PROCEDURE
1. Gain the rapport of the patient
2. Explain the purpose of visit
3. Observe good non-verbal communication
following S.O.L.E.R
4. Define handwashing
5. Explain the importance of handwashing
6. Explain how germs spread
7. Identify key times to handwash
8. Ask questions to clarify comprehension
START OF HAND WASHING DEMO
9. Prepare the necessary articles needed
10. Remove wristwatch and other jewelries
11. Check hands for breaks in the skin, keep
nails short
12. Observe ample distance from the sink
13. Turn on the faucet and wet hands
thoroughly under running water
14. Hold the hands lower than the elbows
15. Get the soap, wah under running water
16. Apply soap to both hands and lather well Expands the volume and distribution of the soap;
17. Rinse the soap and return to the soap
dish
18. Use firm, rubbing and circular
movements in cleaning the hands for at
least 60 seconds
19. Follow the sequential step/techniques as
per the guidelines by the World Health
Organization (2009):
SCIENTIFIC RATIONALE
To get the full attention and participation of the
patient to impart knowledge.
It is a right to know the purpose of visit
To prevent misunderstandings and to have a
comfortable interaction with the patient
To value handwashing
Awareness make individuals do primary
prevention thus prevents getting diseases.
Identifies time where handwashing is crucial
because it is when transmission of disease is at
peak
Evaluates if the patient clearly understood the
information taught. “If someone was to ask you
about handwashing what would you say ?.”
To be organize and systematic
Microorganisms can lodge in the settings of
jewelry; removal facilitates proper cleaning of
hands and arms
A nurse who has open sores may require a work
assignment with decreased risk for transmission
of infectious organisms; Short nails are less likely
to harbor microorganisms, scratch a client, or
puncture gloves
Uniform should not touch the sink to avoid
contamination
It serves as a wetting agent and facilitates
lathering
The water should flow from the least
contaminated to the most contaminated area;
the hands are generally considered more
contaminated than the lower arms
Flushes the microorganisms from the surface of
the soap
loosens debris and dirt into the skin
Flushes the microorganisms from the surface of
the soap
Helps remove the microorganisms mechanically
Frees microorganisms that are lodged In skin
creases and crevices
 a. Rub hands palm to palm
b. Right palm over left dorsum with
interlaced fingers and vice versa
c. Palm to palm with fingers interlaced
d. Back of fingers to opposing palms
with fingers interlocked
e. Rotational rubbing of left thumb
clasped in right palm and vice versa
f. Rotational rubbing, backwards and
forwards with clasped fingers of right
hand in left palm and vice versa
20. Rinse both hands thoroughly, keeping the Running water rinses microorganisms and dirt
hands lower than the elbows into the sink; promotes drainage by gravity flow
towards fingers
21. Wash the faucet handle and turn it off Removes microorganism and prevents the nurse
from picking up microorganisms from the faucet
handle
22. Dry the hands thoroughly with towel Drying the skin well prevents chapping; dry hands
from the fingertips to the wrist from the cleanest to the least clean
23. Discard towel in appropriate container
24. Do after care of the area Facilitates cleanliness of the area
25. Perform the procedure at the allotted
time (not more than 10 minutes)
26. Ask the patient to do a return To evaluate if the procedure is correctly
demonstration of handwashing understood and followed.

Reference: https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html