Addressing Poor Hand Washing Practices in a General Practice: Role-Playing a Challenging Staff Meeting

QUESTION

You are an EN at a GP practice, you have been asked to conduct a formal discussion with a group of two (2) other nursing staff on shift. The objective is to review and improve upon hand washing practices after poor results in the latest audit. During the discussion, one particular staff member that has worked at the practice for many years becomes very uncooperative and disruptive as they think this meeting is a waste of time. role play little long and only 3 members

ANSWER

Addressing Poor Hand Washing Practices in a General Practice: Role-Playing a Challenging Staff Meeting

Introduction

In a general practice setting, ensuring proper hand washing practices is of paramount importance, especially in the context of providing safe and effective patient care. Following the recent audit results that indicated deficiencies in our hand hygiene compliance, a formal discussion with a group of two other nursing staff members has been arranged. The primary objective is to review and improve hand washing practices. However, during the discussion, one staff member, who has been with the practice for many years, becomes uncooperative and disruptive, voicing their frustration that the meeting is a waste of time. This role-play scenario will address the dynamics of such a challenging staff meeting.

Scenario

Participants:
Me (EN – Role-Player)
Colleague A (Nursing Staff)
Colleague B (Nursing Staff, uncooperative and disruptive)

Setting:
A small meeting room at the general practice.

Role-Play:

Me: (Facilitating the meeting) Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for joining me today to discuss the latest audit results concerning our hand washing practices. It’s important to address these findings to ensure we maintain a high standard of care for our patients. (I begin to share the audit results.)

Colleague A: (Listening attentively, taking notes) Thank you for organizing this meeting. I agree; it’s vital to improve our hand hygiene practices for the safety of our patients.

Colleague B: (Rolls their eyes, sighs loudly) Seriously, another meeting about hand washing? We’ve been doing this for years, and nothing ever changes. It’s a waste of time!

Me: (Stay calm and focused) I understand that it might seem repetitive, Colleague B, but it’s crucial to ensure that we are providing the best care for our patients. The audit results indicate room for improvement. We can use this opportunity to share any concerns or suggestions for making the process more efficient. (I try to keep the discussion on track.)

Colleague A: (Trying to mediate) Maybe if we could talk about the specific issues we face or any challenges, we can find solutions together.

Colleague B: (Frustrated) Challenges? The only challenge I see is these endless meetings. Hand washing is basic nursing; we don’t need a discussion about it!

Me: (Maintaining composure) Colleague B, we respect your experience, but the purpose of this meeting is not to question your expertise or the importance of hand washing. It’s to collectively identify areas of improvement, share best practices, and address concerns if any. Our patients rely on us to maintain the highest standards of care.

Colleague A: (Supportive) That’s right, Colleague B. Even if we’ve been here for years, there’s always room for improvement, and our patients deserve the best care.

Me: (Summarizing) Thank you, Colleague A. We will continue with the discussion, but let’s all approach it with a willingness to make our hand washing practices even better. We can only achieve that by working together.

Conclusion

Addressing poor hand washing practices in a healthcare setting is essential to maintain patient safety and prevent infections. It’s natural for team members to have differing opinions on the need for meetings or the importance of basic practices. However, as healthcare professionals, it’s crucial to foster a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration to ensure the best outcomes for our patients. The role-play scenario illustrates the importance of staying focused on the objective of the meeting while respectfully addressing the concerns of uncooperative team members.