LESSON 06
Professional Hygiene
Lesson 06: Professional Hygiene
In Chapter 4 (Standard Precautions), we looked at guidelines for preventing the spread of pathogens. In this chapter weu2019ll look at professional hygiene. This is a broader examination of hygiene than is dictated by the guidelines outlined in Standard Precautions.
Professional hygiene includes practices that not only prevent the spread of pathogens, but that also help us project a positive professional image. As youu2019ll soon discover, these actions can help increase your clientsu2019 level of confidence in your work and improve client outcomes. u00a0
We want to provide our clients with the best possible session, so we need to be conscious of a wide range of factors related to hygiene that could impact their experiences. This includes personal cleanliness, our grooming practices, and even the clothes and jewelry we wear. We also need to be aware of special situations which can negatively impact client perceptions, like when therapists smoke or sweat profusely without using methods that effectively manage the situation.
In this chapter weu2019ll (A.) preview key terminology, and then weu2019ll discuss (B.) physical hygiene, (C.) professional dress, and (D.) challenging situations like what to do if we have allergies or are sick. Weu2019ll end the chapter with (E.) some learning games and a quiz.
Having completed this chapteru00a0you will be able to meet these learning objectives:
- Define the term, professional hygiene.
- Describe the two reasons massage therapists strive to practice professional hygiene and professional dress.
- Explain one circumstance that might cause Staphylococcus aureus that lives on skin and hair to become potentially dangerous.
- List two reasons massage professionals shower and wash their hair on workdays.
- State two adverse reactions clients with sensitivity might experience when exposed to scented body care products.
- Explain why regular, daily oral hygiene is essential for maintaining fresh breath during a massage shift.
- Compare and contrast short, natural nails with long nails, artificial nails, and nail polish in regards to bacterial counts on the hands of health care providers.
- Review proper handwashing procedures and use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers as outlined by the CDC.
- Compare and contrast personal dress with professional dress.
- List two reasons why massage professionals remove jewelry on their hands and wrists before providing massage to clients.
- List two strategies for managing excessive perspiration while providing massage to clients.
- List two strategies for managing cigarette aroma for massage therapists who are smokers and working a massage therapy shift.
- List two strategies for managing allergies while providing massage to clients.
- Outline the steps youu2019ll take to alert your supervisor and reschedule clients if you wake up sick on a workday.