Profiles of rural nurses' use of personal protective equipment: a cluster analysis

Mapping HIV Nursing Core Competencies in Entry-Level Education: A Pilot Project

BACKGROUND

Many nursing specialty groups in Canada have developed their own entry-to-practice frameworks to inform nursing curricula. This article focuses on the framework of HIV/AIDS core competencies developed by the Canadian Association of Nurses in HIV/AIDS Care.

METHOD

The goal of this pilot project was to map the courses offered in one entry-level program to assess the applicability of the framework as a tool to inform curriculum development.

RESULTS

This project highlighted competencies that were well covered in the current courses offered in the program, as well as existing gaps. To address these gaps, five areas of improvement were identified.

CONCLUSION

The gaps and areas of improvement identified in this project are similar those identified in the nursing literature. As such, they reinforce the importance of incorporating education and training in entry-level programs with actual clinical experiences with and exposure to people living with HIV.

Review of personal protection equipment used in practice

Standard precautions offer a consistent approach to infection control that does not rely on knowledge or suspicion of infection, and contributes to staff and patient safety by reducing the risk of exposure to potentially infectious material. One of the cornerstones of standard precautions is the appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) whenever contact with blood or body fluids is anticipated. However, evidence suggests that compliance with standard precautions including correct use of PPE is inadequate. Demographic and epidemiological changes in the U.K., and the drive to provide more complex patient care outside acute hospitals may lead to increased infection risks for both patients and community healthcare workers. This review examines the importance and use of PPE by community nurses and discusses the implications for practice of poor compliance with standard precautions. Recommendations for practice will be made aimed at improving compliance with this important element of standard precautions.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

There exist few studies in the United States that examine the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of registered nurses regarding persons with human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome. This information is needed to determine curriculum changes and continuing education needs.

Prevalence of and risk factors for non-compliance with glove utilization and hand hygiene among obstetrics and gynaecology workers in rural China

This study identified the prevalence of and risk factors for non-compliance with glove utilization and hand hygiene among rural obstetrics and gynaecology workers in two poor counties in Anhui, China. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a self-administered anonymous semi-structured questionnaire. The study population included all health workers in the departments of obstetrics and gynaecology in township hospitals and county health facilities. Among the 137 participants, the rate of non-compliance with glove utilization was 61%, the rate of non-compliance with hand hygiene was 40%, and the rate of non-compliance with both was 67%. 'Unnecessary and inconvenient' accounted for 66% of the reasons for not always using gloves and 71% for not always washing hands. 'Short of gloves or water' accounted for 15% and 22% of reasons, respectively. Two variables were associated with non-compliance: county [odds ratio (OR)=11.56, P<0.001] and knowledge (OR=0.10, P=0.033). After removing county from the regression model, institutional level (OR=2.34, P=0.059), institutional support (OR=3.85, P=0.009) and knowledge (OR=0.05, P=0.007) were associated with non-compliance. The prevalence of non-compliance with glove utilization and hand hygiene was high. The risk factors for non-compliance were institutional level, institutional support and knowledge. These variables incorporated both subjective and objective reasons for non-compliance.