Infection control in your first week as an aged care worker

Why the first week matters

New staff learn by watching the people around them, and habits formed in the first few shifts tend to stick. Getting infection control right from day one protects residents and you.

Things to find on your first shift

• Hand hygiene stations and alcohol-based hand rub in each area.
• Where PPE is stored, including masks, eye protection and gowns for outbreaks.
• Spill kits and sharps containers.
• The sluice or dirty utility room, and where clean linen is kept.
• The outbreak management plan and who your IPC Lead is.

Questions worth asking

• Which residents are on transmission-based precautions, and what do the door signs mean here?
• Which products are used for cleaning and disinfecting shared equipment, and what are their contact times?
• How do I report symptoms in a resident — and who do I tell if I'm unwell?
• What training do I need to complete, and by when?

Habits to build from day one

• Clean your hands before and after every resident, and after touching their surroundings.
• Bare below the elbows: short sleeves, no wrist watches or bracelets, and short, clean nails, as your service's policy requires.
• Change gloves and apron between residents — never wear gloves in the corridor.
• Clean shared equipment, such as hoists and blood pressure cuffs, after each use.
• Report anything unusual, even if you're not sure it matters.

When others do it differently

You may see experienced staff take shortcuts. Follow the procedure you were trained in, and raise concerns with your supervisor or IPC Lead rather than copying the shortcut.

Look after yourself

Cover cuts on your hands, use hand cream to protect your skin, report needlestick or splash injuries immediately, and stay home when you're unwell.