Question

Because the area below the waist level is considered unsterile, the nurse should keep his or her hands above the waist. The faucet should be closed by using the knees to prevent contamination of the hands. The nurse should use a continuous motion to rinse from the fingertips to the elbows, allowing water to run off at the elbows. The nurse should use a rotary motion to move the towel from the fingers to the elbows during drying to dry the skin from the hands to the elbows.

A) Step 1, Step 3
B) Step 3, Step 1

Answer 1

The question discusses handwashing and surgical scrubbing protocols for healthcare workers to prevent infection, which involve precise steps for washing, rinsing, and drying hands to maintain sterility.

Step-by-step explanation:

The subject of the question relates to the protocols for handwashing and surgical scrubbing in healthcare settings to prevent contamination and infection. The steps described entail maintaining hand hygiene above waist level, use of knee operated faucets to avoid hand contamination, rinsing from the fingertips to the elbows, and drying properly with a towel using a rotary motion. These procedures are critical for healthcare workers to reduce the risk of transferring microorganisms to patients, especially before and after direct patient contact or surgical procedures.

Correct handwashing should start with wetting hands with water, applying soap, rubbing hands together vigorously to create lather, covering all surfaces for at least 20 seconds, and then rinsing thoroughly from wrist to fingertips. Surgical scrubbing is an extended process that starts from the fingertips and extends beyond the elbows to maximize cleanliness. Additionally, using a clean towel to turn off faucets and open doors is a step to prevent recontamination after the hands are clean.