A newly licensed nurse shows understanding of hand hygiene by correctly performing the CDC-recommended steps of handwashing, ensuring thorough cleaning that is appropriate for a clinical setting.
The indication of understanding of hand hygiene by a newly licensed nurse is shown by performing all necessary steps of handwashing thoroughly, consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. This includes using soap and warm water, cleaning all hand surfaces, fingertips, under the fingernails, and extending the wash to include forearms when necessary, particularly before and after patient contact or exposure to possible contaminants.
An explanation of the hand hygiene procedure outlines that effective handwashing involves a series of steps: wetting hands with water, applying soap, scrubbing hands together for at least 20 seconds, rinsing hands thoroughly under running water, and finally, drying hands with a clean towel or air dryer. Scrubbing should reach beyond just the palms and include the back of hands, between fingers, under nails, and up the arms when prepping for surgical procedures.
the newly licensed nurse demonstrates proper hand hygiene by following the established protocols and scrubbing techniques that reduce the risk of transmitting infectious pathogens in a clinical setting,