Proper Hygiene: Dealing With Cancer Patients

Thursday, August 23, 2012 | Unknown at 6:19 PM |

Caring for patients with cancer can really be exhausting. Why? One of the reasons is that you need to implement safety precaution not only for your client, but also for your own self. It is crucial to ensure that meticulous care is given so your clients won't suffer any hospital-acquired diseases. Because of this, health care providers must be cautious when handling a cancer patient. As one of the people who are responsible in dealing with this kind of situation, how can we render competent bedside care? Well, this article will provide tips and techniques on performing proper hygienic care to patients.
First, ensure that you have enough knowledge in dealing with cancer patients. Bear in mind that there are no room for mistakes when facing these cases.
1. Start by re-constructing the client's room. Since they have weak immune complexes, try to provide a room with positive air pressure. Why? A room with positive pressure will more likely push the air outside the room. With that, minute particles from the outside will not enter the room, thus preventing the inhalation of these potentially dangerous microorganisms. Furthermore, it is advisable never to place powder or anything that can harbor microorganisms.
2. When rendering care, you should wear appropriate personal protective masks such as gown, gloves, and goggles. Make sure that your client understands the reason behind such intervention - that is, their case is too delicate that they have to be isolated from microorganisms which could predispose them from acquiring diseases. This is the reason why scrub suits that are used under scrub gowns must only be worn in this ward, and should never be taken elsewhere.

3. During the radiation therapy, ensure that continuous care is consistently administered. We all know that radiation, especially when exposed, can also affect our normal cells and turn them into malignant cells. How can we render competent care if we get sick, too? You wouldn't want that to happen, right? If that's the case, then you might want to read the following tips to prevent acquisition of malignant cells due to radiation exposure.
Ascertain that proper barrier is implemented. For example, if the patient has a cervical radiation, then approach her from the head side. In this manner, you will not be exposed to the radiation.
Wear dosimeter gauge. This device can measure how much time was given in providing care. Most institutions require you to go near the patient for a maximum of 30 minutes with cuts of 5 minutes per visit. That's why fast and accurate action is crucial. If you want to observe the condition of the patient, then try to check on them 6 feet away from the bed.
Place the patient in a room with personal toilet. If they are going to urinate, educate them that it is crucial to flush the bowl three times. Let them know that radiation can also be incorporated in the urine. As such, flushing it thrice will ensure that the radiation will totally be flushed down. If they have waste such as tissue and the like, make sure to label it accordingly. Most often, hospitals wrap hazardous wastes using an orange plastic bag. That way, other workers in the hospital can immediately understand what to do with it.
There are lots of things that are crucial to incorporate when caring for a cancer patient. However, we must bear in mind that the main principle in rendering care is by keeping the patient's designated room sterile and clean.