Infection Prevention in Nursing Homes from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Breaking the Chain of Infection

Standard Precautions are the foundation for preventing the spread of infectious agents. Sometimes conditions require the addition of Transmission-based Precautions. In this module, we will review Standard Precautions and describe four transmission-based precaution categories.

Multi-drug Resistant Organisms

In the 70 years since the first antibiotics where developed to treat common bacterial infections, resistance to these “wonder” drugs has increased due to overuse and misuse. This has led to the rise of "super-bugs" or “multi-drug resistant organisms” that are not treatable by any antibiotic. If not addressed, antibiotic resistance will result in people dying from simple bacterial infections. This module will describe multi-drug resistant organisms, how they affect the residents in your facility, and what you can do to help control their spread.

Safe Injection Practices

Unsafe injection practices have led to large outbreaks of bloodborne pathogens. It is critical that best practices for safe injections and blood glucose monitoring are followed without exception. We will look at factors that contribute to the misuse of injection equipment, and a special program health care personnel can utilize to address this problem: the One and Only Campaign.

Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection

Until recently, the role of the environment in disease transmission has been thought to be insignificant. Recent studies have shown that several major pathogens, like MRSA, VRE, C. difficile and norovirus, are shed by colonized and infected residents and contaminate surfaces at levels sufficient for disease transmission. This module will examine best practices for cleaning and disinfection.

Preventing Urinary Tract Infections

This module you will learn about the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) among nursing home residents and prevention strategies for helping residents stay healthy and UTI free.

Clostridium difficile prevention in nursing homes

Preventing Clostridium difficile infection and transmission continues to represent a serious challenge in infection prevention and nursing home resident safety. In this module, you will learn about how C. difficile is spread and best practices for preventing the spread of the germ in your facility.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Covers preventing the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria and other infections in healthcare facilities

Provides strategies for preventing urinary tract infections among nursing home residents

Examines best practices for cleaning and disinfection in healthcare facilities

Reviews standard precautions and describes four transmission-based precaution categories

Explores safe injection practices and the One and Only Campaign to address misuse of injection equipment

Teaches about multi-drug resistant organisms and their impact on healthcare facilities

Reviews summary

Infection prevention in nursing homes: engaging and effective

Learners say this course is largely positive and engaging. It provides informative and useful content about infection prevention in nursing homes. The course is said to be well received because of its fun and interactive elements, such as videos, quizzes, and dramatizations. Students appreciate the practical insights and real-world scenarios presented in the course. They also highlight the expertise and engaging teaching style of the instructors.

The instructors are experts in the field and present the material in an engaging way.

"They also highlight the expertise and engaging teaching style of the instructors."

The course provides practical insights and real-world scenarios to help learners apply their knowledge.

"Students appreciate the practical insights and real-world scenarios presented in the course."

The course uses videos, quizzes, and dramatizations to make learning more engaging and fun.

"The course is well received because of its fun and interactive elements, such as videos, quizzes, and dramatizations."

This course is packed with useful information about infection prevention in nursing homes.

"This course provides informative and useful content about infection prevention in nursing homes."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Infection Prevention in Nursing Homes with these activities:

Review Basic Infection Control

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Reviewing the basic principles of infection control will help you understand the rationale behind the infection control practices you will learn in this course.

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Read the Infection Control Policy and Procedure Manual for your facility.
Attend an Infection Control in-service.

Create a Poster on Standard Precautions

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Creating a poster on standard precautions will help you remember the key elements of standard precautions and how to apply them in your practice.

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Gather information on standard precautions from reliable sources.
Design your poster using creative and eye-catching visuals.
Display your poster in a visible location in your workplace.

Watch Videos on Infection Control

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Watching videos on infection control will help you visualize the concepts and best practices discussed in this course.

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Search for reputable sources of infection control videos.
Take notes on the key points covered in the videos.

Six other activities

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Create a Binder of Infection Control Resources

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Compiling a binder of infection control resources will provide you with a valuable reference tool that you can use in your daily practice.

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Gather infection control policies, procedures, and guidelines.
Organize the materials in a logical and accessible manner.

Practice Donning and Doffing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

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Regular practice of donning and doffing PPE will help you protect yourself and your patients from infections.

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Gather the necessary PPE for the procedure.
Follow the proper steps for donning and doffing PPE.

Practice Hand Hygiene

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Regular practice of hand hygiene will help you develop good habits and reduce the risk of spreading infections.

