Nail Polish in the Operating Room: Does It Cause Harm to the Patient? Essay

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Targeted PICOT Question
PICOT Elements
Conclusion
Reference List

Introduction

Nurses and caregivers must use evidence-based concepts in order to offer quality healthcare services. Physicians and doctors should also promote the best concepts whenever supporting the changing needs of their patients. Several tools can make it easier for caregivers to identify the most appropriate medical practices.

A good example of these tools is the PICOT Approach. This framework examines the unique aspects associated with every medical model. Caregivers can use this framework to make accurate medical decisions (Barton, 2009). Medical professionals can use evidence-based strategies in order to understand the challenges affecting their patients. This essay uses the PICOT framework to examine the best practices in an operating room.

Targeted PICOT Question

Does the wearing of nail polish in the operating room cause harm to the targeted patient?

PICOT Elements

PICOT Elements	PICOT Analysis
P = Targeted Patient and Problem	Many females wear different nail polishes. According to studies, nail polish can harbor numerous microorganisms such as bacteria. Nail polish can accumulate different microorganisms. This situation “threatens the health condition of the targeted patient when a glove tears or becomes perforated” (Barton, 2009, p. 602). Some studies have encouraged different practitioners and caregivers to remove every chipped polish.
I = Intervention Under Consideration	The operating setting presents numerous risk factors to different patients. For example, many patients are exposed to different disease-causing microorganisms. Safety programs should be in place in order to produce the best healthcare practices (Barton, 2009). Healthcare providers and nurses should embrace the best programs in order to support their patients.
C = Comparison	Healthcare organizations should identify new strategies in order to deal with the targeted problem. Every operating department should have its unique code of ethics. Such codes will govern the practices of every caregiver. Nurses should use such ethical principles to promote the welfare of their patients. Medical institutions should “use safety programs to support and mentor the considerations of different practitioners” (Barnsteiner, 2011, p. 5). New training programs will encourage every nurse to promote his or her personal hygiene. This practice will produce the best medical results.
O = Outcome	The targeted outcome is to improve the quality of healthcare services availed in every operating setting. Healthcare managers should promote the best practices in order to support their employees. Nurses “should ensure their nail polishes are not chipped” (Barton, 2009, p. 602). The approach will reduce most of the secondary infections reported in different healthcare setting.
T = Time	Healthcare institutions should implement the proposed recommendations immediately in order to offer quality services. Such institutions should also use evidence-based concepts. They should also make learning a continuous strategy. This approach will deal with the issues affecting different operating settings.

Conclusion

Every patient wants to get the best medical support and care. A patient in an operating room expects the best medical outcomes. The Association of peri-Operative Registered Nurses (AORN) has presented the best guidelines to dictate the behaviors of different caregivers. The association “discourages its members from wearing nail polish in different operating rooms” (Hand Antisepsis, 2014, para. 4).

According to the association, chipped nail polish can harbor dangerous microorganisms. Such “microorganisms can eventually go into the surgical wound thus causing numerous health problems” (Hand Antisepsis, 2014, para. 4). The above PICOT approach will ensure every healthcare facility supports the needs of its patients.

Reference List

Barnsteiner, J. (2011). Teaching the Culture of Safety. The Online Journal on Issues in Nursing, 16(3), 5.

Barton, A. (2009). Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses. AORN Journal, 90(4), 601-602.

Hand Antisepsis. (2014). Web.

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