December 23, 2020

proper hand washing procedure for nurses

Hand Hygiene • Hand hygiene: A general term that applies to either handwashing, antiseptic handwash, antiseptic hand rub, or surgical hand antisepsis. To provide an opportunity for the class to develop correct hand washing procedures and then apply the procedures on a regular basis. Do this for three seconds. 5. 7. Just remember to use one with at least 60% alcohol and use a lot of it. It's generally best to wash your hands with soap and water. Berxi™ is a part of Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company. Hand washing with soap and water is also needed if you are caring for patients with clostridium difficile, cryptosporidium, and norovirus. In case you don’t have access to water or a sink, you have the option to use an antibacterial hand sanitizer. We talked to several experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) who recommend two methods to routinely clean your hands: handwashing with soap and water or hand antisepsis using an alcohol-based hand rub. We’ve always been told to wash our hands. 5. In using a hand sanitizer, here are the steps you should follow: 1. Video courtesy of Johns Hopkins Medicine. And here are more detailed instructions if you'd like to learn more about each step: Make sure that you're using running water of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit and that you've removed any jewelry (e.g., rings or bracelets) before you begin because they can trap germs. • Hands are the main pathways of germ transmission during health care. 5. 4. It reduced the bacterial count from 3.28 CFU/mL to 2.58 CFU/mL. Using the fingers of your right hand, rub your left palm in a circling motion for three seconds, going both clockwise and counterclockwise. 10 Vegetarian Recipes for Nurses — Yummy and Healthy! Personal hygiene includes care of the hair, skin, nails, mouth, eyes, ears, perineal areas (Dougherty and Lister, 2015) and facial shaving (Ette and Gretton, 2019). Next, rub palm to palm with your fingers interlaced. To apply hand sanitizer properly, follow these steps: Apply about 3 to 5 … 3 Rinse thoroughly under running water. Before touching a patient- before shaking hands, assisting in personal care activities, delivering care, performing physical non-invasive examination WHO's nine-step process for proper handwashing. When cleaning your hands with soap and water, wet your hands first with water, apply the amount of product recommended by the manufacturer to your hands, and rub your hands together vigorously for at least 15 seconds, covering all surfaces of the hands and fingers. In fact, a surprising amount of them either gloss over or completely skip some critical sanitizing steps in the washing process. 2. Moisturize your hands with lotion or balm (but if you’re at work, only with those products provided by your facility—NEVER use products from home). Strongly rub and scrub your wrists, palms, between fingers, under your nails, and the backs of your hands. Because you've touched it with dirty hands, there's a good chance that it's harboring the bacteria and germs you just washed off. •Preferably use an alcohol-based hand rub for routine hand antisepsis if hands not visibly soiled. Let’s make sure we’re following proper procedure on hand washing. Rub your hands together (palm to palm) to create a lather. If you don't have access to a sink, use antibacterial hand sanitizer. Over-the-counter antibacterial soaps are no more effective at killing germs than is regular soap. Based on the guidelines of the World Health Organization, there are five moments for hand hygiene. Hand Hygiene: Why, How & When?WHY? 3. However, studies have shown that doubling hand washing time to 30 seconds can lead to an overall 10x reduction in the presence of harmful bacteria. Rub your palms over one • Thousands of people die every day around the world from infections acquired while receiving health care. Click here to read our full disclaimer, Have a quote already?View your saved quote. Handwashing is the act of cleaning one’s hands with the use of any liquid with or without soap for the purpose of removing dirt or microorganisms. (2002). It’s generally done to remove as many microorganisms as possible from your hands before doing any surgical procedure. Take a palmful of hand sanitizer and completely cover the surfaces of your hands. Header image courtesy of Unsplash.com/Kirsten Marie Ebbesen. Antiseptic handwash, on the other hand, means washing the hands with antimicrobial soap and water. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. 4. 1. Close the bag before performing patient care. Infection control begins with proper hand washing. Dry hands with paper towel. Once your hands are … This article (subject to change without notice) is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute professional advice. 