Health and Safety
Heath Precautions in the Clinical and Field Areas
Due to patients who may unknowingly carry highly infectious/contagious pathogens, all students must adhere to the Infection Control Standards for the Technical College System of Georgia. These standards are for the protection of students, faculty and patients from the spread of infectious diseases.
• Wear gloves always when working with patients.
• Wear gloves when wiping blood/body fluids from equipment; use appropriate cleaning solutions.
• Wash hands after each patient as well as after cleaning equipment.
• Dispose of linens soiled with body fluids/blood in appropriate receptacles.
• All sharps/needles should be placed in appropriate puncture-proof containers. Do NOT recap needles.
• Any injury in the clinical or field setting must be reported to the Clinical Coordinator and Program Faculty. Incident reports are available and must be completed as soon as possible.
Needle Sticks
Any student who is stuck by a dirty needle at the clinical site must:
• Report incident to the clinical coordinator
• Follow the Clinical or field Location’s procedure regarding needle sticks, including filing an incident report.
• If allowed by the clinical or field location, a copy of the incident report should be forwarded to the program faculty to be kept in the student’s permanent record. If the location does not allow this report to leave their records, the student will be required to complete an additional incident report with program faculty to house for OTC’s records.
• For further guidelines, please refer to the Ogeechee Technical College Blood Borne Pathogens Procedure Plan.
Student Injury/Illness Policy
• If a student becomes ill or suffers an injury while at a clinical or field location, he/she must notify the clinical coordinator immediately.
• The clinical coordinator is to notify the program faculty in a timely manner.
• Student suffering an illness/injury while on a clinical rotation will follow the clinical or field location’s protocol for treatment in such instances.
• An incident/occurrence report must be completed.
• Students may assume the financial responsibility for all treatment rendered.
Infection Control Policy
• Remember to use gloves when disinfecting equipment.
• After each patient simulation, clean equipment with either Sani Wipes or Disinfectant clear located under the sink.
• Spray counter tops and wipe with cleaning solution.
• Wash hands with soap and water.