hand hygiene.

3SAFETY ISSUE IN SURGICAL DEPARTMENT
Data of national hand hygiene imitative has reported 85.7% of compliance rate, involved 1075
organization and 971 hospitals (Hand Hygiene Australia, 2017). Health organization of Australia
has discussed that effective hand hygiene is the single most activity that is known to reduce the
health care-associated infection. Thus, it can be said that non-adherence towards it by the health
care professional leads to safety issue of the patient.
According to the NMBA guideline for nurse standard number 6, they are responsible for
providing safe, responsive and appropriate quality nursing practice. Additionally, they are known
to practice according to the set safety and quality improvement guideline and standards (Nursing
and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2016). It is reported in the international council of nurse, any
violation in the standard of practice can lead to suspension of registration or may cause legal
obligation. Thus the safety issue also has adverse impact on the health care professionals
(International Council of Nurses, 2017). Their scope of practice can be visualized the from the
set standards of the NMBA and NSQHS which highlights that infection control is the main area
that needs attention by the health worker with objective to healthy outcome of the patient. They
should wash their hand with antiseptic agents and soap before and after assessing the patient to
avoid risk of cross-contamination in surgical department and enhance patient safety (Nursing and
Midwifery Board of Australia, 2017). However, due to violation of such standards, the health of
the patient is affected and lead to harm or danger to safety of patient. Thus for the health care
professional, it is vital to work as per their scope of practice with maintaining the standard of
NMBA, NSQHS and ICN of Australia.
Nurses need to analyse their role and responsibilities toward the care of the patient and
work to improve the health of patient and give priority to the safety of patient of surgical
department. According to standard of NMBA, nurse needs to think critically while handling

4SAFETY ISSUE IN SURGICAL DEPARTMENT
surgical patient and engage therapeutic relationship (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia,
2016). They are responsible for giving safe and responsive care to the patient and must evaluate
the outcome, which is the healthy nursing practice (Jain, Clezy & McLaws, 2018).
Thus, it can be concluded that non-adherence towards hand hygiene by the nurses and
worker can deteriorate the health of the patient. They must wash their hands with five movement
technique before and after assessing the patient for safety of both patient and health staffs.

5SAFETY ISSUE IN SURGICAL DEPARTMENT
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