Introduction
The nursing environment requires complete commitment from all relevant departments. For instance, a department of surgery requires that every surgeon or nurse assisting the surgeon wear protective clothing. Additionally, nurses and surgeons are required to maintain cleanliness throughout the process of surgery.
A sterile environment in nursing practice is essential. In our department of plastic surgery, I always ensure that cleanliness is maintained. Since I am the director of the nursing center, it is my responsibility to ensure that the patient environment is conducive for surgery. Therefore, this paper will explore the benefits of a sterilized nursing environment (University Office of Research Integrity and Compliance, 2010).
Describe a need or change related to a practice environment
I have noticed with great concern that some nurses get into patient rooms with clothing, which are not meant, for that environment. Usually, nurses, as well as other professionals in a nursing environment, are required to change into sterilized clothing before they get in contact with patients.
However, unfortunately, this has not been the case in most organizations. Most often, I have noticed that surgeons and nurses sneak into patient rooms to greet them before changing into sterilized clothing. This practice has the potential of decreasing the patient’s chances of survival.
I say this because these individuals meet different people along their way to the hospital. Additionally, individuals touch many things along the way. I would, therefore, advice that healthcare professionals change into sterilized clothing before they meet patients (Peirce & Smith, 2008).
Rationale
As mentioned above, healthcare professionals meet different people along their way to work. Additionally, health care professionals interact with their colleagues within organizations. Such interactions usually include greetings and hugging, among other ways. This has the potential of causing the spread of germs. In this regard, surgeons and nurses, as well as other professionals in a nursing organization, must sterilize themselves before they get in contact with patients. This would help protect patients from infection during surgery (Milton, 2010).
Explanation of how my participation in a specific professional organization could be beneficial as I attempt to effect positive change in my identified practice environment through the DNP project
My participation in the Association of Operating Room Nursing [AORN] would be essential since I have been forefront in advocating for patients. Operating room is a very complex area, which requires a complete focus on patient needs. Additionally, members of that room need to observed silence and cleanliness. Silence ensures that instructions are followed without failure because this is essential to the patient’s health.
Moreover, cleanliness is essential for all attendants to that room. Therefore, my contribution to AORN concerns cleanliness in the operation room. I usually encourage my colleagues in the profession to observe cleanliness in the operation room. I also encourage my colleagues to avoid using operation room clothing when attending to personal matters outside the room. This is important in ensuring compliance with nursing needs (Fairchild, 2010).
Conclusion
Wearing sterilized clothing is important in the operation room. All professionals in healthcare settings should wear protective clothing to avoid spreading germs to patient rooms. My participation in AORN has been beneficial to them because of my advocacy for patients. I have also encouraged my colleagues to maintain silence and cleanliness in operation rooms for patients benefit. Such practices are essential because they ensure that patients are protected from avoidable infections.
References
Fairchild, R. M. (2010). Practical ethical theory for nurses responding to complexity in care. Nursing Ethics, 17(3), 353–362. Web.
Milton, C. L. (2010). Nursing ethics and power in position. Nursing Science Quarterly, 23(1), 18–21.
Peirce, A. G., & Smith, J. A. (2008). The ethics curriculum for doctor of nursing practice programs. Journal of Professional Nursing, 24(5), 270–274.
University Office of Research Integrity and Compliance. (2010). Institutional Review Board for ethical standards in research. Web.