Posted by
yunrui on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 4:16:37 AM
Nursing practice often involves undertaking procedures about which there is
debate or uncertainty. In Practice Questions, we ask experts to determine how
nurses should approach these procedures
Masks were introduced into clinical practice at the beginning of the 20th
century to protect patients from microorganisms being expelled from healthcare
workers’ respiratory tracts during clinical procedures (Wilson, 2006).
Interest in the effectiveness of masks has been raised by the swine flu
pandemic.
In discussing effectiveness of masks, it is important to differentiate
between standard surgical face masks and respirators.
The Health Protection Agency (2009) advises people with flu to use
face
masks when they are in contact with other people and healthy
people to wear a face
mask when they are caring for a person with flu in
non-clinical situations.
Where healthcare staff are involved in caring for a patient with a
probable/confirmed diagnosis, they should wear a face mask, plastic apron and
gloves as a standard precaution, with the addition of eye protection if
splashing is likely to occur. Where aerosol-generating procedures such as
physiotherapy are being undertaken, an FFP3 respirator is required in addition
to a gown, gloves and eye protection.
The same precautions also apply to caring for patients with severe
respiratory illness as a result of swine flu as they are likely to be shedding
high quantities of virus.