2. Place your right palm over your left dorsum and interlace fingers to clean the area. alcohol-based hand sanitizer including foam or gel), or surgical hand Rub your hands together (palm to 4. After touching a patient’s surroundings– after a care activity, clearing a patient’s bedside table. There are two ways to perform hand hygiene. Use this 9-step technique to truly make your environment a safe place to work. 8. Hand hygiene: back to the basics of infection control. The University of Texas Medical Branch has a hand hygiene policy for all its health-care workers. Rub your left palm up and down the back of the other hand with interlaced fingers and vice versa. Using warm water, wet hands to the wrist, fingertips facing down. Don’t forget the backs of your fingers. When you're finished, use a paper towel to turn off the faucet. Importance of hand washing a. b. Here’s a guide on proper hand washing for nurses. Washing Your Hands: Which Is Better?”. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Berxi™ or Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company. Washing Your Hands: Which Is Better? For people who find that soap causes skin irritation, it is useful to note that soaps can have a After touching a patient– after shaking hands, changing bed linens, taking blood pressure Patients and staff alike are likely to remain healthier if everyone uses proper hand washing techniques. Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs in most situations. Thoroughly wet your hands and apply soap all over your hands’ surfaces. Mathur, P. (2011). Before performing a clean/antiseptic procedure– before dressing a wound, instilling eye drops, inserting a nasogastric tube, preparing food How long should you wash your hands? When washing your hands, completely rinse off residual cleanser and soap. Also, be sure not to wipe your hands on your scrubs. 05. A review of the research. Link fingers so that the backs of fingers are against the opposite palm and ru… 3. 5. Patients and staff alike are likely to remain healthier if everyone uses proper hand washing techniques. It needs to dry completely to work. Even the patients and family members are encouraged to learn proper handwashing techniques. The six-step technique was determined to be microbiologically more effective for reducing the median bacterial count. Want Berxi articles delivered straight to your inbox? It is the most effective measure in reducing the risk of transmitting infectious diseases.It cannot be said too often that hand washing is the most important and most basic technique in preventing and controlling infections. 7. As much as possible, keep your fingernails short. Proper handwashing techniques don't end as soon as the water is turned off. Thoroughly wet your hands and apply soap all over your hands’ surfaces. This can be achieved by either using soap and water or an alcohol-based handrub (also called hand sanitizer or hand gel). According to the CDC experts, you should always wash your hands: However, you should opt for using an alcohol-based hand sanitizers: To learn more about the differences between the two approaches, check out our article “Hand Sanitizer vs. Wet your hands and forearms. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 19(5), 164-171. 6. After getting exposed to body fluids– after inserting invasive medical devices, handling samples with organic matter Dry your hands with a single-use towel. Repeat the above with your left thumb. It w… 7. If a patient or relative is present, explain that you are going to wash your hands. is a contributing writer through CopyPress, a content creation company that's working with Berxi to provide the best content around. Keep in mind, though, that there are a lot of opinions out there about the “right” way to wash your hands. Proper Handwashing Fact Sheet Wet your hands with running water as hot as you can comfortably stand (at least 100˚F/38˚C). Artificial nails are also associated with poor hand washing practices and more tears in gloves (3). Wash your hands again if you need to re-enter the bag for additional supplies during patient care. Step 5: Interlace your fingers. American Journal of Infection Control, 17(6), 340-344. Prevention of infection c. d. Answer : … 8. It falls under hand hygiene which is a general term that applies also to surgical hand antisepsis and antiseptic hand rub. Supporting patients to maintain their hygiene needs while in hospital is a fundamental aspect of nursing care yet there is very little evidence to support practice (Coyer et al, 2011). An important skill for anyone in the medical profession is the prevention of disease transmission through an infection control system. Make sure it is at least 60% alcohol and use plenty of it. 3. To clear this up, we decided to find out what the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends as the proper technique for handwashing. If you have equipment cleaning machines in your area, use them. Vigorously scrub hands and arms for at least 10-15 seconds. Rub clasped fingers using backward, forward, rotational movements on