Poll: Do you use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer as an adjunct to handwashing?

purplemania, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2005

they are just too hard on my skin. I prefer soap and water.

EricTAMUCC-BSN, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2005

I like the foaming sanitizer that HCA uses.

WSU_Ally_RN, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2005

I don't know if any of you are surgical nurses or not to know about this, but a few weeks ago, I did a clinical day in the surgical suite. The hospital that I'm at actually has an alcohol based gel cleanser for the nurses/doc's to use instead of scrubbing with soap and water. I only saw the scrub nurse use it, and she said she liked it a lot better bc her hands didn't get so irritated. She used three or four HUGE handfuls and rubbed it up both arms and all over her hands and scrubbed her nails with it too.... What do you all think about this???

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 22, 2005

nothing replaces handwashing. alcohol rubs are good for "cleaning up" if hands are not soiled, that is it.

Between patients, or in cases where my hands may be soiled, I wish THEN use the rub.

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 22, 2005

the poll might be changed to read

"as an adjunct to hand washing"

NoCrumping · Feb 22, 2005

Poll: Do you use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer for routine handwashing?
Please vote and post comments.

Yes, but I wash, then use it as a back-up. i know it makes no sense, but I feel "cleaner" if I use the gel too.......I even have it in my purse, at home, ya know, the nice smelling ones from bath and body...

akcarmean, LPN · Feb 22, 2005

I am in HHC and we have it in the pt.'s home. I use it only when I can't get into the BR b/c another family member is in there. Other than that it's antibacterial soap and water.

Angie

Brian, ASN, RN · Feb 22, 2005

the poll might be changed to read
"as an adjunct to hand washing"

Thanks, I made the change, it reads better.

blue heron · Feb 22, 2005

The research I have done shows that as long as there is no visible soil on your hands, then the alcohol cleansers are just as effective, and that because of their ease of use, they are used more often, therefore the spread of infection is further reduced.

Question- Why aren't they effective with c diff?

For those who have trouble with their skin from soaps etc, here are some hints that have worked incredibly well for me and others-

wash with cooler water--it isn't the 'hot' of the water that removes the germs, it is the friction of rubbing

rinse your hands twice as long as you are now, there is often a residue left on our hands that causes the problems

use less soap- the foam dispensers are great if you have them

Use lotion at night-every night- before sleep (or in the AM if on nights). Find one that works for you. If you want udder balm w/o paying astronomical prices, find an agricultural supply store, and buy it there.

cathy Danyluk · Feb 22, 2005

Do you use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer as an adjunct to handwashing?
Please vote and post comments.

I use it, especially in the nursing home, but I also suffer from painful cracks and fissures at the end of my fingers beside my nails. Is there nothing that would help prevent this. The more days in a row that I work the worse it is. I have a hairdresser who also has this problem. I think the hand lotions only make it worse because healing can't take place when you put lotion with perfumes, etc in it, on an open wound. I also worrry about picking up an infection. Why not do a survey about this and see if anyone has a solution.

Cathy

judy931 · Feb 22, 2005

I don't know if any of you are surgical nurses or not to know about this, but a few weeks ago, I did a clinical day in the surgical suite. The hospital that I'm at actually has an alcohol based gel cleanser for the nurses/doc's to use instead of scrubbing with soap and water. I only saw the scrub nurse use it, and she said she liked it a lot better bc her hands didn't get so irritated. She used three or four HUGE handfuls and rubbed it up both arms and all over her hands and scrubbed her nails with it too.... What do you all think about this???

I am an LPN working in the surgical suite. About a year ago we began using the alcohol based cleansers as a replacement for scrubbing before cases. I usually do one scrub with a standard cleanser in the beginning of my day and use the alcohol cleaner in between cases there after. It has improved the condition of my hands and the alcohol keeps the bacteria count down longer than the standard scrub.

Judy

MuseAcal · Feb 22, 2005

As a rural hospice nurse, I use the hand sanitizer gels all the time. I carry it in my nursing bag, in my vehicle and in my pocket. Whenever I do direct patient care I wash with antibacterial soap and water, but the gels are great the rest of the time. Moving in and out of patient's homes, touching and/or shaking hands with family members, not to mention the myriad of other germ-transferring opportunities confronted each day - often when soap and water just isn't available - I'd be lost without it!

:Melody: