a. True (for rubbing hands together with antiseptic for several seconds and allowing hands to dry before applying gloves).
b. False (for the information about the type of bacteria under rings and the recommended length of fingernails).
The statement contains some inaccuracies and should be corrected. Gram-negative bacilli such as Enterobacter are more commonly associated with the gastrointestinal tract and are not typically found under rings.
Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive bacterium, not Gram-negative. Staphylococcus aureus is often found on the skin and mucous membranes.
The nurse rubbing hands together to cover all surfaces with an antiseptic is a good practice for proper hand hygiene, ensuring complete antimicrobial action.
However, the effectiveness of an antiseptic solution is also influenced by the duration of rubbing.
The statement should specify the recommended duration for hand rubbing, typically at least 20 seconds.
The idea that the nurse's fingernails should be less than a quarter-inch long to decrease the number of bacteria residing on hands is misleading.
While shorter nails may be easier to clean, the emphasis should be on keeping nails clean rather than specifying a particular length.
The statement about allowing hands to dry before applying gloves is correct.
It is important to allow sufficient time for the antimicrobial solution to be effective before donning gloves.