STATEMENT OF CLINICAL PROBLEM: The Infection Control Department provides standards and guidelines to maintain a safe and healthy environment for residents. Dispensers for body wash and shampoo* are installed in the shower rooms. When a resident is not able to be taken to the shower room, the staff takes a medicine or drinking cup to the shower room to get body wash and shampoo, or goes to the bathroom and gets the hand soap to bath the resident. The issues that surround this practice include:

· Medicine or drinking cups have no names or product identification on them · Cups are a familiar item to residents presenting a potential consumption risk of contents · Cups frequently remain at bedside after use when not completely empty · State regulations do not permit medicine or drinking cups at a resident bedside due to potential consumption by wandering or non oriented residents · State regulations do not permit medicine or drinking cups at a resident bedside because it does not promote a safe environment for the resident · Infection control standards do not permit this practice

STUDY: One nursing unit was selected and employees were enrolled into the evaluation. Nurses were asked to evaluate the benefits of having the dispenser in the resident's bathroom. Feedback provided the pros and cons for the use of the one liter wall mount dispenser in the resident bathroom.

RESULTS: The staff found the dispenser to be easy to access and use, close to the resident and resulted in less bedside clutter. The nurses also reported improved skin integrity and decreased dermatitis.

CONCLUSION: Placing the dispenser with body wash and shampoo in the resident bathrooms improved adherence to regulatory and infection control standards. An unannounced State survey during the evaluation period noted improvement in adherence to regulatory standards.