Medical Handwashing.docx

MEDICAL HANDWASHING

Many diseases and conditions are spread by not being able to keep the hands clean during clinical procedures. Through improved hand hygiene or hand washing, this is one of the most effective ways we can take to avoid the spread of pathogens which puts the healthcare providers’, the patients’, and/or the community’s health at risk.

For medical aseptic hand washing, the materials needed are as follows:    

Sink; Preferably either foot-operated or utilizes hand sensors; Liquid soap from a pump container; Disposable paper towel; Nail stick and/or brush (Optional)

Tips (1) Before proceeding, ensure that all jewelries or hand accessories are removed. This is to prevent the objects from harboring microorganism which, then, triggers a chain of infection.

(2) After which, have the disposable towels ready for use to avoid contact from the towel dispenser at post-hand washing procedure.

Main Procedures: As we proceed with the hand washing, we thought that it would be easier to remember the procedure if we could associate the whole hand washing process with an abbreviation. S.T.E.R.I.L.E.

(1) Stand back from the sink to avoid contact with the sink.

(2) Turn on the faucet without using both hands. (Tip #3)

Tip (3) If the faucet is neither foot-operated or does not utilize a hand sensor, turn on the faucet with the use of your elbow.

(3) Ensure to bathe hands without any direct contact with the sides of the sink.

(4) Rub your hands with the liquid soap extracted from the pump container and lather hands thoroughly. *Narrate the whole lathering process*

Tip (4) The lathering and scrubbing action will remove the dirt present on the skin. Thus, be sure to lather the back of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

Tip (5) The scrubbing process should at least be done for 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song, from the beginning to end, twice.

(5) Inundate or rinse each hand with the water flowing downwards off the fingertips.

(6) Latch the disposable towels and dry the hands and wrists.

(7) Ensure that the faucet is turned off without any direct contact to both hands. The use of disposable towels is recommended in turning off the faucet when it is not foot-operated nor utilizes hand-sensors.

MEDICAL GLOVING

Healthcare practitioners in the medical field frequently uses sterile gloves. The proper gloving process is needed in order to prevent the transmission and contraction of infectious diseases to both the patient and the health-care provider.

Tip (1) Ensure that the hands are clean before gloving.

Procedures:

(1) Choose the proper glove size for you.

Tip (2) Remember, sterile gloves vary in wide range of sizes. Try to assess if the gloves that you will wear cohere to the following: ability to move your hands comfortably, no friction on the skin, less to no sweating, no hand muscle fatigue.

(2) Remove all jewelries or hand accessories. Although it is not necessary when you have undergone medical aseptic hand washing, it is important to remember that these could contaminate the gloves and minimizes the risk of glove tearing.

(3) Open the sterile glove package.

(4) Pick up your dominant hand glove using your non dominant hand glove. Touch only the wrist part of the glove or the inside of the glove cuff.

Tip (3) Donning the dominant hand glove first can minimize the risk of glove tearing or contamination.

(5) Don the 1st glove.

(6) Take the second glove using the ungloved hands with only touching the wrist part of the glove or the inside of the glove cuff. Don the 2nd glove while keeping your second hand flat and palm facing up.

Tip (4) You can always adjust your gloves once both gloves are on. Check the gloves for rips. If you notice any visible rips, tears, or other issues, re-wash your hands and put on new gloves.