As a nurse, you will literally be working in a hot bed of dangerous materials, heavy equipment and a slew of germs. However, you will not only have to worry about your own health, but also the heath and safety of your patients. Some patients may be extremely susceptible to germs, so you want to take precautions not to spread these germs throughout a healthcare facility. By taking these health and safety tips in mind, you can not only protect your self from sickness and injury, but also your co-workers and other people that work in the hospital. When it comes down to it, it is important to make these health and safety tips a priority. Here are five workplace health and safety tips for nurses.
1. Always wash your hands. Keeping your hands protected from germs is critical. Not only will you be working with sick patients, but you may also be working with hazardous materials. So, you want to make sure that you change your gloves multiple times throughout the day. If you don’t change your gloves, you could be spreading these germs and hazardous throughout the healthcare facility, which could increase the risk of an outbreak – not to mention, wearing gloves will keep you safe too.
2. Always wash your hands. Keeping your hands clean is vital as a nurse – just as vital as wearing gloves. When it comes down to it, you want to wash your hands before you put on gloves. Even though you are wearing gloves, you still want to wash your hands with antibacterial soap. There is a good chance that antibacterial soap will be readily available throughout your workplace. It is recommended to wash your hands after a surgical procedure and even after you eat.
3. Always ask for help when it comes to heavy lifting. If you are moving heavy materials, it is important to ask for help if you need it. When it comes down to it, you can severely injure yourself if you lift something that is too heavy. This also includes patients who need to be lifted for surgery, or to change their position in bed. The last thing you want to do is injure a patient – all because you were too shy to ask for help.
4. Always be on the lookout for hazards in the workplace – or the healthcare facility in which you work. If you visited CNACertification-Training.com and got your certification, you will know how hazardous a healthcare facility can be. So, it is important to be hyper vigilant. If you see anything out of place or disorganized, you want to make sure to report the situation to a supervisor. The last thing you want is to ignore something that could hurt a fellow co-worker or patient.
5. Always have access to emergency equipment. This equipment includes fire extinguishing materials, first aid kits and much more. As a nurse, it is critical to always be aware and it is vital to be on the ready. Saving people’s lives takes awareness and a willingness to act promptly.
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