Handwashing Flashcards
Define Handwashing
- washing of hands with soap and water
- one of most effective infection control measures
- important in hospital and clinical settings
- protects both patient and staff
5 moments its used
- and 2. before and after touching patient
- before cleaning procedures
- after body fluid exposure
- after touching patient’s surroundings
Purposes
- reduce number of microorganisms on hands
- reduce risk of spreading micoorganisms to clients
- reduce risk of cross contamination among clients
- reduce being infected by infectious organisms
Step 1: Define Procedure
Ideal for nurse to fully understand the procedure
Step 2 : State its purpose
To prevent spreading of microorganisms or reduce risk of it spreading
Step 3: Assemble Equipment
- Soap 2. Warm running water 3. Disposable or sanatized towel 4. Tissue Paper
Allows working in orderly and organized matter and saves time
Step 4 : Inroduce Yourself and verify clients identity. Explain what your going to do and why it is necessary
- help establish rapport and trust
- facilitates cooperation
Step 5 : Assess hands
- nails kept short - Remove Jewelry - Check hands for cuts
- microorganisms can lodge under long nails and jewelry
- wounds harbors high concentration of microorganisms and increases chance of infection for client and nurse
Step 6 : Stand in front of sink while keeping hands and uniform from touching the sink’s surface
- sink is considered contaminated
- uniforms can carry microorganisms from place to place
Step 7 : Turn on the water and adjust the water flow
to obtain right amount of water flow
Step 8 : Wet hands thoroughly, keep hands lower than your elbow
- Will help lather hands with soap
- aids in removal of microorganisms from least contaminated to the most contaminated area
Step 9 : apply the soap 2-4 ml or firmly rub if it is bar soap
- soap cleanses emulsifying fat and oil, and lowers surface tension
Step 11: thoroughly wash hands using firm, rubbing and circular motion in this sequence
a. Palm to Palm b. Palm over dorsum c. Palm to palm, fingers interlaced
d. back of fingers to oppossing palm with fingers interlocked e. Rotational rubbing of each finger
f. rub finger tips against palm of hand g. rub your wrists
- friction and rubbing mechanically loosens and removes transient bacteria
- Interlacing fingers and thumbs clean interdigital areas
Step 12 : Rinse hands starting from finger tips down to the wrists
Washing dirt and organisms from cleanest to the least cleanest area
Step 13 : Step back, Thoroughly Dry hand using disposable or sanitized towel. Use different side for each hand
Prevents chapping and rough skin