THERPEUTIC ENVIRONMENT

• Accumulation of dust, soil, and microbial contaminants on environmental surfaces is aesthetically displeasing and a potential source of nosocomial infections
• Effective and efficient cleaning methods and schedules are necessary to maintain a clean and healthy environment in health care settings
• General purpose of general housekeeping:

  • Reduce the number of microorganisms that may encounter guests, patients, visitors, and staff
  • Provide a clean and pleasant atmosphere for patients and staff
• Sweeping procedure steps:

  1. Move furniture away from the area to be swept

  2. Start sweeping on floor areas opposite to the door

  3. Use straight strokes towards the center of the room, flipping the broom lightly to free it from dust

  4. Collect dust into a dustpan and deposit it in the dust box

  5. Avoid stroking by allowing each stroke to overlap the previous one
• Dusting procedure steps:

  1. Gather materials needed and arrange on a lined tray

  2. Place prepared materials on a chair or table lined with an old newspaper

  3. Dust the surface using one stroke, starting from top to bottom

  4. Use dry cloth on varnished furniture and a stick with a cloth at the end for cleaning crevices

  5. Maintain proper body mechanics throughout

  6. Change water in the basin as necessary

  7. Arrange furniture/articles dusted to their proper location
• Mopping procedure steps:

  1. Use mop to apply wax on wide areas

  2. Use side strokes on general floor areas

  3. Pass the mop parallel to the baseboard when mopping floor areas below it

  4. Drifting mops are used only to soften dirt preparation to general floor scrubbing, otherwise, in daily mopping, it should only be damp
• Non-infectious therapeutic environment purpose:

  • To clean the environment/room and prepare it for next use
  • To make the environment conducive for healing and recovery
• Patient room cleaning protocol:

  • Thorough environmental cleaning and disinfection of rooms is essential
  • Proper training and education on patient room cleaning and disinfecting protocols must be implemented
  • Must use all barrier precautions such as masks, gloves, and gowns
  • All horizontal surfaces and other contaminated surfaces in the room must be cleaned and disinfected
  • Cleaning of window curtains, ceiling, or walls is not necessary unless visibly soiled
• • In the bathroom, start with the highest surface and clean the toilet last, then the sink, counter area, and shower fixtures and surfaces
• Equipment needed for patient room cleaning:

  • Hamper
  • Rag/washcloth
  • Cleaning/disinfecting solution
  • Basin
  • Lubricating oil for rollers
  • Clean gloves
• Infectious therapeutic environment purpose:

  • To reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases to clients and oneself
  • To sanitize the environment and prepare it for next use
• Nosocomial infection:

  • An infection acquired in a hospital or other health care facility
  • Common pathogens causing nosocomial infections are Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli
• Equipment needed for infectious therapeutic environment:

  • Face mask, gown, gloves
  • Basin
  • Brush
  • Cleaning/disinfecting solution
• Discharge patient room cleaning:

  • Thorough environmental cleaning and disinfection is essential
  • Proper training and education on patient room cleaning and disinfecting protocols must be implemented
• Discharge isolation patient room cleaning