The technique which is used to prevent cross-infection is known as?

NHM UP Staff Nurse - 2019

Applied Microbiology & Infection control

Easy

Appeared in: NHM UP Staff Nurse - 2019

Explanation

Barrier nursing refers to a set of specific nursing techniques designed to minimize cross-infection in a hospital setting.
It involves creating a physical barrier between the infectious agent and a susceptible host to break the chain of infection.
Key practices include the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as gloves, gowns, and masks, as well as patient isolation.
This term is the most precise description for the hands-on techniques used to prevent the spread of pathogens from person to person.

Option A: This is a very broad term that describes the entire scope of a nurse's work, including assessment, diagnosis, planning, and evaluation. It is not a specific technique for infection control.
Option B: 'Actual nursing' is not a standard or recognized term in the nursing profession. It has no defined meaning in clinical practice or literature.
Option C: Preventive nursing is a broader specialty that focuses on promoting health and preventing disease in populations. While it includes infection control principles, it also covers health education, screenings, and vaccinations. It is not a specific bedside technique.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Infection control techniques in nursing helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Correctly implementing barrier nursing techniques is a fundamental responsibility for nurses to protect patients, themselves, and colleagues from healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
Failure to adhere to barrier precautions can lead to outbreaks, increased patient morbidity and mortality, prolonged hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs.
What if? If a patient is immunocompromised (e.g., undergoing chemotherapy), the nurse would implement 'protective isolation' or 'reverse barrier nursing'. In this case, the goal is to protect the patient from any potential pathogens from staff or the environment, so the nurse wears PPE to prevent transmitting anything to the patient.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key concepts in the question stem: 'technique' and 'prevent cross-infection'. This indicates you are looking for a specific set of actions or a defined practice.
Evaluate each option for its specificity. 'Nursing care' is very general. 'Actual nursing' is not a standard term.
Compare 'Preventive nursing' and 'Barrier nursing'. 'Preventive' refers to a broad field of health promotion. 'Barrier' refers to the specific act of creating a physical separation.
Recognize that using PPE and isolation are physical 'barriers'.
Conclude that 'Barrier nursing' is the most precise and accurate term for the technique described.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart C (pp 404-604 of 604) p. 26-28

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 3 p. 4-6