Put the Sparkle in Your Hospital Jobs Prospects
Hospital housekeepers spend their working hours making sure patients are safe, comfortable, and cared for in a clean environment. But working in such an environment increases risk of infection for both patients and hospital staff. Personal hygiene is key to combat infection.
The hospital is an environment of increased bacteria and contagious diseases. Potential effects on you as a hospital housekeeper include:
- Poor health
- Reduced ability to work
- Increased sick leave
- Poor quality of life
- Lack of self-confidence
Patients need to be surrounded with hygienic hospital staff. According to WHO, 14 out of every 100 patients are affected by hospital infections.
Here, you’ll discover what you can be doing to give your personal hygiene a boost, and ensure that you, your colleagues, and patients are safe.
Remove Jewelry
Jewelry allows microorganisms to colonize, and harbor bacteria. It can also affect handwashing and drying technique, and cause glove tears. Body jewelry increases health risks and makes it harder for you to keep well sanitized.
Get the Healthcare Manicure
Nail polish – particularly if it’s older than four days – can also allow bacteria to colonize and behave resistantly to handwashing. Long nails and acrylics are also a big no for the same reasons. Healthy-looking hands with neat fingertips are all the rage!
Hair Care
Hair should be short or neatly tied back. Brush regularly to comb away those loose strands.
Top tip: Use coconut oil to help reduce dandruff. The oil will calm your scalp too, and reduce itchiness.
Facial hair should be kept short and tame.
Catch Coughs and Sneezes
If you need to cough or sneeze, use the right techniques to ensure you’re not doing it in your hands. This will help to reduce spread of serious illnesses such as:
- Influenza
- RSV
- Whooping cough
- COVID-19
The University of Bristol discovered the average sneeze or cough can propel 100,000 contagious germs at the speed of 100mph.
So, catch that sneeze or cough in a tissue, bin the tissue, and wash your hands. If you’re caught off guard and you don’t have a tissue, use your elbow, not your hands.
No Long Sleeves
Sleeves should be no longer than the elbow, keeping your wrists and hands free of risk and readily exposed for adequate washing/sanitizing.
Band Aids
If you have an open wound, make sure it’s protected with a water-resistant band aid, and renew it regularly.
Don’t Overclean Your Ears
Earwax is not a sign of poor hygiene. In fact, you need it. Earwax:
- Is a natural moisturizer that prevents the inside from becoming too dry
- Stops dirt and dust from entering the canal
- Absorbs dead skin cells and debris
- Prevents bacteria and other infectious organisms from entering the inner ear
Stay away from the cotton buds! Earwax is a sign of healthy ears.
Handwash Correctly
Some people don’t use water. Some use only water. Here’s what you should be doing:
- Wet hands with water.
- Apply soap.
- Rub hands palm to palm.
- Rub the back of each hand with the palm of your other hand.
- Rub palm to palm with fingers interlaced.
- Rub with backs of fingers to opposing palms with fingers interlocked.
- Rub each thumb clasped in the opposite hand using a rotational movement.
- Rub tips of fingers in a circular motion on the opposite palm.
- Rub each wrist with the opposite hand.
- Rinse hands with water.
- Dry thoroughly.
Good handwashing takes time and is only effective when done properly.
Look After Your Skin
Frequent handwashing and sanitizing can break down your skin’s barrier and cause irritant contact dermatitis. So always have a moisturizing hand cream to hand, and keep your skin topped up and fighting fit.
Laundry
Your employer may provide laundry services for your uniform. If they don’t, ideally you should wash your uniform within 24 hours after every shift, with detergent and at a minimum temperature of 60 degrees.
Use PPE
PPE aims to control cross-infection and to maintain your personal hygiene too. However, wearing gloves does not replace the need to wash your hands!
Join the Best Hospital Housekeepers in the U.S.
Looking after yourself is important whatever job you’re in. It gives you the personal confidence and health you need to enjoy life to its fullest. It also helps you get the hospital housekeeper jobs you want. Landing hospital housekeeper jobs starts with that first interview conversation – and employers will note your attention to personal hygiene.
With all these tips up your rolled-up sleeve, you’ll be the perfect candidate hospitals need to ensure their staff and patients are in the cleanest, safest environment. Contact HireCare today and find the perfect hospital housekeeper jobs for you.
