Compliance of Nurses on Standard Precaution Practices in Handling Suspected COVID-19 Patients

Evylinda Abalos Mananon

Evylinda Abalos Mananon Institute of Graduate and Advanced Studies, Urdaneta City University

Keywords: Nurse, COVID-19 patients, HCW, healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)

Abstract

The Centers for Disease Control has developed standard precautionary procedures to reduce the spread of hospital-acquired diseases. The National Public Health Agency was intended to reduce nurses' non-compliance with traditional preventive strategies, which may increase their risk of exposure to infectious diseases, particularly during pandemics. The study aimed to determine the compliance rate of nurses with standard precaution practices in handling suspected COVID-19 patients. The current study used the descriptive method of research and purposive sampling techniques such as total population sampling was utilized to examine each population with a particular characteristic. A questionnaire has been adapted from previous literature and studies. The research problems were interpreted and analyzed using IBM Statistical, frequency and percentages, the 5-point Likert Scale, and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. The researcher drew the following conclusions: The majority of respondents were young individuals who were just starting in the nursing profession. All nurses followed standard precaution procedures while dealing with suspected COVID-19 patients with an increased degree of compliance. One of the factors influencing nurses' adherence to conventional precautionary practices was an increased workload resulting from a personnel shortage. The respondent's profile variables have no bearing on the nurses' compliance rate with standard precaution procedures. The following was recommended: Continuing in-service education for nurses should be applied using evidence-based practices. Keeping the patient-staff ratio should be perceived to avoid a shortage of staff and work overload. Companies should develop fresh tactics and boost the sustainability of the healthcare system in order to handle new issues brought on by the pandemic, and use intervention to reinforce workplace policies in healthcare settings and users of the health system's continuous needs. implementation of a strategic program to increase the nurses' confidence in strict compliance with standard precaution practices in handling suspected COVID-19 patients.

Author Biography

Evylinda Abalos Mananon, Institute of Graduate and Advanced Studies, Urdaneta City University

The author lives in Pangasinan and presently works as a Nurse in a government hospital and is assigned to Emergency Room Department as a Head Nurse. She was also employed as an Infection Control and Prevention Nurse in her previous occupation which she drew inspiration in pursuing this study. She also advocates for the engagement of other researchers for the same study.