THE HYGIENE OF A HEALTH WORKER

All right today I will be talking about one of the most ignored health topics. We spend so much time teaching patients about hygiene, infection prevention and staying healthy. But then sometimes, we forget to look at ourselves.🥺

Student midwife

Any health worker with poor personal hygiene can unknowingly become a source of infection, discomfort or loss of confidence for patients.

So in this note, it is very crucial that we ensure to keep to the following below;
● Wash or sanitize your hands before and after patient contact.
● Put on a clean uniform and keep them neat always.
● Keep nails short and clean. ( Some of we health workers don't like hearing this one mostly students but it's necessary, in order to avoid infection contact or transmit).
● Ensure to Follow appropriate infection-prevention practices. (Your PPE- Personal Protective Equipment).
● Maintain good oral hygiene, which is essential for good communication with your client.
● Practice proper body hygiene.
● It's really good to keep the hair clean and properly maintained.
● Keep equipment and work areas clean.

Student midwife

A health worker should not only know about how to treat illness and care for them but also modelling healthy behaviour.

Our patients should be able to feel safe around and not feel uncomfortable because of unpleasant odour, unkept uniforms, long/overgrown nails or poor personal hygiene.

And please, let's take it as a way of constantly improving ourselves;
• Good hygiene is professionalism.
• It is infection prevention.
• Gives respect for our patients.

Dear health workers, i believe we can always do better.👩‍⚕️ If you’re a health worker, please kindly suggest in the comment box, what hygiene habit do you think we need to talk more about? 👇🏽

Cc:
@chiomzy810