Who cleans the vet's consulting rooms?

RE: Who cleans the vet's consulting rooms?

Dove — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 00:40:22 GMT

Thanks for the input, I do agree with everything said.

RE: Who cleans the vet's consulting rooms?

Alison Clare Hickman — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 09:08:58 GMT

Ra, ra, ra, RICK!!! Lovin it.

I am a clean freak and you speakie my language!!!

Ali h

RE: Who cleans the vet's consulting rooms?

Rick Hayman — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 21:02:38 GMT

Key areas within the practice present potential high risks of cross infection. These invariably include those areas where diagnosis is undertaken, examinations are made, treatments administered, surgical procedures undertaken or where post operative care is required. Under these circumstances, should be classified as presenting a high risk of cross infection. There is even an argument to suggest that reception areas should now also be regarded as high risk, where animals congregate, mix, interact and where a diagnosis is yet to be made. As such, veterinary practitioners should regard a regular and efficient hygiene protocol as essential to reduce the risk of cross infection. This routine protocol also mitigates the need to use unnecessary dangerous or overly powerful chemicals but focussing on those where a product suggests efficacy against organisms spread by contact or the oro-faecal route, such as viruses. A product such as ANIGENE HLD4 with a wide spectrum of companion animal health testing in dirty conditions would meet this requirement

RE: Who cleans the vet's consulting rooms?

Nicola Smith — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 12:34:27 GMT

We have checklist for each room to show it has been done. Predominantly done by nurses on reception or consultations that day or receptionist but on a busy day everyone will get stuck in to make sure all areas are cleaned. Vets clean table between consults but we do end of consulting session cleans as vets wouldn't do it and don't understand our protocols and contact times. Some are better than others at keeping their sides clean - if it gets too much it is removed and put on their desk/in their tray!!!

RE: Who cleans the vet's consulting rooms?

Sal the 1st — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 19:07:37 GMT

everybody does a bit of everything where I work and I am lucky to work with a boss who can handle a hoover and manage a mop when the need arises and clean his own coffee cup. He is very much a rarity and I count myself lucky.

RE: Who cleans the vet's consulting rooms?

WelshyNurse — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 18:30:40 GMT

I work in a large practice and I make sure it's taken in turns between RVNs, non qualified nurses and reception team. Works well for us. I think it's important everyone knows how to clean things and restock correctly

RE: Who cleans the vet's consulting rooms?

Alison Clare Hickman — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 17:24:21 GMT

Happy New Year!

I think consult rooms should be thoroughly cleaned; and more than once daily.

IMO; regrettably some vets, (okay, most vets!), have little clue about what constitutes an effective level of cleanliness. Or at best, notice the filth, comment on it and do nothing to rectify it themselves... Clearly there exceptions to my rather wide-sweeping condemnations and to those lovely, fabulous, exceedingly well brought-up individuals, I sincerely apologise and say that you would make an excellent nurse

In my experience; who does the cleaning depends on the practice. Some I've worked at, the Receptionists are responsible. Others have had dedicated cleaners, (a cleaning company). Several have the VCA/ANA colleagues committed to this work. Lastly, (and usually the much smaller practices), the RVN/SVN team do this job.

With the greatest of respect to my veterinary surgeon colleagues, NONE of them were very good at cleaning their rooms; so it is best, in my experience, to have someone else do it for them. Particularly regarding the deep disinfection routines (including equipment) required to prevent cross-infection/contamination.

With regard to your concerns about the vet(s) not attempting to tidy up after themselves; one remedy that has worked for me on a persistently guilty party was to swipe all their papers and untidiness into a bin-bag and put the bag in the staff room with a name label on it. The papers etc were not 'lost' or 'destroyed' just 'relocated'. The embarrassment and inconvenience of having to retrieve their mess soon got the message across, whereas our expressed (polite) disappointment, nagging, tight-lipped silence or simply leaving it and cleaning around it all failed!

Another successful method I deployed was to effusively thank the vet(s) who had marvellously ordered rooms in ear-shot of the not-so tidy vets. Those who were less than satisfactory didn't get thanked. Vets can be very competitive for nurse recognition and/or 'bigging them up' in front of their colleagues. So that worked well, for me. Alternatively, vets can be unintentionally thoughtless and as an indirect reminder it also works wonders.

Hth and good luck!

Ali h