When it comes to being a nurse, you have to try and stay as safe as possible while you are on the job. There are a lot of things that can happen to someone who is working in a medical work place. Because of this, there are certain procedures and practices that have been put in place to keep both the medical professionals and their patients healthy and safe.
Be sure to wash your hands before and after touching a patient, or performing a procedure. This helps prevent the transference of germs from you to the patient, or from the patient to you and to others with in the hospital or clinic. If you have any open sores or cuts on your hands or skin that may come into contact with a patient, you should wear gloves or cover the affected area so it doesn't become infected or transfer germs. When you have to handle any bodily fluids or you know you will come in contact with any, wear gloves to protect yourself and to keep from contaminating any medical samples you may be gathering.
If you work with cancer patients or help with chemotherapy patients, be aware of the health risks that may be associated. Most chemotherapy medication can cause damage to a person's health that does not have cancer. When handling this medication, wear the proper protective gear so it doesn't have any effects on you. Also, warn patients and the patient's family members of the risks as well.
Perhaps you do have to handle bodily fluid or other bio-hazards, be sure that you throw these things away in the proper bins. These bins are normally a bright orange color with the bio-hazards symbol on it. This means throwing away any tissues, paper, bandages, and needles away in their respectable bins. Things like syringes and scapula go in different bins than the others, normally a hard plastic container so that no one can accidentally stick themselves with a used needle.
Be sure you know where to throw away or store excess medication. Medication should never be poured down the sink because it will pollute the areas water system. Some chemicals in different medications aren't supposed to mix, so you will need to dispose of them separately. Also, don't leave anything laying around whether it is in a patients room or out in the hospital or clinic. You never know when there may be children around who may get into powerful prescriptions medicines. If you have any questions as to how to dispose of a medication; ask a pharmacist, they should be able to advise you on the disposal of a certain medication.
Knowing what certain symptoms of different illnesses are, as well as how they can be contracted can not only keep you safe, but others who are in the clinic or hospital. Most of these you may learn while you are in nursing school or college. However, it doesn't hurt to have a cheat sheet with you, or to quiz yourself every now and then. Also, know what illnesses are common during the different seasons of the year.
Be sure to wash your hands before and after touching a patient, or performing a procedure. This helps prevent the transference of germs from you to the patient, or from the patient to you and to others with in the hospital or clinic. If you have any open sores or cuts on your hands or skin that may come into contact with a patient, you should wear gloves or cover the affected area so it doesn't become infected or transfer germs. When you have to handle any bodily fluids or you know you will come in contact with any, wear gloves to protect yourself and to keep from contaminating any medical samples you may be gathering.
If you work with cancer patients or help with chemotherapy patients, be aware of the health risks that may be associated. Most chemotherapy medication can cause damage to a person's health that does not have cancer. When handling this medication, wear the proper protective gear so it doesn't have any effects on you. Also, warn patients and the patient's family members of the risks as well.
Perhaps you do have to handle bodily fluid or other bio-hazards, be sure that you throw these things away in the proper bins. These bins are normally a bright orange color with the bio-hazards symbol on it. This means throwing away any tissues, paper, bandages, and needles away in their respectable bins. Things like syringes and scapula go in different bins than the others, normally a hard plastic container so that no one can accidentally stick themselves with a used needle.
Be sure you know where to throw away or store excess medication. Medication should never be poured down the sink because it will pollute the areas water system. Some chemicals in different medications aren't supposed to mix, so you will need to dispose of them separately. Also, don't leave anything laying around whether it is in a patients room or out in the hospital or clinic. You never know when there may be children around who may get into powerful prescriptions medicines. If you have any questions as to how to dispose of a medication; ask a pharmacist, they should be able to advise you on the disposal of a certain medication.
Knowing what certain symptoms of different illnesses are, as well as how they can be contracted can not only keep you safe, but others who are in the clinic or hospital. Most of these you may learn while you are in nursing school or college. However, it doesn't hurt to have a cheat sheet with you, or to quiz yourself every now and then. Also, know what illnesses are common during the different seasons of the year.
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