The Infection Control for Nursing Homes and Long-Term Facilities course will educate nursing staff on how to minimize their risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses.
Due to the community nature of these facilities, nursing home populations have a high risk of contracting respiratory viruses like COVID-19. Especially important in the ever-changing COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare personnel (HCP) and residents must follow recommended infection prevention and control practices.
There should be at least one infection prevention and control manager at each facility. There are several different important aspects of an infection prevention and control program, including proper policy development, infection surveillance, and HCP training.
What You’ll Learn
- Recommended Core Practices for Nursing Homes
- How to Utilize Trained Staff in Infection Control Program
- Resident and HCP Education Strategies
- Visitor Restrictions and Testing Plans
Details
Course length: 45 minutes.
Languages: American English
Key features: Audio narration, learning activity, and post-assessment
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Infection Control Practices
This course describes several core practices that nursing homes can implement. For example, management should designate at least one infection control manager who has sufficient training. Healthcare workers must report all COVID-19 cases to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).
The facility should take steps to educate residents about COVID-19 and other dangerous viruses. In order to reduce disease transmission, healthcare workers should use source control measures. Learn more about the recommended infection control practices by taking this training.
Infection Control Managers
At least one staff member should have a full-time position as an infection control manager. Facilities with small resident populations can consider infection prevention and control program staffing based on their individual needs. The CDC offers an online training resource for infection control managers in nursing homes. Additionally, these managers should ensure that all staff members are reporting COVID-19 cases and other facility information to the appropriate channels. Workers must submit health data to the NHSN weekly. By providing NHSN with this data, long-term care facilities can receive infection tracking and prevention systems individualized to their facility needs. There are several different categories of data that nursing home facilities can report. These include resident and staff impact, supply status, and ventilator capacity.
Resident and HCP Education
Care facilities are responsible for providing residents and healthcare workers with information about COVID-19, other viruses, and stress management strategies. The CDC regularly updates its Infection Control Guidance with current information regarding COVID-19 procedures.
Healthcare providers should receive additional training on providing care during changing pandemic situations. Long-term care facilities must also provide in-depth education to staff members due to the multiple avenues of possible exposure. Residents and family members should receive educational materials regarding COVID-19 and protective actions. Determining plans to communicate this information ahead of time can make the process smoother and more efficient.
All healthcare workers must wear a facemask at all times while in the facility. Facemasks offer better source control to the wearer than cloth face coverings, making them preferable in healthcare settings.
Residents can choose to wear a cloth face covering or facemask whenever they leave their room. Residents that are unconscious or have difficulty breathing should not wear a face covering. If visitors can enter the facility, they must at least wear a cloth face covering. This training details other educational tips for residents and healthcare workers in nursing homes.
Visitor Restrictions
Digital communications can remind families to not visit the facility if they are feeling ill. The facility can also introduce alternative visitation methods, including video conferencing.
Workers can post signs at the entrances to the facility providing visitors with an opportunity to complete a symptom assessment. Additionally, workers can screen visitors on-site for fever or COVID-19 symptoms. Anyone suffering from a fever or other symptoms should not enter the building. For more information on visitor restrictions, please refer to this course.
Testing Residents and HCP
This training provides several recommendations for testing residents and healthcare personnel for SARS-CoV-2. By having regular testing practices, HCP can become aware of infections within nursing homes faster. Procedures must address residents who decline to be tested due to personal or medical reasons. CDC provides additional information regarding COVID-19 testing in nursing homes. All testing plans must comply with state and federal requirements.
Testing plans should address triggers for performing testing. HCP can work with laboratories to process these tests. Antibody tests are not appropriate for diagnosing an individual with a current COVID-19 infection.
Evaluating HCP
Sick leave policies must remain non-punitive and flexible in order to support proper infection control practices. The facility should maintain an inventory of all personnel who provide care. If restrictions need to be implemented to prevent disease transmission, refer to this inventory to determine non-essential personnel. All HCP should regularly monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19.
While healthcare workers are desperately needed to provide care, they still must remain home when sick. If they start to develop symptoms while working, they should inform their supervisor and leave immediately. They also must engage in regular COVID-19 testing.
Infection Control Supplies
Hand hygiene supplies are crucial to infection control. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer should be available in resident rooms and common areas. Alcohol-based hand sanitized can be used unless hands are visibly soiled. Staff should ensure that sinks are stocked with soap and paper towels for handwashing.
Respiratory hygiene is equally important. Tissues and trash cans should be available throughout the facility for when residents need to cough or sneeze.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
The facility should ensure that an inventory of PPE is maintained. Health departments can be contacted if a PPE shortage occurs. Critical PPE shortages occur when there is less than a week’s supply of PPE remaining. PPE use can be monitored daily by healthcare workers to remain aware of the quantity of supplies. All residents must have access to necessary PPE throughout the facility.
Care for Residents with COVID-19
There should be dedicated spaces in the facility for resident care of patients with COVID-19. This can include a dedicated floor or unit meant to cohort individuals with COVID-19. Additionally, only assigned HCP should work on COVID-19 care units.
