Hand Washing (Skill 1 in Nurse Aide Handbook, pg. 25)

Why???? Reduces spread of disease from: * patient to patient * patient to health care professional * health care professional to patient * Health care professional to health care professional * Visitor to patient; patient to visitor Hand-washing is the single most important method in the prevention and control of infection.

Nosocomial Infections Nosocomial Infection = infection obtained in a hospital or healthcare facility Good hand washing reduces nosocomial infections Occur as the result of treatment in a hospital or other healthcare setting, but secondary to the patients’ original condition First appears within 48 hours or more after admission or appears within 30 days after discharge The hospital is responsible for the cost of nosocomial infections

When to Wash Up… At a minimum, Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) recommends hand washing: When coming on and going off duty Before and after caring for each resident Before applying gloves and after removing gloves After contact with blood, body fluids and contaminated items When hands are obviously soiled Before and after eating, drinking, smoking, using the bathroom, handling contact lenses, wiping nose, using lip balm

Proper hand washing techniques Soap (aids in the removal of pathogens) Warm water Friction All surfaces of the hands must be cleaned – palms, backs, between the fingers. Nails must be cleaned Wash for 20 seconds (happy birthday song twice) Make note of where paper towels are prior to hand washing.

Proper hand washing techniques Fingertips should be pointed downward – prevents water from getting on forearms and then running back down onto the hands and re- contaminating them. Avoid leaning against sink or splashing uniform during hand washing. Do not touch the inside of sink or faucet handles with clean hands. Dry paper towels are used to turn faucet on and off – prevents contamination of hands from organisms on the faucet.

Nurse Aide Handbook Skill #1 (pg 25) Hand Washing Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYwypSLiaTU

Hand Sanitizer Hospitals use sanitizers that are alcohol based Kill microbes chemically Use if hands aren’t visibly soiled If hands are visibly dirty, you must wash your hands with soap and warm water

Benefits of Hand Sanitizer Faster than hand washing Kills microorganisms quickly More accessible than sinks Reduce bacterial counts on hands Less irritating than soap and water

How to use hand sanitizer You cannot use hand sanitizer if your hands are visibly soiled Apply a quarter-sized amount to the palm of one hand Rub hands together covering all surfaces of hands and fingers Rub until sanitizer is absorbed