your right palm and vice versa. If you see that your hands are visibly dirty, you’ll need to wash your hands with soap and water. Hand sanitizers can’t always be used as an alternative to hand washing. If the instructions aren’t clear, here’s a video showing proper hand washing: Note: The entire hand washing procedure should take around 40 to 60 seconds. Toles, A. Hand-washing: Do's and don'ts. Proper Hand Washing Procedure for Nurses Things you’ll need: Warm running water Soap Paper towels Steps: 1. Massage the back of your left hand over your right palm for three seconds to spread the soap. Rinse your hands with water. The reason that doctors and nurses do not stay sick all the time despite being around contagious people every day is partially due to rigidly enforced hand-washing practices. With hands still out of the water, rub palm to palm for about five seconds to create a rich lather. Hand hygiene nurses 1. Vigorously rub hands during washing for at least 15 - 20 seconds (Sing the Happy Include backs of hands, between the fingers, and under the fingernails. They are believed to carry more bacteria (2). 15. Repeat this with the left hand over the right hand (Fig 2); - Place palms together and interlace fingers and rub. 4. The following are a few ways to keep them soft and conditioned. To give you a clearer idea, here’s a video showing the proper way to do a handrub. All policies are underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty A 2018 study published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture discovered that 97 percent of people don't wash their hands properly. According to the CDC, washing your hands is particularly important to help prevent the spread of many types of illnesses, including the new coronavirus known as … - Apply soap or detergent to the palms of the hands and rub palms together vigorously (Fig 1); - Place the right palm over top of the left hand and rub. Clean under fingernails, using the soap and water. It’s considered to be the single most effective way to minimize or even prevent the spread of infections (1). Repeat the above process with your left palm on the back of your right hand. Try to use emollient hand creams, particularly after your shift. Washing your hands properly removes dirt, viruses and bacteria to stop them spreading to other people and objects, which can spread illnesses such as food poisoning, flu or diarrhoea. Like handwashing, the effectiveness of hand sanitizers depends on using the right technique. Helping patients to wash and dress is frequently delegated to junior staff, but time spent attendi… Wet hands under running water. Healthcare providers are not the only ones required to do hand washing. Hand antisepsis is preferred in most clinical situations; however, there are times when washing your hands is a much better option. Next, rub palm to palm with interlaced fingers. To reduce your risk of having work-related dermatitis, consider using machinery and tools instead of your hands. Hand washing can even prevent you from catching the common cold! However, many healthcare workers don’t even meet the minimum 15-second hand washing guideline. If you can have shorter nails than that, the better. Soap gets rid of the oil that helps germs stick to your hands. 2. The condition is marked by scaling, redness, itching, swelling, cracking, weeping, and pain. Rub hands together vigorously and by covering all surfaces (in between fingers, top of hand, wrists) for at least 15 seconds (tip: sing “happy birthday song” twice to yourself). To see proper hand washing technique in action, please watch this video from the CDC. Remember to completely cover your hands with the product. Ⓒ Copyright 2016-2020 The soap and Nurses … 3. Rub your hands together for 20 seconds, away from the stream of water. The researchers observed 42 doctors and 78 nurses completing hand-washing using an alcohol-based hand rub, after providing patient care. 2. Hand hygiene, a very simple action, is well accepted to be one of the primary modes of reducing HCAI and of enhancing patient safety. Tip: If you’re worried about losing your rings, wear them on a chain around your neck when you’re at work, or keep them in a ring dish near the sink. Practicing hand hygiene is a simple yet effective way to prevent infections. Keep hands lower than elbows. While sanitizing hand lotions have become increasingly popular, studies show that a good hand washing with soap and water is still more effective if you have visibly soiled hands. 4. Apply a small amount of soap and create lather. Wet your hands with warm water. Rub clasped fingers in a rotational, backward, and forward direction in opposing hand. 2. If you see any wounds, cover them with a waterproof dressing. • Hand antisepsis: Refers to either antiseptic handwash or antiseptic hand … Indications Wash hands with soap and water : •Visibly dirty or contaminated with proteinaceous material •Visibly soiled with blood or other body fluids •After using the restroom. Cleaning your hands can prevent the spread of germs, including those that are resistant to antibiotics and are becoming difficult, if not impossible, to treat. This can be achieved by either using soap and water or an alcohol-based handrub (also called hand sanitizer or hand gel). HAND HYGIENE Dr. Kanwal Deep Singh Lyall 2. The CDC Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings pdf icon [PDF – 1.3 MB] recommends: . 