Do you wash your hands?

[heyday]

Every morning before I have my clinicals, i always tell myself to make sure that i wash my hands EVERYTIME i do something with a patient. But it really is difficult to remember to do that.:imbar Today, we talked about infections and antibiotics in class, and i was pretty scared looking at in increase in statistical data for infection and antibiotic resistant organisms. Nosocomial infection rate is incredibly high, and as a nursing student, i am right there in the middle of the field. So, i am determined to carry my hand-washing duty even more diligently than before.

Well, hand washing will definitely help all of us to not carry organisms from one to the other. I was just wondering if everyone else, who are in nursing field, feel the same way as I do. :)

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Yes, I was prior to any patient contact and after. Makes for a lot of handwashing.

It's the single most important thing we do. What I'm guilty of is rushing and not always doing the recommending time, 15 seconds per wash every single time, but I also use the hand disinfectant too.

[lisamc1RN, LPN]

Yes, I do it now. When I first started clinicals it was hard to remember at times. Now it's just part of the routine. You will start to remember more and more until it's just part of your day and you don't have to remind yourself any more.

[DianeS, RN]

Yes, when arriving at work, before and after each patient, after using the bathroom, before eating, when soiled, etc, etc. No wonder my hands are chapped now that Michigan is getting cold. :chuckle

[MQ Edna]

The alcohol rubs are excellent. Actually, I recall that the alcohol is actually more effective than hand washing. The alcohol lotion we use at our hospital has moisturizers in it. Much better than Purrell.

[RM23]

I am delighted to see all of you students washing your hands. There is a major problem, as you all are well aware, of health care associated infections (nosocomial). There, often, is a lack of full understanding of cross contamination. Recently, to share with you, I was at one of our local hospitals, known for their fine delivery of patient care. While visiting a friend, I noted a handwash dispenser readily available to anyone entering or leaving the patient room. You just had to swipe your hands under the dispenser nozzle as you either entered or left the patient room. While I was visiting, 6 staff entered and left the room. While in the room, touched the following: siderails, call bell, door knobs, table top/overbed table, sheets, television. Out of the 6, no one, I repeat NOT one staff person either washed their hands either while entering or leaving. Further observations noted were that they entered other patient rooms and proceeded to deliver patient care. This is frightening and how infections are spread. MRSA lives for hours and hours on environmental surfaces, along with other infectious agents. Thanks for washing your hands.