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Hand Washing Procedure for Nurses

The document provides instructions for proper handwashing with these key steps: 1. Inspect hands for any cuts, breaks or visible soiling before washing. 2. Remove jewelry and push sleeves above elbows to allow for thorough cleaning. 3. Adjust water temperature and flow to avoid skin damage or splashing. 4. Wet hands and arms under running water keeping hands lower than elbows to avoid spreading microorganisms.

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Rhyysel Roccini Baliclic
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83 views1 page

Hand Washing Procedure for Nurses

The document provides instructions for proper handwashing with these key steps: 1. Inspect hands for any cuts, breaks or visible soiling before washing. 2. Remove jewelry and push sleeves above elbows to allow for thorough cleaning. 3. Adjust water temperature and flow to avoid skin damage or splashing. 4. Wet hands and arms under running water keeping hands lower than elbows to avoid spreading microorganisms.

Uploaded by

Rhyysel Roccini Baliclic
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

PROCEDUR RATIONALE

E
1. Inspect hands, observing for visible soiling, Poor personal hygiene and an open area of the
breaks or cuts in the skin and cuticles. skin provide areas in which microorganism grow
and should receive extra attention during cleaning.
2. Remove jewelry and watch and push long Microorganisms collect in jewelry and watch
sleeves above the elbows. Don’t allow the bands.
uniform the uniform to touch the sink.
Removing jewelry makes it easier to wash hands
and wrists.
3. Adjust the water to appropriate temperature and Water that is too hot can chap skin. Too much
flow. force can cause splashing and spread of
microorganisms to other areas especially your
uniform.
4. Wet elbow to hands under running water Hands are the most contaminated part of the arm.
always keeping hands lower than elbow.
Water should flow from the elbow which is he
least contaminated area over the hands and down
the drain.
5. Lather hands with liquid soap or if bar soap is Soap lather emulsifies fats and aids in cleansing.
used wash soap and lather hand. If bar soap is
accidentally dropped, repeat the procedure. Sink is contaminated and dropping bar soap
causes contamination.
6. Return bar soap on the soap dish without Soap dish is contaminated.
touching the dish.
7. Wash hands thoroughly using firm circular Friction helps loosen dirt and microorganisms.
motion and friction on back of the hands, palms
and wrists. Wash each finger individually paying Re-lathering ensures more thorough cleansing.
special attention to areas between fingers and
knuckles by interlacing fingers and thumbs
moving hands back and forth. Re-lather if
necessary.
8. Rinse elbow down to hands completely keeping Water should run from cleaner area (elbow) over
hands lower than elbows. the hands and then down the drain.
9. Clean fingernails carefully under running water Orange stick helps remove dirt and reduces
using an orange stick. chance of microorganisms to remain under nails.

10. Turnoff faucets with a hand towel or tissue Keeps clean hands from touching contaminated
paper. faucet.
11. Dry hands thoroughly with towel starting from Prevents chapping of the skin. The cleanest areas
the fingertips, hands and then wrists and forearm. are now the fingers and hands so drying should
progress from clean to less clean.
12. Use Hand lotion if desired. Keeps skin soft and lubricated.
13. Inspect hands and nails for cleanliness. Ensures cleanliness of hands and nails.

Common questions

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The drying technique, which involves drying from the fingertips to the forearms, helps prevent skin issues such as chapping by progressing from the cleanest to less clean areas. Thorough drying prevents moisture retention, which can damage the skin barrier and promote microbial growth, thus ensuring hands remain clean and skin integrity is preserved .

Jewelry and watches should be removed prior to washing hands because microorganisms can accumulate in these areas. Removing these items facilitates a more thorough cleansing of the hands and wrists, ensuring that no area is neglected where germs could proliferate .

The soap dish should not be touched when returning bar soap because the dish itself is considered contaminated. Touching it could transfer microorganisms back onto the hands, negating the washing process. Therefore, careful placement of the soap helps maintain hand cleanliness .

Washing each finger individually is necessary because these areas, including between fingers and knuckles, are prone to harboring dirt and microorganisms. Using a firm, circular motion along with friction, followed by interlacing fingers, ensures that all surfaces are effectively cleaned, reducing residual microbial presence .

Cleaning fingernails with an orange stick is important because nails can harbor dirt and microorganisms. Using an orange stick helps dislodge debris that may be trapped under the nails, reducing the risk of pathogens remaining in these hard-to-clean areas .

Using a towel or tissue to turn off the faucet is crucial because the faucet is considered contaminated. By preventing direct contact with the faucet, newly cleaned hands are protected from recontamination, maintaining the hygiene achieved by washing .

Soap lather is essential in handwashing because it emulsifies fats and aids in removing dirt and microorganisms from the skin. Lather acts as a vehicle to trap and hold particles before they are rinsed away, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the cleansing process .

Adjusting water temperature and flow is important because water that is too hot can cause chapping of the skin, which makes it susceptible to harboring microorganisms. Additionally, water with too much force can splash and spread microorganisms to other areas, such as clothing, which could lead to further contamination .

Inspecting hands for visible soiling or cuts is crucial because areas of poor personal hygiene and open skin can harbor microorganisms. These areas require extra attention during cleaning to ensure that pathogens are removed, reducing the risk of infection or spread of germs .

During handwashing, keeping hands lower than elbows is important because the hands are typically more contaminated than other parts of the arm. By allowing water to flow from the cleaner area (elbows) over the hands, it helps ensure that contaminants are washed away down the drain, preventing recontamination .

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