Updated: Published
I am a nurse new to home health visits (but not HH, as I worked private duty/shift work in the home)
ALL of the HH nurses I observed while precepting did not wash their hands with soap and water. They just used hand sanitizer. In facilities and in PDN we are taught to wash our hands at start of care and after using hand sanitizer three times. But HH nurses use sanitizer all of the time.
When I work in the home as a Pdn, I ALWAYS washed my hands and use hand sanitizer if needed.
What prevents HH nurses from washing their hands? We could carry soap and paper towels. Most people in my area have running water.
I am genuinely curious if other HH nurses wash their hands in the patient's home using soap and water?