Prevention of Exposure to Infectious and Environmental Hazards
Standard Precautions
Definition: Standard precautions are the minimum safety and infection prevention practices that apply to all patient care, laboratory or technical skills training experiences in any setting where healthcare or healthcare training is delivered. These practices are designed to protect healthcare professionals (HCP) and prevent HCP from spreading infections to others. Students will be instructed in Standard Precautions early in the program during orientation and throughout the didactic phase of the program.
Standard Precautions include:
- Hand hygiene– Good hand hygiene is critical to reduce the risk of spreading infection. Current CDC guidelines recommend use of alcohol-based hand rub for hand hygiene except when hands are visibly soiled (e.g. dirt, blood, body fluids), or after caring for patients with known or suspected infectious diarrhea, in which cases soap and water should be used. Key situations where hand hygiene should be performed include:
- Before touching a patient, even if gloves will be worn.
- Before exiting the patient’s care area after touching the patient or the patient’s immediate environment.
- After contact with blood, body fluids or excretions, or wound dressings.
- Prior to performing an aseptic task (e.g. placing an IV, preparing an injection).
- If hands will be moving from a contaminated-body site to a clean-body site during patient care.
- After glove removal.
- Use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Exam gloves will be worn when there is risk of contact with or when handling blood or body fluids or when there is a potential for contact with mucous membranes, non-intact skin or body orifice areas, or contaminated equipment.
- Facial masks, protective eyewear and/or gowns (as well as gloves) will be worn when performing/assisting procedures with a risk of body fluid or other hazardous material splashes or sprays.
- Safe injection practices
- No recapping of needles unless required by the specific procedure being performed.
- Use of self-sheathing needles and/or needleless systems when available.
- All needles and other disposable sharps will be placed in designated puncture resistant containers as soon as possible after their use.
- Safe handling of potentially contaminated surfaces or equipment
- Environmental cleaning: Areas in which patient care activities are performed will be routinely cleaned and disinfected at the conclusion of the activity as outlined by the laboratory course director/instructor.
- Medical equipment safety. Reusable medical equipment must be cleaned and disinfected (or sterilized) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If the manufacturer does not provide guidelines for this process the device may not be suitable for multi-patient use.
- Respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette
- Cover mouth/nose when coughing or sneezing.
- Use and dispose of tissues.
- Perform hand hygiene after hands have been in contact with respiratory secretions.
- Consider using a mask to prevent aerosol spread. Consult with your clinical preceptor regarding specific clinical policy on when masks must be used.
- Sit as far away from others as possible when ill with respiratory symptoms.
Compliance with all safety practices is a not just good procedure – it is a mark of your professionalism. Persistent failure to observe and practice Standard Precautions may result in adverse/disciplinary action for unprofessional behavior and referral to the Progress and Promotion Committee.
Students will be required to complete any clinical site-specific safety or security training requirements in preparation for supervised clinical practice rotations.
Student Safety During SCPEs
UMES PA program will ensure that appropriate OSHA training is provided to students prior to SCPEs. The facility at which the SCPE takes place shall provide to UMES PA students access to the facility’s rules, regulations, policies and procedures with which the UMES PA students are expected to comply, including, the Facility’s OSHA, personal and workplace security and personal safety policies and procedures and shall address all appropriate safety measures for all UMES PA students and any UMES PA instructors on site. It will be the preceptor’s responsibility to take reasonable steps to ensure personal safety and security of students during the SCPE. This is clearly communicated to preceptors and agreed upon in a signed Preceptor Agreement obtained prior to the SCPEs.
Liability Insurance
UMES PA students are covered under the state’s liability insurance throughout enrollment in the Program. Student name and social security number must be submitted to ensure coverage. Proof of insurance will be provided to clinical sites where students are assigned. Coverage will be in effect for Program-assigned clinical rotations and experiences, but will not be in effect for students working in a clinical setting not affiliated with the Program, such as that occurring during outside employment or in the case of volunteer work either during the academic year or during a break, unless it is Program-assigned. Students are also required to purchase or arrange a private malpractice policy. Information on a free policy can be found at Physician Assistant Liability Insurance – PA Liability Insurance Coverage Options (cmfgroup.com).
Latex Allergy Policy
Latex products are extremely common in the medical environment. Students with a history of latex allergy are at risk for future severe reactions upon exposure to latex products. Although students with localized contact irritant dermatitis can be accommodated, those with a history of generalized reactions or true anaphylaxis need clearance from an allergist and may need to carry an Epi-pen.
Any student with a known latex allergy, or having or describing symptoms consistent with latex allergy, is advised to consult a qualified allergist for evaluation. Such evaluation is at the student’s expense. Any student found to be latex allergic must determine whether or not to continue with PA training, acknowledging the risk of becoming ill even if after reasonable precautions are taken and accommodations are made.
If such a student elects to continue in training, the student must realize that he/she assumes any responsibility and risk posed by allergic reactions, which can range from mild symptoms to anaphylaxis and death. In the event such an allergy is present, either intentional or inadvertent exposure to latex and related products may lead to these consequences. Although the Program will do all it can to provide latex-free gloves during laboratory session, it cannot guarantee a latex-free environment because other students may not be using latex-free gloves and other materials. Furthermore, we cannot guarantee a latex-free environment at every clinical training site.
If a student chooses to proceed with training in the face of significant risk, the student will be required to sign a waiver stating that he or she understands the risk. This waiver will be forwarded to each of the student’s clinical sites.