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Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.

Discuss Infection Control Cases with Colleagues

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Discussing infection control cases with colleagues will help you learn from real-world examples and share your experiences.

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Identify a relevant infection control case to discuss.
Present the case to your colleagues and facilitate a discussion.

Develop an Infection Control Plan for Your Unit

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Developing an infection control plan for your unit will help you implement effective infection prevention and control measures.

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Assess the infection control risks in your unit.
Develop and implement strategies to mitigate the risks.
Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of your plan.

Participate in an Infection Control Quiz or Competition

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Participating in an infection control quiz or competition will help you test your knowledge and identify areas where you need further improvement.

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Find an infection control quiz or competition that is relevant to your practice.
Study the infection control materials and prepare for the quiz or competition.
Participate in the quiz or competition and learn from your results.

Career center

Learners who complete Infection Prevention in Nursing Homes will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Infection Preventionist

An Infection Preventionist is responsible for developing and implementing infection prevention and control programs in healthcare settings. This course may be useful for Infection Preventionists who want to learn more about the role of the environment in disease transmission and how to implement standard and transmission-based precautions to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria and other infections in their facilities.

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Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists investigate the causes and patterns of disease outbreaks. This course may be useful for Epidemiologists who want to learn more about the role of the environment in disease transmission and how to implement standard and transmission-based precautions to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria and other infections.

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Public Health Nurse

Public Health Nurses work to improve the health of communities by promoting healthy behaviors and preventing disease. This course may be useful for Public Health Nurses who want to learn more about the role of the environment in disease transmission and how to implement standard and transmission-based precautions to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria and other infections.

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Registered Nurse

Registered Nurses provide direct patient care and work to prevent and treat illness and injury. This course may be useful for Registered Nurses who want to learn more about the role of the environment in disease transmission and how to implement standard and transmission-based precautions to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria and other infections.

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Nursing Home Administrator

Nursing Home Administrators are responsible for the overall operation of nursing homes. This course may be useful for Nursing Home Administrators who want to learn more about the role of the environment in disease transmission and how to implement standard and transmission-based precautions to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria and other infections in their facilities.

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Environmental Health Scientist

Environmental Health Scientists work to protect the environment and human health. This course may be useful for Environmental Health Scientists who want to learn more about the role of the environment in disease transmission and how to implement standard and transmission-based precautions to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria and other infections.

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Microbiologist

Microbiologists study microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This course may be useful for Microbiologists who want to learn more about the role of the environment in disease transmission and how to implement standard and transmission-based precautions to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria and other infections.

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Infection Control Specialist

Infection Control Specialists are responsible for developing and implementing infection prevention and control programs in healthcare settings. This course may be useful for Infection Control Specialists who want to learn more about the role of the environment in disease transmission and how to implement standard and transmission-based precautions to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria and other infections.

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Physician

Physicians diagnose and treat illness and injury. This course may be useful for Physicians who want to learn more about the role of the environment in disease transmission and how to implement standard and transmission-based precautions to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria and other infections.

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Pharmacist

Pharmacists dispense medications and provide information about their use. This course may be useful for Pharmacists who want to learn more about the role of the environment in disease transmission and how to implement standard and transmission-based precautions to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria and other infections.

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Dentist

Dentists diagnose and treat diseases of the teeth and gums. This course may be useful for Dentists who want to learn more about the role of the environment in disease transmission and how to implement standard and transmission-based precautions to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria and other infections.

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Veterinarian

Veterinarians diagnose and treat diseases of animals. This course may be useful for Veterinarians who want to learn more about the role of the environment in disease transmission and how to implement standard and transmission-based precautions to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria and other infections.

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Chiropractor

Chiropractors diagnose and treat disorders of the musculoskeletal system. This course may be useful for Chiropractors who want to learn more about the role of the environment in disease transmission and how to implement standard and transmission-based precautions to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria and other infections.

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Optometrist

Optometrists diagnose and treat disorders of the eye. This course may be useful for Optometrists who want to learn more about the role of the environment in disease transmission and how to implement standard and transmission-based precautions to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria and other infections.

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Occupational Therapist

Occupational Therapists help people who have difficulty performing everyday activities due to illness, injury, or disability. This course may be useful for Occupational Therapists who want to learn more about the role of the environment in disease transmission and how to implement standard and transmission-based precautions to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria and other infections.

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