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Let's transform the SPD culture by unleashing the power of positivity.
Let's be the catalyst for change, inspiring each other to be our best selves.
There is one type of contagion; even infection prevention will not
mind spreading throughout the sterile processing department, its positivity. We have all seen someone yawn, and the entire room erupts in multiple yawns like a wave. Looking across the many faces at the 6 am shift huddle, it is not hard to see various emotions.
It is easy to think, “How hard can it be to decide to be in a good mood and happy?” Honestly, the depth of that challenge varies for each individual. Each face around the morning huddle is influenced by genes, personal experiences impacting mental health,
results of activities, and the collective mood around them. Imagine an ortho screw caddy hitting the floor in assembly; anyone would be hard-pressed to find a smile after that debacle. The adverse reaction of one will quickly infect the emotional responses
of others.
The science of behavioral infection
Science has delved into the contagion of emotions. A 2022 study in
a German medical facility surveyed 200 employees about their workplace stress and coping strategies. The results were diverse, but three categories emerged. Some staff naturally exuded high energy and positivity, while others actively engaged in positive reframing
and other social coping strategies. Evasive coping, such as avoidance, was also observed. However, it’s the intentional coping strategies that empower individuals, building resilience to stress. This increased resilience allows them to maintain a level head
under stress or disappointment, and quickly rebound with positive moods, passing that positivity on to others.
Further neurological studies have determined that viewing a smiling
face triggers areas in the brain that cause the recipient to match the emotions they saw rather than contradict them. Armed with the knowledge of the chain of infection, it becomes easier to determine how positivity can be an infectious agent.
Across the huddle, despite the early hour, one individual had their
coffee or didn’t trip over their cat to flip on the light. An infectious agent that is smiling, cracking jokes, and emitting positive energy. To the left and right are peer reservoirs. Those positive emotions quickly move from the portal of exit via various
modes of transmission, such as touch or airborne, to a portal of entry, infecting a susceptible host. So, while we learn how to break the chain of infection in the early days of job training, exploring ways to encourage positive cultural change seems to go
against our sterile processing-conscious nature.
Environments conducive to infectious growth
The sterile processing environment is one of high-pressure, fast-paced,
and varying types of interactions. Creating an environment for positive cultural change requires cultivating a sense of belonging and inclusion. Bioburdens quickly multiply in an environment that cultivates their growth and quickly bonds, creating a network
that is difficult to eradicate. A lack of point-of-use cleaning and enzymatic detergent on an instrument coming down the dumbwaiter has left more than one technician putting some elbow grease into breaking down the complex growth of bioburden. Like bioburden,
given the right environment to develop, an SPD technician will also have better physical and mental health in the right environment to flourish. The confidence to contribute opinions, act without fear of retribution, and a sense of security create opportunities
for bonding and growth among the sterile processing team.
Modes of Transmissions
The chain of infection has six links required for successful infiltration.
Infectious Agent
- The unassuming infectious agent is that joke-cracking positive ray of sunshine standing across from you, giving off vibes that make you wish you had your sunglasses handy.
The Reservoir
- is the environment in which the pathogen lives. It can include people, animals, insects, medical equipment, soil, and water. Our contagious technician reservoir spreads the happiness pathogen via a portal of exit.
Portal of Exit
- What comes to mind? Open wounds, aerosols, and splatter of body fluids, such as coughing, sneezing, and saliva.
It is normal to cringe at the thought of cold and flu season coming, but not yet. In this case, the technician’s portal of exit emanated via body language, spoken word, and perhaps touch. There are no crossed arms here; instead, the technician appears relaxed,
they have a bounce to their step, and their tone of voice and word choices are positive and reassuring. They are passing out shoulder pats to peers and high-fives on their way from the break room.
Portal of Entry
- Entering a new host is a challenge as positivity can’t enter via broken skin, the respiratory tract, mucous membranes, catheters, or tubes. Instead, the new host needs to be receptive to receiving this positivity pathogen. Being open to a nice comment, a
physical touch like a high-five, or a gesture such as being handed your PPE while waiting in line creates an opportunity for infection.
Susceptible Host
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While a susceptible host can be any person, those receiving healthcare, immunocompromised, or having invasive devices
creating entry portals are most at risk. Similarly, the more co-workers in a pleasant mood, already on the path for a decent day, and on their third cup of pick me up are quickly infiltrated.
Infection Spreads
Without some type of intervention to break the chain of infection,
it will continue to infect others. While many of the microorganism’s healthcare professions work diligently to eliminate, focusing on spreading positivity will, in fact, positively impact the department. Intervention is crucial to break the chain of infection
in healthcare professions. Focusing on spreading positivity can increase resiliency, effectiveness, and collaboration. Positive emotions spread quickly, and intentional coping builds resilience. Those with increased resilience quickly rebound from negative
experiences. Positive emotions can be an infectious agent, spreading quickly within a sterile processing department. They can also be the infectious agent spreading a cultural change in your department, as it only takes one persistent agent to create a department
pandemic of positivity.
Leslie Kronstedt LPN, BSHCA, CRCST,
CIS, CHL
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