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How Do They Impact The Nursing Profession?

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What are standard precautions? How do they impact the nursing profession? These are all valid questions that need further investigation. Set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), standard precautions are a set of practices that help guide nurses to prevent and control infectious diseases from spreading (Efstathiou, Papastavrou, Raftopoulos, & Merkouris, 2011, p. 1). There is no question that nurses are at a particularly higher risk of occupational exposure. Koutoukidis, Stainton, and Hughson (2016) explain that regardless of the patient’s diagnosis, presumed infectious status, and the setting in which the patient is in, nurses should always implement standard precautions (p. 483). The high stake profession leaves nurses …show more content…

From early on, nurses learn to use their better judgment when providing care. Thinking critically can aid nurses greatly. Considering this, standard precautions are viewed as a systematic approach at preserving the well being of themselves and others. But if all of this is true, then what prevents nurses from implementing standards of precautions in their daily practice with each patient they care for? The purpose of this paper is to explore what factors may influence nurses to become noncompliant. For varying reasons, data shows that nurses have the lowest reports of compliance. Therefore, it is especially necessary to analyze these factors and educate nurses on the importance of adherence. Factors such as lack of knowledge, time pressure, and poor practice and/or qualifications contribute greatly to nurses not adhering to their standards of precautions when proving patient …show more content…

They are responsible for what seems like everyone and everything. However, nurses have all the tools they need to be effective and safe nurses early on. The standards of precautions are one of those tools nurses are taught that aids them in protecting every patient they care for, including him or herself. Regardless of the patient’s health status, the nurse should use their better judgment when implementing care. In order to prevent interruption in the chain of infection, nurses are to adhere to the standards of precautions by thinking critically when providing patient care. No matter how presumably capable or experience a colleague may be, evidence-based practice proves that standard precautions are greatly impacting the nursing field. Nurses need to stick to their guns and not compromise their beliefs for fear of being the odd man out. The more the nurse implements those practices in their everyday routine the more it will become second nature. By gaining knowledge of the importance of standard precautions, the nurse will in turn become more compliant and adherent, and be better suited to provide effective quality care to all

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