says Ms. Culbertson. "Have conversations and directly observe."
3. Nose to toes.
For convenience and compliance, some suggest
buying $7 kits that contain CHG wipes and nasal swabs, thereby
bundling nasal antiseptics with patient skin decolonization.
4. Explain it to patients.
Patients might be puzzled when you
stick a wet substance up their noses. Instruct your nurses to explain
that many bacteria live in the nose and pre-op nasal decolonization
will decrease the patient's risk of surgical site infection. Others sug-
gest pre-admission testing nurses introduce the concept or hand
patients a brochure in pre-op class.
"Discuss that germs live in the nose and people rub their nose
unconsciously many times throughout the day," says Ms. Culbertson.
"This treatment will lessen the risk of transferring germs from their
nose to their surgical incision."
"Tell them they could be asymptomatic, but it could create a surgi-
cal site infection regardless," says Ms. May.
Finally, this: Think of it as hand sanitizer for your nose.
OSM
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