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

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Feb 24, 2005

Our unit (well, maybe the whole hospital) started pushing the hand gel as our primary hand hygiene. The new policy also stated occasional hand washing throughout the shift as needed for visible soiling or when the moisterizer in the gel builds up (that's what makes your hands feel "dirty"). We do still do a 3 minute scrub at the beginning of the shift with surgical type soap (not a gel product though I have heard of that).

I have really liked the change. It's tremendously convenient since hand gel is within 6 feet or so of every bassinet/isolette. I suffered my first winter in the NICU before we started the hand gel thing. They were rough, dry and tight all the time. The last couple of winters I only get a little roughness that will heal between days off.

As far as effectiveness I think the jury is still out. We had an outbreak of MRSA several months ago. But then last month we had a 0% infection rate (never had happened before that anyone could remember, our goal is

Cheez-It! · Feb 24, 2005

In our facility, we've got the gel everywhere you look. I think it's great considering the type of work I do, there's not always a sink available/near. I still do the antibacterial soap after the using the bathroom (I'm hoping everyone is doing this anyways :chuckle ), coming back from break, personal care, etc. But while passing meds, it's a must. I've noticed the aides in our facility are using it a LOT more. Some have even bought their own small bottles to carry in their pockets. I like it

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 24, 2005

I found going to bed with a really good moisturizer and cloth gloves helpful. It really DOES work, weird as it sounds, to heal chronically dry hands.

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 24, 2005

Any Infection Control nurses want to weigh in????

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Feb 24, 2005

I only use the alcohol sanitizers if i'm not near a sink and soap.

TBLPN, LPN · Feb 24, 2005

I hate the hand sanitizer our facility offers, 1. It smells like skunk and 2. if you happen to get to much on your hands it like clumps up and looks really weird. But some of the sanitizers that I have bought 'out' isn't too bad. I ALWAYS wash my hands, no matter what, no matter how long it takes, I have the raw, chaffed skin, that sometimes cracks and bleeds to prove it! I don't want to bring ANYTHING home to my kids.

lapappey · Feb 24, 2005

Re use of EtOH based sanitizes as a surgical scrub:

Was this a clear gel or a white foam? We use the white foam as a surgical scrub, it's been studied multiple times and proven effective as compared to Betadine, CHG, or what have you. The gel has not. Both are EtOH based. Personally I like it the foam. I would not, of course, be using it on soiled hands. If I feel the need I wash with soap and water before scrubbing with the foam. Most of the nurses and techs use the foam, and a lot of the docs, but some of them like to use the scrub brushes. It's really just a matter of preference. Scrubbing with the foam is a lot quicker than the brush because you don't have to go through the long process of scrubbing from front to back and so on.

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???

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Feb 24, 2005

We have Avagard, that can be used instead of scrubbing (you must scrub with a brush and soap before using this). I only Avagard in emergency situations (scrub person passed out, stat C-sections, car accident victim, etc). I perfer the brush-and-soap scrubbing.

Comicnurse · Feb 26, 2005

I still like to wash my hands with soap and water in front of the patients once I enter their room. Not everyone understands that foam can disinfect as much as it does- especially the older patients. Kendra

Catch · Mar 4, 2005

I use gel alot in home care. In fact I have one patient that doesn't have a sink nearby--I have to go the other side of the house to get to running water. I've read somewhere that alcohol gel is more effective against germs that soap and water. Has anybody heard that?

Dragonfair · Mar 4, 2005

I think the alchol is OK for inbetween rooms. We have spies in our hallways watching to see if you use it. If you don't you get written up. Why is it that nursing is like nursery school. We are grown people who are tired of being treated like children and being pay less them we should be. I have a hard time keeping my mouth shut anymore.

jolie chatte · Mar 4, 2005

if i didnt switch between the alcohol based hand lotion, my hands would be a dry, cracked, hang nailed, wrinkled up mess.