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The following is a personal reflection of my first experience of removing a cannula whilst undertaking my placement in an out patients department at a local trust. I will be reflecting on the importance of infection control in maintaining the health and well- being of patients. My placement was in a clinic where intravenous transfusions took place for a variety of illness. Most of the illnesses that the patients were suffering from need infusions that could compromise their immune systems. In view of this, it is very important that infection control be adhered to whenever carrying out clinical procedures on the patients. During the course of my shift, my mentor asked me to remove a cannula from a patient whilst under her supervision. …show more content…
(Loveday et al., 2014). I applied pressure to the area for a while then placed a sterile dressing onto the area. Mrs M patient was discharged soon after.

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The trusts guidelines as well as the NMC guidelines are clear on when we should wash our hands and this includes before and after any contact with a patient. Extra caution must be considered whenever there is the anticipation of contact with an invasive site, such as a cannula. (RCN, 2012a). Ineffective hand hygiene or poor aseptic technique can cause bacterial phlebitis in cannula sites. (Lamb and Dougherty 2008.) This can cause swelling, tenderness, and an increased risk of infection to occur. Standard infection control measures are the key to safe practise as it protects both staff and patients from bacteria and micro-organisms that may cause infection. Hand hygiene and standard precautions must be practised at all times so that the risk of infection is minimised. Health care staff are constantly moving from patient to patient and therefore have the potential of transporting infection from patient to patient if the correct measures are not taken. Hand hygiene is the single most effective way of reducing bacteria and