The Proper Handwashing Procedure for Nurses

A 2020-2021 study published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture discovered that 95 percent of people don’t wash their hands properly. This is a pretty shocking discovery that should give everyone pause, especially those who care for sick patients on a regular basis like nurses.

Keep in mind, though, that there are a lot of opinions out there about the “right” way to wash your hands. In fact, a surprising amount of them either gloss over or completely skip some critical sanitizing steps in the washing process. To clear this up, we decided to find out what the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends as the proper handwashing procedure for nurses.

The following article will cover not only how to properly wash your hands but also when to wash hands vs. using hand sanitizer and how to correctly apply hand sanitizer.

The WHO’s 9-Step Proper Handwashing Procedure for Nurses

Take a look at our infographic below to see a detailed outline of the WHO’s handwashing steps for nurses that they encourage everyone to follow.

And here are more detailed instructions if you’d like to learn more about each step:

Step 1: Wet your hands

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.

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.

Step 2: Apply soap to your hands

Remove your hands from the water and use a squirt of soap to remove soil and transient microorganisms from your skin.

Step 3: Rub your palms together

With hands still out of the water, rub palm to palm for about five seconds to create a rich lather.

Step 4: Rub your hands over each other

Massage the back of your left hand over your right palm for three seconds to spread the soap. Repeat the above process with your left palm on the back of your right hand.

Step 5: Interlace your fingers

Rub your palms over one another, this time interlacing your fingers. Keeping your fingers interlaced, run the backs of your fingers along the back of the opposing hand. Do this for three seconds.

Step 6: Scrub your thumbs

Rub your right thumb with your left hand, clasping it tightly while rotating for three seconds. Repeat the above with your left thumb.

Step 7: Rub fingertips against palms

Using the fingers of your right hand, rub your left palm in a circling motion for three seconds, going both clockwise and counterclockwise. Repeat the above process with your left fingers and right palm.

Step 8: Rinse your hands

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. When you’re finished, use a paper towel to turn off the faucet. 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.

Step 9: Dry your hands

Dry your hands with paper towels or a hand dryer rather than a cloth towel, which collects bacteria. Also, be sure not to wipe your hands on your scrubs.

How to Properly Apply Hand Sanitizer

While we’re focused on the proper handwashing steps for nurses to remove all germs, we shouldn’t forget about hand sanitizer.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests nurses use a sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol and use enough gel to cover both hands. Here’s how to use hand sanitizer correctly:

1. Apply a gel product to the palm of one hand.
2. Cover all surfaces of both hands.
3. Rub your hands and fingers together for about 20 seconds or until both hands are dry.

Washing Hands vs. Using an Alcohol-Based Hand Rub

We talked to several experts at the CDC who recommend two methods to routinely clean your hands: handwashing with soap and water or hand antisepsis using an alcohol-based hand rub. Hand antisepsis is preferred in most clinical situations; however, there are times when washing your hands is a much better option.

When Should Nurses Wash Their Hands?

The CDC experts list the following times anyone in (or out of) the medical profession should always wash hands:

• When hands are visibly soiled
• After using the restroom
• Before eating
• 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

When Should Nurses Use Alcohol-Based Sanitizers?

When it comes to using hand sanitizer or washing hands, the CDC recommends nurses opt for using an alcohol-based hand sanitizers at these times:

• When hands are not visibly soiled
• Before having contact with a patient
• Before putting on gloves
• 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 the patient
• After contact with surfaces or equipment in the patient environment
• After removing gloves

How to Keep Clean Hands From Drying Out

With so much handwashing going on, you might see your hands get dry and cracked more often. The following are a few ways to keep them soft and conditioned.

• 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).
• Use paper towels instead of hot air dryers.
• Exfoliate your hands with a sugar and oil olive scrub one to four times a week.
• Apply pure aloe every night.
• Use a humidifier at home.

Facing Risks & Reducing Liabilities at Work

It’s not news to nurses that they need to wash their hands at work. However, it might be easy to skip the 9-step, 60-second routine. Afterall, you have patients to see and not a lot of time to give. But germs are everywhere, as are risks. And both can be dangerous, and invisible.

If risk prevention is on your mind, there are more steps you can take. Consider creating a detailed risk management plan to better prevent and prepare for mishaps.

You can also explore protecting yourself with professional liability insurance. Does your workplace provide this for you? If not, you definitely need one. And if they provide basic coverage, think about getting your own additional policy. Having an individual policy can protect you in the case of a licensing board review, which employer policies often neglect. It can also allow for extra funds and additional legal support in the case of a large claim. These policies can be as low as $87 per year.

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Header image courtesy of iStock.com/georgeclerk

Video courtesy of Johns Hopkins Medicine.

 

Last updated on Sep 03, 2024.
Originally published on Jul 02, 2018.

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• Nurse
• Risk Management

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. This article (subject to change without notice) is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute professional advice. Click here to read our full disclaimer