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Plastic apron wear during direct patient care
1North Manchester Primary Care Trust, Manchester Metropolitan University, Institute of Education, Manchester. s.stark@mmu.ac.uk
Nursing Standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987)
|October 8, 2005
Summary
Nurses often use aprons ritualistically, not based on evidence, due to limited infection control knowledge. Inconsistent local policies further impact safe apron use in patient care.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Practice
- Infection Control
- Healthcare Policy
Background:
- Apron use is a key component of infection control in healthcare settings.
- Understanding factors influencing nurses' adherence to apron use protocols is crucial for patient safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors influencing nurses' practice regarding apron use during direct patient care.
- To explore the basis of decision-making in nurses' apron usage.
Main Methods:
- A documentary analysis was conducted on a purposive sample of 15 journal articles.
- The study focused on factors affecting nurses' decisions on apron use in patient care.
Main Results:
- Nurses' decisions on apron use are predominantly ritualistic, not evidence-based.
- There is a noted limitation in nurses' knowledge regarding infection control principles.
- Current practices may not align with best evidence-based guidelines.
Conclusions:
- Scant local policies on apron use contribute to inconsistent and potentially suboptimal nursing practices.
- Despite available literature and regulations, practice variability persists.
- Clearer, evidence-based local policies are needed to standardize apron use and enhance infection control.
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