Question

In a facility with an outbreak of "Clostridium difficile", the nurse manager determines that staff members are continuing to use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when caring for patients with "Clostridium difficile" infection despite the policy which requires hand hygiene using soap and water. Which step of the scientific method was performed by the nurse manager?

Answer 1

The nurse manager's action of observing the staff's use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer and comparing it to the policy on hand hygiene for "Clostridium difficile" patients represents the step of "Observation" in the scientific method.

Step-by-step explanation:

The scientific method is a systematic approach to problem-solving and inquiry that involves several key steps. In this scenario, the nurse manager began with the initial step of observation. By noticing that staff members were using alcohol-based hand sanitizer contrary to the established policy for "Clostridium difficile" infection, the nurse manager identified a specific issue that required investigation.

Observation is a critical aspect of the scientific method as it helps in recognizing patterns, deviations, or anomalies. In this case, the nurse manager's keen observation skills led to the identification of a potential problem that needed further examination. The nurse manager likely recognized the significance of following proper hand hygiene protocols to prevent the spread of "Clostridium difficile."

Following the observation, the next steps in the scientific method would typically involve formulating a hypothesis, designing an experiment or investigation, and collecting relevant data to test the hypothesis. These subsequent steps are crucial for a comprehensive analysis of the issue and the implementation of corrective measures to ensure compliance with established infection control protocols.