Personal Protective Equipment
Overview
Appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) improves the safety of patient and healthcare providers in the healthcare environment. PPE provides a barrier against exposure and transmission of infectious material and prevents contamination of surfaces. PPE protects skin, clothing, mucous membranes, and airways. Healthcare workers can protect themselves, patients and others against exposure to infectious material by ensuring they use PPE. The use of PPE is a Standard Precaution in guidelines set by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This continuing education activity will provide you with the information you need to appropriately use PPE during a variety of patient care activities.
Objectives
After completing this continuing education activity, nurses will be able to:
- Describe the selection of personal protective equipment based on anticipated exposure, effectiveness of the barrier, and appropriate fit.
- Identify safe practices for the use of personal protective equipment.
Please note: This continuing education activity was planned for nurses. Completing this course does not authorize you to add any skill discussed in the content to your practice if this function is not included in your current scope of practice.
Accreditation & credit designation statements
A Continuing Education Activity Provided by HealthStream.
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP13221 for 1.0 contact hour(s).
To receive credit, participants must complete the entire activity. Partial credit will not be given. Licensees in all states must provide their license numbers for record keeping purposes. Continuing education licensing requirements vary by profession and state. Learners should contact their licensing board or professional organization to confirm that these contact hours will be accepted. HealthStream does not warrant acceptance.
Completions for this activity are not transmitted to CE Broker.
Course outline
Lesson 1 Course introduction
Lesson 2 Background
- What is PPE (includes requirements, and standards)
- Who does it protect (patient, Healthcare worker)
- How does it protect (describes barriers and methods of transmission they protect against bloodborne, airborne pathogens)
Lesson 3 Types of PPE
- Head cover (full barrier)
- Mask (eye protection, nose and mouth protection, facial protection)
- Gloves (latex: non-latex, allergies, protections)
- Gown and aprons (sterile or non, disposable or non, include surgical gowns)
- Respirator (types, reasons)
- Shoe covers (full barrier)
Lesson 4 Hand Hygiene
- Importance of hand hygiene
- CDC Guide lines
- Technique
- Antiseptic agents (soaps, alcohol based products)
- Cautions (fire hazards, ineffective methods)
Lesson 5 Donning and Removing PPE
- Donning (Choosing appropriate PPE, maintaining sterile environment, replacing compromised PPE)
- Removal (procedure gloves, goggles, apron, mask, avoiding cross contamination)
- Disposal (OSHA guidelines)
Lesson 6 A Day in a Life-Compliant?
- Case study