Put on your Grinch suit: Time to remind staff of holiday dos and don’ts

Much-needed holiday happiness might be around the corner, but now’s the time to review your hospital attire and holiday decoration policies. Then remind managers and staff what the expectations are for costumes and decking those halls.

Some costumes can pose infection control (IC) problems while decorations can be both an IC and fire hazard. Any of that, of course, will get you in trouble with surveyors.

After months of wearing masks, gowns, and other personal protective equipment, the temptation to don a Santa hat or elf ears must be done with infection control in mind.

It’s your job to ensure that staff does not deviate from your policy on hospital attire, says Jennifer Cowel, RN, MHSA, president of Patton Healthcare Consulting in Naperville, Illinois, and a former nurse surveyor and director of service operations with The Joint Commission (TJC).

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