Question

While maintaining hand hygiene, if the nurse's hands are dry after rubbing them together for 10 to 15 seconds, an insufficient volume of product was likely applied. Dryness of the hands does not indicate an allergic reaction. Ten to 15 seconds is a sufficient amount of time to rub the hands together. Complete antimicrobial action is not achieved if an insufficient antiseptic solution is applied.

A) True
B) False

Answer 1

It is false that 10 to 15 seconds is enough time for complete hand hygiene; at least 20 seconds is recommended by health standards for effective antimicrobial action on the hands.

Step-by-step explanation:

Regarding hand hygiene, it is false that dryness of the hands after rubbing them together for 10 to 15 seconds indicates that an insufficient volume of product was likely applied and that this time is sufficient for complete antimicrobial action. According to health guidelines and standards such as those from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hand hygiene requires at least 20 seconds of rubbing hands together with soap. Furthermore, dryness of hands within such a brief period could indicate an insufficient amount of antiseptic solution applied. However, dryness alone does not suggest an allergic reaction. In clinical environments, hand hygiene practices are even more stringent, with health care workers required to wash hands thoroughly between each patient contact and surgical hand hygiene often involving a longer scrub time.