Hand washing is a quality care issue because it is such a simple step in care giving that often can be ignored by care providers, especially if nurses are busy or burned out on the job (Manomenidis, Panagopoulou & Montgomery, 2019). And yet hand washing is crucial to the prevention of spreading germs among patients; additionally, it can give patients a better sense of quality care, trust and satisfaction when they see their care providers take the time to wash their hands before treating them (Bouzid, Cumming & Hunter, 2018).

As a nurse, I can contribute to improvement in this quality of care issue if it existed in my workplace by demonstrating hand washing quality in my own approach to providing care. It is important that leaders of change demonstrate the example they want others to follow. They should show in their own actions what the correct approach should be. One cannot simply tell other nurses how to address a quality care issue. One has to show it in one’s own actions.

However, in a situation where nurses are holding onto sacred cows, it can also be the case that they need an intervention in the form of a directly applied policy change. That policy change will be implemented by a manager, but the manager will rely upon other nurses to facilitate the change. That is where I could come in as well: I could promote the change by speaking positively about hand washing and expressing my understanding of how it helps in a positive and supportive manner. The more positive one speaks about an important change in care provision, the more likely that change is to be cemented. If no one speaks positively about it, resistance to change can occur and prevent the good practice from being adopted by other nurses.

References

Bouzid, M., Cumming, O., & Hunter, P. R. (2018). What is the impact of water sanitation and hygiene in healthcare facilities on care seeking behaviour and patient satisfaction? A systematic review of the evidence from low-income and middle-income countries. BMJ global health, 3(3).

Manomenidis, G., Panagopoulou, E., & Montgomery, A. (2019). Job burnout reduces hand hygiene compliance among nursing staff. Journal of patient safety, 15(4), e70-e73.