Educate: Developing Knowledge and Skill in Hand Hygiene

Name: Educate: Developing Knowledge and Skill in Hand Hygiene
Uploaded: 2023-04-27T17:47:42.000Z
Duration: 10 min 6 s

Implementing an Effective Hand Hygiene Program

Importance of Hand Hygiene Education

Implementing a hand hygiene program based on the four E's: engage, educate, execute, and evaluate is crucial for continuous quality improvement in healthcare facilities.

Healthcare personnel must be trained to recognize when hands should be cleaned and ensure thorough cleaning to positively impact patient health and well-being.

Guidelines for Hand Cleaning

Hands should be cleaned before touching a patient, performing aseptic tasks, moving between soiled and clean body sites on the same patient, after contact with patients or contaminated surfaces, and after glove removal.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is preferred in most clinical situations; however, soap and water are necessary when hands are visibly soiled or after specific activities like eating or using the restroom.

Proper Hand Sanitizing Techniques

To use hand sanitizer effectively: dispense a palm full into hands, ensuring all surfaces are covered. Rub hands together for at least 15 seconds while focusing on palms, backs of hands, fingers, thumbs, and fingertips.

When washing hands with soap: scrub for at least 15 seconds (up to one minute), covering all areas including between fingers and under nails. Dry with a disposable towel without rubbing.

Glove Use and Contamination Prevention

Gloves can reduce contamination but should be changed frequently during care. Germs can transfer from gloves to other surfaces; thus proper glove removal techniques are essential.

After removing gloves—pinching near the wrist to peel them off inside out—hands must always be cleaned immediately afterward as glove use does not eliminate the need for hand hygiene.

Skin Care for Healthcare Personnel

Excessive exposure to soap/water or gloves can damage skin; therefore, using facility-approved lotion before starting work is recommended.

Maintaining healthy skin is vital for healthcare personnel to provide effective care. For more information about hand hygiene practices, refer to additional resources available online.

Video description

This video describes when and how the hands of healthcare personnel should be cleaned throughout the day. Hands should be cleaned before touching a patient, before an aseptic task, or when moving from a soiled body site to a clean body site on the same patient. Hands should also be cleaned after touching the patient or their environment, after contact with contaminated surfaces or body fluids, and immediately after glove removal. This video includes demonstrations on sanitizing with alcohol-based hand sanitizer (ABHS), hand washing with soap and water, and glove removal noting that gloves do not replace the need to clean hands. The Hand Hygiene Foundations Learning Series consists of four videos and was developed in partnership with the American Hospital Association (AHA).