Resources       Glossary
Introduction
Person Centred Care
Pallative Care
Wound Care
Ms. Patel offered me a towel to dry my hands after washing in her home. I thank her and…
Dry my hands with the towel offered. It is important to build trust and not offend her. Walk away with wet hands. I don’t mind offending her.
My next steps are to…
Take the first opportunity while still in Ms. Patel’s home to sanitize my hands with my pre-packed sanitizer and paper towels. I wait until I finish the visit and in my car for a thorough post-visit hand sanitation.
My next steps are to…
Continue the visit as planned knowing that I have avoided potential infection. Kindly explain that I brought my own hand hygiene supplies.
While it is important to build trust with clients it is critical to maintain best practice in hygiene. Avoid client’s towels as these are considered a potential source of contamination. In the client’s home, always use your pre-packed VCH approved supply of soap and hand sanitizer with paper towels.
Waiting to sanitize your hands means a higher risk of infection: Anything touched from the time of contamination is also considered contaminated. In the client’s home, always use your pre-packed VCH approved supply of soap and hand sanitizer with paper towels.
Infection control is critical for the community nurse and it is wise to avoid the client’s towel. However while doing so try to build trust with your client in other ways. In the client’s home, always use your pre-packed VCH approved supply of soap and hand sanitizer with paper towels.
Congratulations, this is the best alternative. You are right to gently reject your client’s offer and follow best practice for hand hygiene. Have your VCH approved supply of soap and hand sanitizer with paper towels packed and ready to use in the clients’ home.