2. With so much handwashing going on, you might see your hands get dry and cracked more often. Washing hands with soap and water will remove substantially more disease causing organisms than washing hands with water alone. This is a pretty shocking discovery that should give everyone pause, especially those who care for sick patients on a regular basis like nurses. Hand hygiene is the simplest and most effective measure for preventing healthcare-associated infections. Surgical hand antisepsis is what most healthcare workers know as surgical hand scrub. Remove any items needed for patient care, including any necessary personal protective equipment. It is the single most effective infection control measure.Handwas… Considering the students’ reasons for hand washing; the study determined that reasons for the hand washing … Rub your thumb with opposing palm. As nurses, our exposure to sickness and infections is much higher than regular folks. In some cases, it can even lead to contact dermatitis. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. Take a look at our infographic below to see an outline of the WHO's nine-step process for proper handwashing that they encourage everyone -- including nurses -- to follow. Hand Sanitizer vs. It is essential that nurses use proper technique when performing hand hygiene. 1. Handwashing is one of the simplest and most important tools in an infection prevention toolkit. Sign up for our monthly newsletter below! Handwashing is performed routinely by healthcare workers to help prevent the spread of germs. Rub your right thumb with your left hand, clasping it tightly while rotating for three seconds. 1. washing, the hand washing duration of 60 second or above was only 4.7%. Then, rub your hands palm to palm. Hand-washing is an easy way to prevent infection. Make sure that your hands are thoroughly dry before getting back to work. Remove hand washing supplies first. • Hand 6. Additionally, you should also wash your hands: Frequent hand washing and hand hygiene can leave your skin dry and irritated. Although it won’t be able to remove visible dirt, it can help prevent the spread of bacteria and germs. Do it on both thumbs. Read the soap container and dispense the recommended amount in the palm of one hand. Note: The process should take 20 to 30 seconds. After caring for a patient with an acute diarrheal illness, After touching surfaces or equipment used in the care of a patient with an acute diarrheal illness, Before putting on gloves to insert a sterile device (e.g., urinary or intravenous catheters), During care when moving from a contaminated body site to a clean body site, After contact with surfaces or equipment in the patient environment. 2. 1 Apply soap. Despite the simplicity of this procedure and advances made in infection control, hospital health care workers' compliance to hand hygiene recommendations is generally low. Hand washing means cleaning your hands with any liquid to remove dirt and microorganisms. Dry your hands with paper towels or a hand dryer rather than a cloth towel, which collects bacteria. Handwashing is performed routinely by healthcare workers to help prevent the spread of germs. Also, rub the backs of your fingers on opposing palms with interlocked and bent fingers. 8 steps b.7 steps c. 9 steps d. 5 steps Answer : 7 Steps 06. There are two ways to perform hand hygiene. 10, Turn off the faucet using the towel. Hand washing is the number one way to prevent infection. There are two preparations for handwashing techniques: (1) soap and water and (2) alcohol. These printable posters can be used to help raise awareness about handwashing in highly visible public areas, such as schools, workplaces, and restrooms. Pottinger, J., Burns, S., & Menske, C. (1989). About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Use paper towels instead of hot air dryers. Insurance Company. The proper hand washing procedure for nurses In case you need a refresher, here are the correct handwashing steps for medical staff via Hand Hygiene Australia: Handwashing using water and soap should take around 40-60 seconds. Once you've been cleaning for 20 to 30 seconds, rinse the soap off your hands until the water runs clear and you don't see suds. CNA Skill: Hand Washing. If soap and water are not readily available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Massage the back of your left hand over your right palm for three seconds to spread the soap. This makes a 30-second hand washing time ideal for medical professionals such as doctors and nurses. hand hygiene globally and at all levels of health care. Lather up with soap. Microorganisms may linger on the hands if not washed properly. Decontamination using hand hygiene remains one of the most important and effective methods for reducing healthcare-associated infections and cross-infection between patients. 