How to set up contact precautions
Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.
Contact precautions stop spread of germs such as MRSA and C. difficile by touch. They are added to standard precautions.
Step by step
Place the patient
Use a private room when possible, or group patients with the same germ. [1]
Post a sign
Put a clear contact precautions sign at the door. [1]
Gown and gloves on entry
Clean your hands, then put on a gown and gloves before entering the room. [1]
Use dedicated equipment
Keep a stethoscope and blood pressure cuff in the room for this patient only. [1]
Remove PPE at the door
Take off gloves and gown inside the room before leaving, then clean your hands. [1]
Use soap for C. difficile
Wash with soap and water, because alcohol rub does not kill its spores. [2]
Limit transport
Move the patient out of the room only when needed and cover any wounds. [1]
Common errors
- Wearing the same gown to another room.
- Using alcohol rub alone after C. difficile care.
- Sharing equipment between rooms.
Practice it in VMS
In VMS you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.
VMS cases that train this skill
Sources
- CDC, Guideline for Isolation Precautions (2007) and PPE sequence
- CDC, Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings
Facts and steps follow CDC, Guideline for Isolation Precautions (2007) and PPE sequence. VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.