Policy on Transmitted Diseases
Students in health occupations should always be aware of potential contamination from infectious agents in the health care environment. It is important that everyone be alert to prevent accidental exposure. Since it is not possible to identify all patients with transmissible disease, especially in emergency situations, health care providers should treat all patients at all times as if they are a potential source of infection. This approach includes precautions for contact with patients’ blood and body fluids. This is referred to by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) as “Universal Precautions”. Practice of these precautions will provide protection against HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), the cause of AIDS, HBV (Hepatitis B virus), and other blood-borne infectious agents. Rigorous adherence to these guidelines will be required of all students and faculty.
Basic aseptic technique practiced by health care students/faculty in conjunction with the following blood and body fluid precautions can prevent the transmission of HIV, HBV, and other blood-borne agents.
1. All patients, their blood, and other body fluids, will be considered to be infectious at all times.
2. Regardless of patient status, the student and faculty will:
a. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water BEFORE and AFTER contact with patients, their blood, urine, or other body fluids.
b. Consider sharp items (needles, instruments, etc.) as being potentially infective and handle with extreme care to prevent accidental injury.
c. Wear gloves when handling patient blood, body fluids, and/or items soiled with blood or other body fluids.
d. Wear gown, mask, and eye covering when performing procedures where splashing or spraying is likely to occur.
e. Clean up spills of blood or body fluids immediately (while wearing gloves) with a disinfectant such as 1:10 dilution of chlorine bleach.
Procedure for Reporting Potential Exposure
1. Any incident of potential contamination must be reported to and fully documented by the clinical instructor on-site and then to the classroom instructor at the Jordan Applied Technology Center.
2. Assessing the situation and recommending action will be a joint responsibility of the clinical instructor, classroom instructor, JATC administration, and Risk Management specialist.
Each student is required to get the Hepatitis B series of injections. This protects the students from contracting Hepatitis B. The student is responsible for setting up the appointments and following through with the series of injections. The injections can be obtained from the County Health Department or through a private physician.
My student and I have read the Policy on Transmitted Diseases and understand the student’s responsibility in following these guidelines.