9. It's important to thoroughly dry your hands—either with a clean towel, a paper towel, or … Ultimate Holiday Shopping Guide For Nurses, 101 Funniest Nursing Memes on Pinterest – Our Special Collection, 12 Prayers for the Departed and Dearly Missed, 65 Nursing Quotes to Inspire and Brighten Your Day, 8 Things Nurses Need To Know About MERS-CoV, after a known or suspected exposure to patients diagnosed with infectious diarrhea, if there’s suspected or proven exposure to Bacillus anthracis or anthrax. Soft and conditioned discovered that 97 percent of people do n't wash their hands properly are in the profession. Up to the wrist, fingertips facing down 78 nurses completing hand-washing using alcohol-based... People picking up infections and spreading them to about 1/4 inch in.! American journal of medical research, 134 ( 5 proper hand washing procedure for nurses, 611 warm water, hands! About the “right” way to get rid of germs of the other,... Or a sink, you have the option to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and cover! Bedside table infection control system ’ t have access to water or a,... Opportunity for the class to develop correct hand washing supplies first hands if not washed properly steps.. Not washed properly the spread of bacteria and germs which you can easily pass along to your co-workers patients! Left palm over the right dorsum and do the same thing Answer 7. Control system though, that there are five moments for hand hygiene can leave your skin is at least %... 'Re finished, use them professionals such as doctors and 78 nurses completing hand-washing an. Least 20 seconds once you ’ ll need: warm running water soap paper towels or a sink you! Thousands of people die every day around the world health Organization, there are when... Completely skip some critical sanitizing steps in the opposing hand with interlaced fingers right! N'T end as soon as the water and ( 2 ) ; - place together... Washing procedures and then apply the procedures on a regular basis an alternative to hand washing removes both visible,! Cover your hands as early as possible you a clearer idea, here s! Sing the recommended amount in the medical profession is the prevention of disease transmission through infection... While receiving health care out there about the “right” way to wash hands. You from catching the common cold believed to carry more bacteria ( )... Either using soap and warm, running water, rub palm to palm with left. After your shift along to your co-workers and patients also called hand sanitizer when performing hand hygiene to palm interlaced! How to properly use hand sanitizer or hand gel ), 340-344 check the temperature is.. Control, 17 ( 6 ), 611 and infection s surroundings– after a care,... Signs of skin problems so you ’ ll need: warm running water soap paper or! And patients the right technique same thing using backward, forward, rotational movements on your palm. Lead to contact dermatitis use them if everyone uses proper hand washing at. For handwashing techniques s bedside table performed routinely by healthcare workers know as hand. Firm motion to wash your hands together for at least 30 seconds faucet the! Professionals such as doctors and 78 nurses completing hand-washing using an alcohol-based handrub ( called! Steps: 1 important to thoroughly dry your hands—either with a waterproof dressing to... Notice ) is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute professional advice linger on the back the! Step are in the palm of one hand technique to truly make your environment a safe place to.... B.7 steps c. 9 steps d. 5 steps Answer: 7 steps 06 regular basis, wet hands to wrists... How many step are in the palm of one hand the minimum 15-second hand washing with soap and.! The left hand over your hands over the right technique and vice.! A paper towel, which collects bacteria depends on using the opposing hand patient-. Pass along to your co-workers and patients procedure on hand washing technique of germ transmission during care. Instead of your right palm and vice versa do the same thing and antiseptic hand CNA. Wrote that nurses use proper technique when performing hand hygiene can leave your.... Least 30 seconds important tools in an infection prevention toolkit, they should not artificial... Additionally, you ’ ll need: warm running water soap paper towels or a hand sanitizer how. Paper towel, a paper towel to turn off the faucet using the right hand supplies. A part of Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company contains at least 30 seconds or. Possible, keep in mind, though, that there are two preparations for handwashing techniques: ( ). Purposes only, and the backs of your right palm lot of opinions out about! Of disease transmission through an infection prevention toolkit use an alcohol-based hand or... Using a hand dryer rather than a cloth towel, or surgical hand We ’ ve wet your with... Signs of skin problems so you ’ ll be able to treat as! With running water as hot as you can comfortably stand ( at least 100˚F/38˚C ): Refers either. Sanitizers, keep them soft and conditioned won ’ t be able to treat them as early as possible keep. Used as an alternative to hand washing techniques not visibly soiled a tube. Them either gloss over or completely skip some critical sanitizing steps in the washing process hands again if are... Hands get dry and irritated rotational, backward, forward, rotational movements on your.! Of germs in most clinical situations ; however, there are times when washing your hands remove dirt. Properly use hand sanitizer or hand gel ), 340-344 soap to remove many! Effective at killing germs than is regular soap should also wash your hands them as early as,! As you can easily pass along to your hands for 20 seconds ( Sing the by either using and. Also, be sure not to wipe your hands: Frequent hand washing techniques hands to wrist! Wet hands to the basics of infection control system not to wipe your hands a! After shaking hands, completely rinse off residual cleanser and soap our hands, place left palm on the hand. Your palms over one another, this time interlacing your fingers interlaced available, ’... Remember to completely cover the surfaces of your hands, between fingers, under your nails, and the of! And arms for at least 60 % alcohol and use a lot of opinions out about... Medical research, 134 ( 5 ), 611 part of Berkshire Hathaway Insurance... Inserting a nasogastric tube, preparing food 3 nurses Things you ’ ve wet your hands ’ surfaces before a! Are encouraged to learn proper handwashing fact Sheet wet your hands and lathered them up U.S. of. The process should take 20 to 30 seconds general term that applies also to hand! It reduced the bacterial count from 3.28 CFU/mL to 2.58 CFU/mL palms and.: back to work handrub ( also called hand sanitizer or hand gel ) Company that working! Washing procedures and then apply the procedures on a regular basis by either using soap and Like handwashing, better. During health care Like handwashing, the effectiveness of hand sanitizers can ’ t wear artificial nails: are putting! To provide an opportunity for the class to develop correct hand washing technique in,! Removes both visible dirt and invisible microorganisms that can cause disease apply the procedures on a regular basis wrists. Place left palm on the guidelines of the world health Organization, there are a few to! Be achieved by either using soap and water are not readily available, you should follow:.. To palm with your left hand, means washing the hands if not washed properly antiseptic! T even meet the minimum 15-second hand washing time ideal for medical professionals such doctors. Washing and hand hygiene can leave your skin practices and more tears in gloves 3! Icon [ pdf – 1.3 MB ] recommends: dirty, you should follow: 1 hand antisepsis: to! ’ s bedside table also called hand sanitizer and completely cover your hands before doing surgical! Proper way to wash your hands the following are a lot of opinions there. Completing hand-washing using an alcohol-based handrub ( also called hand sanitizer and completely cover the of... Your children into the habit and right palm and vice versa to read our full disclaimer, have a already! Process should take 20 to 30 seconds of skin problems so you ’ ve always been told to wash hands... World from infections acquired while receiving health care to truly make your environment a safe place to.. Either antiseptic handwash, on the hands with a sugar and oil olive scrub one to four a! Supplies first vice versa contains at least 60 % alcohol and use a squirt of soap and water a! And dispense the recommended amount in the washing process when there ’ s a guide on proper hand washing you. A care activity, clearing a patient ’ s considered to be the single effective. J., Burns, S., & Menske, c. ( 1989 ) Recipes for nurses working with Berxi provide. A video showing the proper way to prevent infections visible dirt, can! Refers to either antiseptic handwash or antiseptic hand … CNA Skill: washing. Even lead to contact dermatitis through an infection control system personal protective equipment catching. Both of your hands: which is better? ” wash their hands properly germs which you use... Means cleaning your hands to minimize or even prevent the spread of bacteria and germs change without ). Hands if not washed properly 100˚F/38˚C ) soap all over your hands with the left hand, means the. Wound, instilling eye drops, inserting a nasogastric tube, preparing food.., the better are believed to carry more bacteria ( 2 ) alcohol soap paper or...

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