Question

. When should you perform hand hygiene? (Select all that apply.) a) Before applying gloves to insert an IV b) After documenting in the patient’s chart located at the nurse’s station c) After moving a patient up in bed d) Before assessing a patient’s vital signs e) Before touching clean linens

Answer 1

Hands serve as a reservoir for many infectious organisms. Hand hygiene helps to avoid spreading of infectious organisms that can cause illness.

Hand hygiene includes washing hands with an antiseptic soap or rub and water.

Hand hygiene helps healthcare workers to prevent transmission of infection theough direct or indirect contact with hands.

Hand hygiene should be performed in following situations:

1. Before contacting the patient and after the completion of procedure

2. Prior to and after touching patient’s medical equipments like iv lines, catheters, oxygen masks

3. Before and after contacting patient’s personal items

4. Before contacting clean sites

5. Before and after donning of the gloves

6. after contacting with patient’s body fluids or lab samples

7. When the hands look dirty

In the above case hand hygiene should be performed -

a) Before applying gloves to insert an IV as the contaminated hands may cause transmission of infection through the iv line directly to blood.

c) After moving a patient up in bed

d) Before assessing a patient’s vital signs

e) Before touching clean linens