How do you collaborate with healthcare staff to prevent infection?

1 Communicate clearly

Communication is essential for any teamwork, but especially for infection control and prevention. You need to know the policies, procedures, and protocols of your facility and follow them consistently. You also need to communicate with other staff about your tasks, schedules, and any issues or concerns. For example, you should inform nurses when you are going to clean a patient's room, ask them about any isolation precautions or special needs, and report any spills, leaks, or hazards. You should also use clear and respectful language, listen actively, and ask questions when in doubt.

3 Use the right tools and techniques

To prevent infection, you need to use the right tools and techniques for cleaning and disinfection. You should use the approved products and equipment provided by your facility and follow the manufacturer's instructions. You should also use the correct methods and sequences for cleaning and disinfecting different areas and items, such as floors, walls, furniture, fixtures, and devices. You should pay attention to high-touch surfaces, such as bed rails, door knobs, light switches, and faucets, and make sure they are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. You should also avoid cross-contamination, such as using the same cloth or mop for different rooms or areas.

4 Monitor and improve quality

Quality is important for infection control and prevention, as it affects the safety and satisfaction of patients, staff, and visitors. You should monitor and improve the quality of your work by following the standards and guidelines of your facility and the regulatory agencies. You should also participate in quality improvement activities, such as audits, feedback, training, and education. You should be open to learning new skills and best practices, and share your ideas and suggestions with your colleagues and supervisors. You should also report any problems or incidents that may affect the quality of your work or the infection control and prevention efforts.

5 Respect and support each other

Respect and support are essential for collaboration, as they foster trust and teamwork. You should respect and support your colleagues by acknowledging their roles and responsibilities, appreciating their contributions, and offering your assistance when needed. You should also respect and support the patients and their families by treating them with dignity, compassion, and courtesy. You should also respect and support yourself by taking care of your health and well-being, following the safety rules, and seeking help when necessary.

Infection control and prevention is a shared responsibility that requires collaboration among all healthcare staff. As an ES worker, you can collaborate with your colleagues by communicating clearly, following standard precautions, using the right tools and techniques, monitoring and improving quality, and respecting and supporting each other. By doing so, you can help create a clean and safe environment for everyone.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?