While I was on my cardio placement it was routine to suction patients, due to the nature of the placement. My supervisor was very pedantic (understandably) about the sterility of our technique. We were instructed to double glove on the hand that was to touch the catheter and NOTHING else was to touch the catheter or the glove touching the catheter.
I became quit efficient with this technique and could perform it with confidence towards the end of my placement. I did, however witness on a number of occasions poor technique by nursing staff. They did not double glove and they would often clean the mouth with the catheter that had just been removed from a pneumonic airway. I found this very discerning considering we physios take the utmost precautions to be sterile to prevent further infection and complications.
I didn’t report and confront the nursing staff on their technique and question whether I should have? I think in the future if I witness this again I will simply (tactfully) educate nursing staff on correct technique and emphasise infection control. I feel as a student it is a touchy issue, when trying to approach qualified staff about the effectiveness and appropriateness of their job.
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Yes this has been a major issue for me as well. I did my first suction via traciostomy this week on cardio prac, and was being supervised by a new grad (2 months out), and from what she told me I had had more experience doing suctioning than her because the acute cases i had on my neurology prac. I had some questions about the sterility of her techniques and did question them gently, she was a very nice girl though who replied "yes, i suppose you could do that". Consequently i did that.
I was taught to do suctioning the 'sterile' technique on my geri prac ... funny enough i didn't get to do any suction on cardio prac! but that is not the point. I always wonder if it is sterile for nurses to change the IV attachment parts with bare hands, although they do wipe the nob with alcohol wipe first, is it still sterile enough? after all, the cannula is going straight into the patient's veins! I think they should wear gloves!
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